Synod’s final message criticized by Israel

(October 25, 2010) Concluding the work of the Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, the synod fathers issued their final message on Saturday demanding that Israel accept U.N. resolutions calling for an end to its “occupation” of Arab lands, and told Israel it shouldn't use the Bible to justify «injustices» against the Palestinians. Even though the Oct. 10-24^th Middle East Synod of Bishops was mainly pastoral, it also addressed several socio-political issues that affect the lives of Christians there. While the bishops condemned terrorism and anti-Semitism, they laid much of the blame for the conflict s on Israel. They listed the “occupation” of Palestinian lands, Israel's separation barrier with the West Bank, its military checkpoints, political prisoners, demolition of homes and disturbance of Palestinians' socio-economic lives as factors that have made life increasingly difficult for Palestinians. The Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the synod’s message saying that Israel’s use of the Bible to justify “injustices” against the Palestinians has never been a policy of any government in Israel and hence described the accusation as hollow. Yigal Palmor claimed that Israel is the only Mideast country whose Christian population is growing, and called on Christians not to flee the region.