Kesher Talk

Canadian Jewish Congress tells church leaders to stuff it: The CJC will not participate in an annual interfaith meeting until Canadian church leaders drop their anti-Israeli rhetoric and recognize the nation's right to defend itself:

... the last straw was a statement by Archbishop Michael Peers, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, on the increasingly bloody battles between Palestinians and Israelis.

In an April 5 message posted on the church's Web site, Peers said that Israel is occupying Palestinian areas illegally and that the plight of Palestinians has been overlooked by the world.

"Since 1967, Israel has illegally occupied Palestinian territories in the West Bank and Gaza. In the wake of the Israeli war of independence in 1947-49, the homes, orchards and settlements of Palestinians became the spoils of war," he said.

"The right of Palestinians to return to their lives in those places has not been recognized by the State of Israel, and the territories annexed have not been returned."

Rev. Bruce Gregersen, the United Church of Canada's secretary for interfaith relations, said Wednesday his church also believes there won't be peace in the Middle East "until Israel addresses the impact of the occupation."

posted by Howard @ 4/11/2002 01:08:31 PM