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TechnoratiThe Geneva-based World Council of Churches (WCC), seemingly having preferred not to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Israel, is instead in June convening a global week-long commemoration of the 1967 war. This remembrance will mournfully lament Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, without specifically recalling that the occupation only began after Israel defeated several Arab armies poised for attack. “It’s Time for Palestine!” is the theme for the joint advocacy initiative involving church events around the world.
But from the WCC’s perspective, is it ever a Time for Israel? Apparently not, as the WCC mostly echoes Palestinian verbiage about the Jewish nation’s founding as a “catastrophe.” In a brief news release earlier this month, the WCC frowningly noted that “just as 2008 marks 60 years of aspirations dedicated to securing a homeland for Israelis, 2008 also marks 60 years of the disintegration of Palestinian society and dispersal of some 750,000 Palestinians as refugees.” In other words, not much to celebrate!
The WCC evidently was reserving its strength for “It’s Time for Palestine” gala celebration next month. In Bethlehem, a “human clock” will mark six decades of “Palestinians living as refugees and uprooted people.” Jerusalem churches will publicly decry the 1948 “Nakba” (catastrophe). There will also be an international conference there to protest against the Israeli security barrier. The left-wing Catholic order Pax Christi will organize protest events in France, Belgium and Holland. A demonstration with signs declaring “Stop the Occupation” in Hebrew, Arabic English and Norwegian may march in Oslo. Filipino children who are victims of political killings in the Philippines will send letters of solidarity to Palestinian children. A “full-sized section of the Wall” will be erected by a church in Scotland in a city center. Such global excitement!
There’s even an official liturgical litany for the “It’s time for Palestine” celebration. Each of its sad lines begins with an imprecatory “It’s time for…” followed by a demand usually focused on Israel. No change of behavior by Palestinians is apparently needed for nirvana to be achieved in “Palestine.”
It's time for freedom from occupation.
It's time for equal rights.
It's time to stop discrimination, segregation and restrictions on movement.
It's time for those who put up walls and fences to build them on their own property.
It's time to stop bulldozing one community's homes and building homes for the other community on land that is not theirs.
It's time to do away with double standards.
It's time for Israeli citizens to have security and secure borders agreed with their neighbours.
It's time for the international community to implement 60 years of United Nations resolutions.
It's time for Israel's government to complete the bargain offered in the Arab Peace Initiative.
It's time for those who represent the Palestinian people to all be involved in making peace.
It's time for people who have been refugees for 60 years to regain their rights and a permanent home.
It's time to assist settlers in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to make their home in Israel.
It's time for self-determination.
It's time for foreigners to visit Bethlehem and other towns imprisoned by the wall.
It's time to see settlements in their comfort and refugee camps in their despair. Continue »
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