Presbyterian Church USA turns against Israel. Are they also siding with Palestinian terrorists?
This week alone there were 3 separate rocket attacks on Israel from Palestinian Gaza. The warning system blows loudly as the rockets continuously fall on southern Israeli Jewish communities. At the same time 'West Bank' Palestinians celebrate the kidnapping of three teenagers, one with US dual citizenship, in Judea Samaria. The teenagers have been kidnapped and still missing 10 days at the time of this writing.
While this is happening, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA voted to divest $23 Million from companies that provide the warning systems that save lives from oncoming rockets, the security systems reducing suicide bombers, and provide security cameras. They also missed calling Israel an “Apartheid state” but by only one vote.
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, the only country with complete freedom of religion and non-discrimination. It is the only place in the Middle East where Christians are safe and free to worship. Israel is a sovereign land constantly protecting its Jewish residents from acts of terrorism by Arab people that are living in the Jewish homeland, land God gave to Abraham for his descendants and defended by God throughout scripture. A history proven by archeological evidence of the 4000 years of the Jews in their land, long before there was any such thing as a Palestine. Presbyterian USA not only needs a history lesson outside of politics, but they need to read their Bible!
On June 20, 2014 by a vote of 310-303, the General Assembly approved divestment from Caterpillar Inc., Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions.
The church says it “has tried for many years to convey its concerns that the companies are profiting from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories by selling it bulldozers, surveillance technology and other equipment.”
Who exactly are these American companies that the PC(USA) is divesting $23 million from in protest? And what do they do?
- Motorola
In addition to communication systems for national emergency and rescue organizations, Motorola Solutions supplies cameras and surveillance equipment in Judea Samaria (West Bank) to keep the Jewish communities safe from terrorism.
(Pictured here is Efrat, one of the Jewish communities in Judea Samria also known as the 'West Bank".)
In April 2014 I was in the “West Bank” (actually Judea Samaria) and learned firsthand about this amazing system. I would have never known it was there if not pointed out to me.
Unseen by the public, the camera surveillance was established in place of large security fencing. It allows the Israeli security to see all movement in the area, and provide quick response in case of an attack against Israeli families. It gives a sense of normalcy while providing safety.
The Palestinian Arab and Jewish neighborhoods are in close proximity and interact with each other. Called a ‘Safe City” system, it is invisible to the eye, but allows security to keep an eye on movement to protect the Jewish residents.
I was shopping at the Palestinian hardware store, pictured below, with my Rabbi friend. Much of the business to the Palestinian hardware owner was from Jewish residents nearby. The restaurants in the Palestinian neighborhoods are frequented by Jewish customers. It’s easier to get along with no fencing and walls, thanks to the virtually invisible Motorola camera system. Unfortunately these security cameras were unable to stop the kidnapping of three Jewish teenagers by Palestinian terrorists. But there would be much more violence, and a lessened sense of safety, if the camera system was not there.
- Hewlett-Packard
The PC(USA) bought the argument that Hewlett Packard should be boycotted because they provide technology for checkpoints throughout Israel. The development of the biometric identification cards that screens out known terrorists from entering public areas is somehow offensive to the Presbyterians. These ID cards are presented at checkpoints so the Israeli police can prevent suicide bombers or known terrorists from moving freely throughout Jewish populated areas.
After hundreds of suicide and car bombings in the last 2 decades on Israeli people from Palestinians, the HP technology allows law abiding Palestinians to go to their jobs while keeping Israel safe. HP Information Technology infrastructure is also used by the Israeli Navy and Israeli Defense Forces. If there was no terrorism, it wouldn't be a necessity.
Just one off hundreds of suicide bomber attacks on Israel, the 1994 bus bombing in Tel Aviv pictured here, was carried out by Palestinians, killed 22, injured over 40 on the eve of the Israel - Jordan Peace agreement.
- Caterpillar Inc.
