The absence of unqualified Christian support of Israel or total identification with Israel’s aims in the aftermath of last June’s Six-Day War which has disappointed Jews and affected the progress of interfaith dialogues, stems from different viewpoints and different orders of priority held by the two communities, according to a study just completed by the American Jewish Committee’s department of interreligious affairs.
The study, prepared by Judith H, Banki, assistant director of the department, is titled “Christian Reactions to the Middle East Crisis, New Agenda for Interreligious Dialogue.” It analyzes statements by leading Christian theologians and articles published in church-sponsored newspapers and periodicals to record the attitudes toward Israel and the Middle East generally in the period of rising tensions prior to the Six-Day War, during the war itself and in the war’s aftermath which brought to the forefront such questions as the future of occupied territories, Jerusalem and the refugee problem.
“Perhaps the basic point at issue between the organized Jewish and Christian communities was whether support of Israel’s survival – the survival of the population as well as the juridical state – constituted a clear-cut moral commitment,” the study said. “Jews certainly saw it that way, and viewed such a commitment as the starting point for any discussion of political solutions or problems arising from the war. It was the unwillingness of most church organizations to declare themselves on this key question which aroused the resentment of Jewish spokesmen.”
On the other hand, the study noted, “many Christian leaders believe that settlement of the refugee problem, the status of Jerusalem and the strengthening of the United Nations are the primary objectives, and that recognition of Israel’s sovereignty is contingent upon, or secondary to, these goals.”
The study observed that Christian leaders were surprised and perplexed by the intensity of the Jewish response to Israel’s crisis. “As spokesmen for both groups have noted, the dialogue had not prepared Christians for the Jews’ passionate demonstration of peoplehood and attachment to Israel. And that sudden demonstration has directed attention to some of the unexplored theological issues that influence, directly or indirectly, political attitudes toward the State of Israel.”
“The significance of this persistent sense of peoplehood has yet to be fully explored in the deepening dialogue between Christians and Jews.” the study said.
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