UNITED METHODIST CHURCH VILIFIES ISRAEL

United Methodist Church

Should Repudiate Distorted Report on Israel

New York, NY, February 19, 2008 ...

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called on the United Methodist Church (UMC) to repudiate a "distorted and mendacious" report on Israel produced by one of its divisions that refers to Jews as "monsters" and compares Israeli actions to the Nazis.

The 225-page report, titled "The Israel Palestine Mission Study" comes at a time when there is a movement within the United Methodist Church to support resolutions to divest from companies doing business with Israel. The UMC is holding its quadrennial national conference in April 2008, and several draft anti-Israel divestment resolutions are being put forward for consideration. The study was produced and published by the Women's Division of the United Methodist Church General Board of Global Ministries.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:
This study is a distorted and mendacious piece of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish propaganda. It repeatedly twists history and employs inciteful language to denigrate Israel and Jews. It calls Jews "monsters", refers to the State of Israel as "original sin", and outrageously compares Israel and Israeli actions to Nazis and the Holocaust.

Religious leaders have a moral obligation to reject harmful rhetoric and offer balanced and constructive measures that promote peace. This Methodist study does the opposite. We call upon the leaders of the United Methodist Church to publicly repudiate this error-filled and offensive publication.
The Mission Study:
Denies the historical yearning of the Jewish people to return to Israel, and the continued Jewish presence in the Holy Land.
Calls Israel's first president, David Ben-Gurion, an "extremist" and distorts his words to imply he supported expulsion of Arabs. In fact, Ben-Gurion wrote the opposite.
Outrageously distorts the Palestinian refugee situation by accusing Israelis of "pillaging, raping women, and massacring old and young." It fails to mention the 900,000 Jews forced to flee Arab lands after the creation of the State of Israel.
Falsely claims that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak made no genuine offer for peace at Camp David in 2000.
Employs the terms "terror" and "terrorism" when referring to actions by Israel, while terrorist actions by Palestinians are labeled "social justice" and "activism."