Chief Rabbi Goldschmidt: EKD should leave World Council of Churches

The President of the European Rabbinical Conference, Pinchas Goldschmidt, accuses the Protestant Church of moral failure and criticises a statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC) on the situation in the Middle East, in which Israel is accused of "apartheid", among other things. Goldschmidt interpreted the statement as "demonising" Israel. The Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) should leave the WCC, he said.

Equating Israeli politics with apartheid is "not only historically wrong, but also dangerous", Goldschmidt wrote in a guest article for Welt am Sonntag: "Because it pours oil on the fire of globally growing anti-Semitism. Anyone who demonises Israel also ends up affecting Jews worldwide, who - whether they like it or not - are always a target for criticism of Israel's policies."

Bedford-Strohm also criticised

At its meeting in June, the central committee of the WCC condemned Israel's policy towards the Palestinians and called for "the reality of apartheid to be called by its name". It went on to say, among other things: "We (...) condemn the system of apartheid that Israel is imposing on the Palestinian people in violation of international law and moral conscience."

The Geneva-based WCC currently has 356 member churches in more than 120 countries worldwide, representing around 580 million Christians. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member, but has been working with the World Council of Churches for decades. The Chairman of the WCC Central Committee is the former Chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Heinrich Bedford-Strohm.

The fact that EKD members also agreed to the declaration is particularly alarming, Goldschmidt continued: "The EKD is thus not only taking a stand against Israel, but also indirectly against the Jewish communities in Europe - in other words, against their neighbours, dialogue partners and fellow citizens."

"Appalling double standards"

Goldschmidt said that Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle East and grants the Arab minority full civil rights. Those who accuse Israel of having an apartheid system, but do not mention oriental Christians in the Middle East persecuted by Islamists and at the same time tolerate the Russian Orthodox Church in their own ranks, reveal "a frightening double standard", the rabbi added.

The Protestant Church in Germany must ask itself whether it is in the right place in a "club" such as the World Council of Churches. Nobody is asking churches or civil society actors to blindly support Israeli government policy, Goldschmidt continued. Criticism is allowed, but it must be justified "with facts, not with ideological fighting words".

"It is time for the Protestant Church to distance itself from this course - clearly, publicly and with consequences," the rabbi demanded: "Leaving the World Council of Churches would be a first step. Not out of principle, but out of responsibility. Out of solidarity with the Jewish community in Europe. And out of respect for the truth." (KNA)