Fw: U.S. Presbyterians threatened over 'anti-Israel' stance

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Ron Harold

To: William Mandel

Sent: Tuesday, November 16, 2004 5:13 PM

Subject: U.S. Presbyterians warned to change 'anti-Israel' stance

U.S. Presbyterians warned to change 'anti-Israel' stance
http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/501561.html 
Shlomo Shamir
By Haaretz
14 November 2004



NEW YORK - Special safety precautions were taken in
Presbyterian churches throughout the United States on Sunday after
leaders received threats that churches would be burned by
Monday if they did not demand a reversal of what a letter writer called
their "anti-Israel" policy.

The Presbyterian church decided in June to divest
itself of companies doing business with Israel.

The threats were contained in an anonymous letter
received last weekend at the denomination's headquarters in
Louisville, Kentucky.
The letter, postmarked Queens, New York, threatened
that in response to the church's "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish" stance,
its houses of worship and offices would be set on fire.

Jerry Van Marter, a church leader, said Sunday that
the letter cited Monday as the day by which its authors were to demand
the church change its policies on Israel. "We take the threat
seriously," Van Meter said.

Relations between the Presbyterian church and the U.S.
Jewish community and Israel soured after the June decision.
Van Marter admitted Sunday that since the decision was made,
thousands of letters and e-mails protesting it have been received.