THE REPORT OF THE MIDDLE EAST STUDY COMMITTEE AS APPROVED BY THE 219TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (2010) INCLUDING THE REPORT OF THE MIDDLE EAST MONITORING GROUP AS APPROVED BY THE 220TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY (2012) Copyright © 2012 The Office of the General Assembly Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, photocopying, recording, or otherwise (brief quotations used in magazine or newspaper reviews excepted), without the prior permission of the publisher. The sessions, presbyteries, and synods of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) may use sections of this publication without receiving prior written permission of the publisher. CONTENTS Part One: We Bear Witness .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 A. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 B. Letters to Our Church, Partners, and Engaged Parties ................................................................................................. 2 1. Presbyterian Brothers and Sisters in Christ ................................................................................................................. 2 2. American Brothers and Sisters in the Ecumenical Community ............................................................................... 2 3. American Jewish Friends ................................................................................................................................................ 3 4. American Muslim Friends .............................................................................................................................................. 4 5. Middle Eastern Brothers and Sisters in Christ ............................................................................................................ 4 6. Palestinian Friends ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 7. Israeli Friends ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 8. American Neighbors, Friends, Fellow Citizens, Government Representatives, and Our American Administration ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 C. Witness of the Scriptures: A Biblical Theological Reflection ....................................................................................... 7 1. Justice ............................................................................................................................................................................. 8 2. Zion—and Justice ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 3. Covenant and Land—and Justice............................................................................................................................ 12 4. Reconciliation—and Justice ..................................................................................................................................... 16 D. Our Witness:” What We Have Seen and Heard” ......................................................................................................... 19 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 19 2. Two Unparalleled Experiences ................................................................................................................................ 19 3. Dwindling Christian Presence and Influence ........................................................................................................ 24 4. Refugees in the Middle East ..................................................................................................................................... 24 5. Increasing Nuclear Threat ........................................................................................................................................ 25 6. Reality on the Ground in Israel-Palestine .............................................................................................................. 25 a. Violence by Both Extremes .............................................................................................................................. 25 b. The Israeli Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza .................................................................................... 25 7. Palestinian Christians: Agents of Reconciliation and Nonviolent Resistance .................................................. 28 8. A Time for Action ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Part Two: Recommendations .................................................................................................................................................... 30 1. Affirmation of Human Rights & Moral Principles ............................................................................................... 30 2. Affirmation of Previous General Assembly Policies & Statements .................................................................. 31 3. For the Witness of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) .......................................................................................... 32 4. Urgent Actions Toward Justice and Peace in Israel, the Occupied Territories of Palestine, and Jerusalem ........................................................................................................................................... 33 5. Urgent Actions for a Comprehensive Peace with Justice in the Middle East .................................................. 34 6. Addressing Our Own Government ........................................................................................................................ 35 7. Concerning Christian Presence in the Middle East .............................................................................................. 35 8. Engaging This Report ............................................................................................................................................... 36 Rationale ............................................................................................................................................................................. 36 Part Three: Middle East Monitoring Group Report [As received by the 220th General Assembly (2012)] ............. 37 Preface to Narratives ................................................................................................................................................................ 39 Narratives ................................................................................................................................................................................... 41 1. A Palestinian Narrative, August 2011—Dr. Mahdi Abdul-Hadi, Jerusalem .................................................... 41 2. A Palestinian Narrative—Living in the Shadow of Conflict, the Reverend Alex Awad ................................ 43 3. An Israeli Narrative—The Doctrine of Peace, Avrum Burg .............................................................................. 44 4. A Palestinian Narrative—The Lost City of Oranges, Nahida Halaby Gordon ............................................... 47 5. A Israeli Perspective—Narrative on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Naamah Kelman ....................................... 53 6. A Palestinian Narrative—Liberating Palestinians and Israelis, Mazin Qumsiyeh, PhD................................. 55 7. An Israeli Narrative—Zionism: Past, Present and Hopes for the Future, David Rosen ............................... 58 8. An Israeli Narrative—At Home in Israel, S. Ilan Troen ..................................................................................... 60 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................................................................... 64 Endnotes .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 72 Appendixes ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 77 Appendix 1: List of Contacts Made by Middle East Study Committee ........................................................................... 77 Appendix 2: General Assembly Policy Review: A Continuing Witness for Middle East Peace with Current Application ............................................................................................................................................................................. 80 Appendix 3: Presbyterian Panel ....................................................................................................................................