The Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) and United Methodist Kairos Response (UMKR) recently cohosted a virtual event titled “Apartheid Then & Now,” which likened modern-day Israel to apartheid in South Africa.
This was the latest topic in a series of events cohosted by the organizations that actively support the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement against Israel. During this webinar, one activist insisted that “BDS was an important part of how South African apartheid was taken down.”
Advertisements for the event included a recent policy paper from B’Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization that “enjoys very little local support” and instead has most of its budget “provided by European governments and American foundations,” according to the Jerusalem Post. The policy paper (and advertisements for the event) state there is “a regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.”
“From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free!” is a claim often brought by activists who are not just criticizing Israeli settlements, but rather call for the destruction of the state of Israel.
Panelist Kelvin Sauls, a senior fellow with the Atlantic Institute for Racial Equity, began his remarks by describing his early life and childhood growing up on the south side of Johannesburg during apartheid. “What I thought was my isolated experience was actually a global experience of what was going on,” stated Sauls.
He continued that 1948 was a significant year for this “global apartheid” as not only was apartheid officially implemented in South Africa that year, but the state of Israel was also founded in 1948.
“The fall of Nazism contributed to the rise of apartheid,” insisted Sauls. And realizing this was “a very big experience for me,” he stated.
Sauls, a United Methodist, became an activist in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict after a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2008. “My experience of Israel/Palestine was an experience that put me back to the 6th grade, to the trauma,” remarked Sauls. Earlier in the discussion, Sauls described the passage of the Group Areas Act in South Africa when he was in the 6th grade and how it affected him personally.
Sandra Tamari, whose father immigrated to the United States from Palestine, stated that “the connections between apartheid in South Africa and what is happening in Palestine today are very, very powerful.”
“Apartheid doesn’t happen in isolation, authoritarian regimes do talk to one another… they learn from one another,” continued Tamari.
Of course, Israel is lauded as the only democracy in the Middle East. Tamari brought this up in her remarks later in the discussion. “What Israel throws around as a talking point, ‘Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East,’ wow, that’s a really low bar,” she quipped.
Israel is “a colonial regime that has put on the façade of democracy,” according to Tamari. “With the way Israel was founded, how can we give Israel the liberal façade of democracy?” she continued. “Israel is an apartheid regime from the River to the Sea.”
Tamari further insisted that Israel is a “settler colonial project” like South African apartheid and to that end, “Palestinians are looking to the end of Zionism. They’re not looking to a Civil Rights movement.”
The event featured a short speech from David Wildman, Middle East liaison and UN representative for the United Methodist Church. In his remarks, Wildman promoted the BDS movement against Israel and spoke about the “proud history” of church leaders, including some in the UMC, who have called for BDS.
“It’s way too easy for white liberal church folk to talk about a conflict and answer with reconciliation,” insisted Wildman. “We need to use the apartheid language to engage and name the injustices.” “And we need BDS.”
The event concluded with a video presentation from the deputy director of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), a left-wing activist organization which demands all American military aid be withheld from Israel, citing the occupation, and also supports the BDS movement.
The JVP representative promoted their “Facebook, we need to talk” campaign, which was founded to fight against Facebook’s consideration of adopting the IHRA definition of contemporary antisemitism, which includes “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination.” The United Methodist Kairos Response has signed on to this petition.
Comment by I regret on March 12, 2021 at 7:21 am
I regret that I am even involved with an organization of bigots that both try to destroy a legitimate government for decades. I regret I am involved with an organization that supports exposing children and adults to death and misery for the sake of adding more votes for their secular fellow travelers and destroy the country they live in.
I hope one day I am forgiven for it.
Comment by Lynn on March 12, 2021 at 12:30 pm
Stop using the Methodist name! These so called political groups are not representing the Methodist’s beliefs. Traditionalists and the extreme liberals are no longer together. It will be made official in just a short matter of time.
Comment by Wayne on March 12, 2021 at 11:27 pm
UMKR….endorsed by Satan. That is all you need to know.
Comment by Earl H. Foote on March 13, 2021 at 10:32 am
While the United Methodist Church was guarding against the “heresy” of gay rights (topic for separate discussion), it let various trendy, and dangerous, movements slip in, most notably support for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. This is a betrayal of God’s Chosen People and a betrayal of the basic human right of Jews to have their own homeland. For the record, Israel is NOT a “European colony.” Over half the population is either Sephardic or Mizrahi (mostly the latter). Mizrahi Jews descend from the ancient Jewish populations expelled from majority-Muslim countries between 1948 and 1954 or so. Also, clearly, Israel is not an apartheid state. While I am not a Methodist, I cannot understand how UMC gives official sanction to these anti-Semites. It’s no accident that they oppose adopting the IHRA’s definition of anti-Semitism.
Comment by George Whitley on March 14, 2021 at 9:58 pm
I have yet to understand why there is so much hatred toward the Jews from Christians.
It makes me sick. Then there is the hatred towards Christians who resist being bullied into not just accepting homosexuality but embracing and promoting it. What is happening to us ? I have been a Methodist for 32 years but not anymore. Not one more red cent shall I give to support any of this .
Comment by David on March 15, 2021 at 1:47 pm
How about the Palestinian right to self determination? In modern times, they were under the Ottoman Empire. After WWI, their land was under British control. It was then decided that most of the their land would be given to European Jews. At the Israeli war of independence, Jordan took over their remaining land, the bulk of which had been taken by Israel. Jordan withdrew after another war and Israel has occupied their territory for many years now. The establishment of “settlements” and “outposts” has reduced Palestinian holdings further. It is clear what the ultimate aim is. It calls to mind the German expression of “Judenrein” (purged of Jews).
Comment by George Whitley on March 15, 2021 at 2:55 pm
That land has existed far longer than just back to the Ottoman Empire. One of the tiniest countries on the face of the earth and the only Jewish homeland . Surrounded by many hostile states, not just Palestinians . If that’s not enough, there are six million other reasons for its existence. The Jews have a history of being enslaved, concurred, scattered, and murdered. They are back in the land that God almighty gave them.
End of story.
Comment by David on March 16, 2021 at 1:06 pm
God uses the good, and the bad use God.