Israel and Palestine

Yesterday afternoon the House of Deputis took uo two resolutions about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Both passed the house but they were flawed in many ways. For one thing they did not recommend the Church to study and reflect on the Kairos document or the curriculum, Steadfast Hope. We passed on both which was not what many had hoped for. I had a hard time with the folks who voiced oppostion to these resources saying that they were not balanced and we must hear the Israeli side. Really? Let me state that I support the state of Israel and have traveled to the Holy Land both in Israel and Palestine nine times over the course of the last thirty years. I love the country and the people and it is where I felt called to ordaind ministry while at college. However what is happening at the moment is horrendous and tragic. I get that many of us are not there and I wish to support the Bishop of Jerusalem and the Diocese and by no means wish to compromise the good work that is happening there. But to say we need balance because Israel is threatened with extermination, what about the people in Hebron and Ramallah and other towns and villages in the West Bank who face daily checkpoints and discrimation? The resolutions passed are a first step but we still don't have the courage to stand with the oppressed which is what we are called to do.