Peace Advocacy

By the Reverend L. Humphrey Walz

Churches for Middle East Peace (C-MEP) will observe May 13-15 as "Washington Advocacy Days." Constituent denominations—all of which have congregations and/or educational, medical, and social services in the Middle East—have invited their members to visit the nation's capital for that period, to focus on enhancing US potential for promoting peace in "the lands where the Prince of Peace blessed the peacemakers."

The visitors will be addressed by key government figures, such as Congressman Lee Hamilton, Chair of the House Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East, and concerned academic specialists, including Dr. Walid Khalidi, formerly of the American University of Beirut, now professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago. Six hours have been slated for small group visits to senators, members of Congress, and Middle East policymakers in the administration and international agencies. Worship will have its place, including a brief ecumenical service on the Capitol steps.

For detailed information write C-MEP, 110 Maryland Ave. NE, #108, Washington, DC 20002; or phone (202) 546-8425. Corrine Whitlach is the staff consultant.

Middle East Prayers and Study

Starting April 8, ecumenical undertakings in Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip will claim the attention of users of the 494-page Presbyterian 1990 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study. Introducing the section is an essay, "Middle East Profile," by the Rev. Dr. Byron L. Haines, formerly of Pakistan and the National Council of Churches' Office for Christian-Muslim Relations.

He notes that although Islam, Christianity and Judaism—the three world religions native to the area—"have lived together in the Middle East for centuries, each still raises problems that impinge upon the others' sense of identity and community as a people of God," and urges that "the interests of all parties ... be given fair consideration."

Your order for the $5.00 1990 Yearbook from the Presbyterian Distribution Management Services, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202, should include the code number 950-89-400. (California residents should pay 6 percent tax.)

Erasing Stereotypes

What is the most widespread image of an Israeli rabbi? Whatever the stereotype, it is unlikely to survive recent accounts, one of which is summarized below, by Jerusalem Post reporters.

Joel Greenberg, in a column for that newspaper, zeroed in on the continuing concern of the Rabbinic Human Rights Watch over the Ali Masri case in the Balata refugee camp near Nablus. Almost a year ago—on May 5, 1989—Israeli soldiers used too heavy a charge to demolish the doomed Jamil Tarawi home next door. The consequent explosion rendered the Masri house uninhabitable, as well, destroying all its furniture.

The Red Cross provided a tent for the Masri family pending compensation which the Israeli Civil Administration indicated was "under consideration." Repeated approaches and inquiries, however, elicited no answers from any Israeli government authority. In late January, therefore, Watch chairman Rabbi David Forman decided to add a heartfelt appeal to the legal case that had been ignored.

"As Jews who have often been subject to persecution where we were forced to abandon our homes," he wrote Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin, "we cannot accept a situation where we would force another people to live without the protection of a home, the most basic of human rights." The rabbinic group, writes Greenberg, "has adopted the Masri family and is monitoring its case."

The Reverend L. Humphrey Walz, D.D., retired associate executive of the Presbyterian Synod of the Northeast, is active in denominational and ecumenical peace movements.