Christian Clerics Back from Visit to Israel Say They Have Broader Grasp of Country’s Complexities

Four New York City Christian clergymen who recently returned from a visit to Israel said yesterday they developed a broader understanding of the diversity of Israeli society, the complexities of the Middle East conflict and of Israel’s need for secure border guarantees.

Rev. Robert Rodie of the Christ Episcopal Church told some 100 people at the international headquarters of the Anti-Defamation Leage of B’nai B’rith that he was able to understand Israel’s strategic needs for the Golan Heights after he visited the area. Until one has been in Israel and stood on the Heights, he said, “you cannot fully understands their (Israel’s) on-the-ground military situation.”

Asked to expand on his remarks, Rodie would not say whether, in view of his evaluation of the strategic role of the Golan Heights, he supports Israel’s annexation of the area Israel annexed the Heights in 1981.

Participating in a panel discussion with Rodie were: Rev. John Donohue of Holy Family Church; Rev. Martin Geraghty of Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception; and Rev. Jack Kelly of the Diocese of Brooklyn. The talks were sponsored by the ADL’s regional board and National interreligious Affairs Committee.

IMPRESSED BY ISRAEL’S DEMOCRACY

Donohue, who made his last previous trip to Israel 30 years ago, said that Jerusalem at that time was not a “city of peace.” He said “now it is one city, a city relatively in peace.” He said he was impressed both by Israel’s democratic process and pluralistic society, saying this was brought out by the Israel commission of inquiry into the killing of Palestinians in Beirut.

Furthermore, he said, he noted Israel’s continued efforts to protect freedom of access to all religious sites in Jerusalem for all religious adherents. He noted that prior to the 1967 war, Israelis were banned from access to the old city, which includes the Western Wall.

On Israel’s security needs, Donohue said he was appreciative of arguments for Israel’s need for security arrangements on its border with Lebanon. He said he rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state on the West Bank because it would become an outlet for the Palestine Liberation Organization. He said he supported the autonomy proposals as laid out in the Camp David agreement.

The four clergymen were part of a group of 10 Christian leaders who visited Israel January 10-21 under the auspices of the World Zionist Organization. During the visit, the group met with Israeli political officials, residents of kibbutzim and yeshivas and visited Yad Vashem, Kiryat Shmona and other sites to obtain a perspective on the complexities of Israeli society.