Notebook

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August 19, 2002

The UUA on the Middle East

Cathy P. wrote:

Can somebody explain what is the exact nature of the criticism of the Action of Immediate Witness? Is it that any criticism of Israel or sympathy for Palestinians can be perceived by some as anti-Semitism? The document explicitly condemns anti-Semitism, does it not?

That's part of what is so fascinating about the resolution. The condemnation of anti-Semitism was added as an amendment; perhaps the authors of the statement didn't think it was important. Furthermore, although UU congregations are urged to pressure Jewish groups to oppose the occupation (a worthy goal, though perhaps difficult for us to do sensitively), the statement nowhere suggests that UU congregations pressure Arab or Muslim groups to oppose the use of terror. In fact, the only critiques of Palestinian goals or methods are immediately qualified by twice as many critiques of Israel:

Opposition to all attacks on civilians, whether by suicide bombers, by F-16 or helicopter gunships, or by any other means . . .

Condemn and oppose expressions and acts of anti-Semitism, and acts of terror against Jews, Palestinians, or Arabs and their legitimate institutions . . .

Rhetorically, this is a way of putting more weight on the final term. I'm not defending attacks by aircraft or supporting prejudice against Palestinians or Arabs: I'm just noting that the Action of Immediate Witness very deftly weakens every criticism of the Palestinians and their supporters, and intensifies every criticism of the Israelis. It is a deeply unbalanced statement.

Cathy continues:

I personally thought that it was high time that a religious organization that prides itself on fighting injustice spoke out on this issue after 35 years of conspicuous silence.

High time? The UUA General Assembly passed the following resolution in 1982 — twenty years ago — which strikes me as much more balanced, and still quite apt:

WHEREAS, historic steps to end the warfare between Israel and Egypt were taken with the signing of the Camp David peace accords; and

WHEREAS, the goal of United States policy, as it approaches the remaining central issues in the Middle East, should be to encourage, in the spirit of Camp David, a comprehensive peace settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive settlement must be based on the commitment of all parties to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the others and to co-exist in peace and justice with their neighbors;

BE IT RESOLVED: That the 1982 General Assembly of the Unitarian Universalist Association urges the United States Government to adopt the following guiding policies in its efforts to help achieve a comprehensive settlement and to normalize United States relations with all of the Middle East's peoples:

1. Faithful support for the legitimacy, independence, and security of Israel;

2. Recognition of a Palestinian right of self-determination, including a right to establish a state;

3. Condemnation of all acts of terror, disproportionate reprisal, and attacks on civilian populations;

4. Continued opposition to the creation and maintenance of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories and continued commitment to the United Nations Resolution 242 under which Israel should withdraw from lands conquered in 1967 and under which its right to security within its 1967 borders should be assured;

5. Urgent efforts to end the Middle East arms race.

UUsMiddleEast 8.19.02