Bethlehem Lutheran
pastor
plays an ongoing role in
PCUSA's Middle East politics
By John H.
Adams
The Layman
Online
Wednesday, December
14, 2005
The Presbyterian
News Service published a
story
recently quoting a letter written by the Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of
Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem's Old City.
 |
| Lutheran Pastor
Mitri Raheb of Bethlehem. |
Raheb is a frequent source for denominational news and political
thinking on the Middle East. The Presbyterian Church (USA) lists him as
a guest
professor at the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and
the mission partner in residence on the Worldwide Ministries Division
staff of the denomination. But when his high-profile political activity
becomes sensitive, it rarely mentions those connections.
In the most recent of many reports of Raheb's political activity, the
PNS said he was criticizing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton because she
voiced support for the construction of a wall that separates Israel from
Palestinian settlements.
Raheb said the wall is offensive because "it is designed to allow
maximum expansion for Israeli settlements (which are unequivocally
illegal under international law) and minimal space for Palestinian towns
and villages to grow or even draw their livelihood."
He made no mention of Israel's contention that the wall is intended to
provide a security against suicide bombers who have murdered hundreds of
Israeli citizens – and that it has been effective in reducing those
deaths. Nor did the story mention the role Raheb has played in shaping
the PCUSA's controversial policies in the Middle East.
Raheb, the author of Bethlehem Besieged, was featured on the
Web
site of the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program in October to promote
a number of speaking engagements that were sponsored by the Presbyterian
UN Office, a lobbying effort that is often at odds with U.S. policy and
many other Christian efforts.
The Presbyterian UN Office says its role is to "open doors for
religious leaders to communicate with global policy makers. Diplomats
and UN staff look for opportunities to hear facts from the ground as
well as to think outside the box with leaders who have cutting edge
ideas and information."
Raheb was a contributor to the February 2003 edition of Perspectives,
an online publication of the Office of the General Assembly. He wrote a
column titled
"United
Across War Fields" that included an item that suggested war
itself separates people who claim Christ into two camps: faithful and
unfaithful.
- "A dialogue is happening between two American Christians,"
Raheb said. "They are two Christians in the United States, yet
they are divided between one who is in favor of war and one who
opposes war vehemently. The divide is not only between a Democrat
and a Republican. It is deeper than that. It is a division between
two individuals who are Christians – each claiming Christ. I
ask myself, where is the unity? Is unity possible in such a context,
or is it a gap between the faithful and the unfaithful?"
He added a personal story:
- "A friend of mine, who is a great supporter of our ministry
in Bethlehem, is a strong Republican and a supporter of a war
against Iraq. I strongly oppose a war. I believe that it is
idolatry. It is deception by the ruling powers of this world. The
question I ask myself – can we still be friends, or am I
compromising the gospel? We remain good friends; we talk about
everything – even about President Bush. We remain united. But
is this a false unity of two Christians?"
In a column titled
"A
Reflection for Christmas Eve, 2004: O Little Town Of Bethlehem,"
published by the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program, Raheb blistered
Israel for its treatment of the Palestinians but, again, did not mention
any Palestinian provocations.
Raheb was featured in a denominational news story on June 30, 2004,
titled Middle
East Christians hang tough in tough circumstances. He was quoted
as saying, "I wish I could say what Amanuel Ghareeb (a Presbyterian
from Kuwait) said: That American troops came to liberate us from Saddam
and the Iraqi occupation. Unfortunately, I cannot say that about
American troops. And you know why? Kuwait is oily. Palestine is only
holy."
He was quoted in another denominational news story prior to being the
guest speaker at an event sponsored by the Worldwide Ministries Division
of the General Assembly Council. According to the story, titled
"Palestinians
urge U.S. Christians to do more than just talk," Raheb joined
other Palestinians in urging a "boycott of U.S. companies that
invest in Israel's illegal settlements."
"To have statements is not enough," he said. "They might
be good for discussions within churches … but they're not much help
to us on the ground."
In its July 2, 2004, story about the General Assembly's approval of a
resolution calling for divestment of denominational funds in
corporations doing business with Israel, Raheb was the first person
quoted. The story did not mention his long-time denominational
connection or his political lobbying on behalf of the Palestinians. It
described him simply as "an ecumenical guest."
These are the three paragraphs that referred to Raheb:
- When a handful of commissioners expressed reservations about the
action, the Rev. Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran pastor from Bethlehem, an
ecumenical guest at the Assembly, said divestment is important
because it is a way for the churches to take direct action. For too
long, he said, the churches have simply issued statements – and
that is not enough.
- "We have to send strong messages to such companies,"
Raheb said, referring specifically to Caterpillar Inc., the American
builder of the armored tractors and bulldozers the Israeli army uses
to demolish Palestinian homes.
- "Sisters and brothers, this is a moment of truth,"
Raheb said.
Without word from the other side of the issue, the commissioners
voted overwhelmingly in favor of divestment, a policy that has spawned
indignation from both Jewish and Christian groups.
A few other PCUSA references to Raheb:
- He was quoted in the September 2004 online edition of
HungryHearts,
an online publication of the denomination's Office of Spiritual
Formation.
- A PNS
story
in April 2002 quoted Raheb as describing a clash between Israelis
and Palestinians in Bethlehem as "hate in action" –
implying that the "hate" was the Israelis'.
- In a PNS
story
in July 1997, Raheb cited Israel's use of bulldozers to clear out
terrorist areas as a target for protests.
- A PNS
story
in August 2001 quoted him as saying, "Israelis now don't feel
the pain like Palestinians," he says. "Before, soldiers
had to walk through the narrow streets in Gaza, and they were able
to feel what it was like: what it means (to know) that you can be
hurt. Nowadays they use Apache helicopters. This war, for them, is
becoming like a computer game. And they cannot be directly hurt like
us."
- Raheb was quoted by the Washington Office in its online report
for January/February
2004. The report is a collection of statements, including one
titled "Desperation deepens for Palestinians in Occupied Areas."
The Washington Office quoted him as saying the Palestinians "are
struggling to keep their humanity, for they are being treated like
animals."
- In an August 2000 PNS
story,
Raheb was quoted as expressing displeasure with some of the Old
Testament stories that described Israel's conquest of the land of
Canaan. "Some of the texts are very painful, very difficult to
follow, you know? Pieces in the Book of Joshua, some pieces in
Judges." He summed up the Old Testament Scriptures: "Some
are very good. Some are very ugly."
- Some of Raheb's comments are published in a PCUSA resource on
the Middle East titled
Christian
Presence in Israel and Palestine. The resource said Christians
were leaving the region and Raheb was quoted as saying, "This
problem could make the Holy Land a so-called Christian Disneyland,
with nice, old churches where groups can come and wander, but
without any real, living community. The Holy Land will lose its
sense of significance if there are no Christians there."
- During a March 2003 PresbyNet discussion on
"International
Voices on Iraq," Raheb is quoted as saying, "I wish
we could send both Bush and Saddam on an island to fight alone
because they are not the ones paying the price."
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