Caterpillar equipment is used to build new
roads, and clear land for housing for Palestinians and Jews. While shopping at the Palestinian hardware store in Judea Samaria (West Bank) in April 2014, I took note of all the piping, sheetrock, construction supplies. I saw Palestine contractors picking up these building supplies to finish their projects and learned they were in fact working in the Jewish neighborhoods. The construction in the Jewish neighborhoods is how the contractors feed their families. The supplies bought for this construction feeds the families of the Palestinian hardware store owner, as well as the construction crews. The Palestinians are the workers operating the heavy equipment supplied by Caterpillar.
Pictured here is the Palestinian owned hardware store where we bought a propane tank for the BBQ for the Israel Independence Day celebration.
Take out the construction equipment that builds Arab as well as Jewish communities, and you have now lost hundreds if not thousands of Palestinian jobs. But that is in fact what the PC(USA) is protesting to do. The church said the heavy Caterpillar equipment is used to destroy Palestinian homes, when it fact it builds their homes and provides a livelihood for their families.
The Presbyterian USA website distributes a study guide for congregations called “Zionism Unsettled,” which challenges the history and theological basis of the Zionist movement. According to the New York Times, Jewish leaders denounced it as “hateful, racist and willfully ignorant of the role of the Holocaust and violence toward Israel by the Palestinians and Arab countries in explaining the region’s history.”
The propaganda pushed and actions taken by the Presbyterian USA church leadership is racist and ignorant, and unfortunately represents over 10,000 churches and 1.7 million members. It is sad that these members are standing in agreement by attending and supporting the church. Divesting from companies that provide safety to the Jewish people from terrorism is not only anti-Semitic, but it is taking the side of the terrorists. They are taking the side of the same ideology that is persecuting Christians in the Palestinian controlled areas of Israel, blowing up busses with women and children, and forcing Jewish children to spend their lives diving into bomb shelters.
I encourage everyone to share this information with your friends that are in the Presbyterian USA church. They have been deceived and do not know the truth. Prayfully, with knowledge, they can stand up against the church leadership on this issue, or leave and find a bible believing church that teaches truth. We can all support Israel, and fight this divestment movement, by buying stock and supporting these companies.
Robin Rowan 6/22/2014
Sources:
https://www.pcusa.org/news/2014/6/20/slim-margin-assembly-approves-divestment-three-com/
http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/19/us/presbyterian-church-same-sex-marriage/
http://duns100.globes.co.il/en/companies-1000868842
http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/21/us/presbyterian-church-palestinians/
http://www.globalexchange.org/blogs/peopletopeople/2014/03/04/hp-profiting-from-the-occupation/
http://www.investinisrael.gov.il/NR/exeres/80F63838-88E8-40EB-BF6E-77B4BCE2BD90.htm
http://www.globalexchange.org/blogs/peopletopeople/2014/03/04/hp-profiting-from-the-occupation/
Robin Rowan
Ms. Rowan is recipient of the "Secretary of Defense Medal for the Global War on Terrorism" for her work in Baghdad, Iraq and Washington, DC. Her role of many years with the US Government as a fraud analyst mandated truth over politics, a passion she carries boldly today.
She is ordained in ministry under MorningStar Fellowship of Ministries based in Fort Mill South Carolina.
For six years she has lobbied members of the US Congress in both the House and Senate on issues concerning the US-Israel relationship. She currently serves on the National Council for the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and has been a panel speaker at AIPAC's annual Policy Conference in Washington DC.
In ministry Robin operates in a seer gifting, Word of Knowledge, and prophetic gifts. Her combination of insightful spiritual gifts and intricate study of the Middle East gives her a unique perspective on Israel, the Middle East, and our national security.
Robin speaks to churches and secular groups throughout the country educating them on Israel, the Middle East and how God is moving in the midst of the chaos. She is currently providing political activation and impact training to raise the voice of the church to the culture and governmental issues of our day.
Articles are the sole opinion of the author and do not represent the opinion of any other organization that Ms. Rowan is affiliated with in official or volunteer basis.
She can be reached at HisEventsAmerica@gmail.com or Church4Israel@gmail.com
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