Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HOP Vol XX Special Number

1968 No 2

138

(07919)

political anti-Semitism* We are not motivated by anti-Semitism but by the realistic con si deration of the facts involved when we call the war started by Israel and her efforts to conquer new territories an aggression which has not only disturbed the very delicate equilibrium of peace in this ere a but also poses a serious danger to the peace of mankind, Therefore, we maintain that the settlement cf the critical conditions by negotiations cm be brought about and a balance of forces respecting and gnrantoeing the right to ex~ istance, independent life and fret.lam of all states in this area can be arrived at only if Israel withdraws from the occupied territories.;

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This political position of ours is further motivated by very serious theological considerations* In the course of the military actions a responsible statement of Israel (the minister of defense) made the statement that the goal envisaged by the present state of Israel is the restitution of the "great Davidic eirgpire"© We consider this statement ,, as well as the spirit manifested throughout the course of the military operations, as a fatal misunderstanding of Yahweh^s promises proclaimed by the prophets ..which however, concern the esc hat on (We refer especially to the premises in Isaiah 2;2,3; Micah 4;1, 2, 8, Amos 9:11-1.5, etc)- As wc interpret end understand the Bible, it is a fatally false interpretation to refer these promises to the temporal, sociological existence of the modern state qf Israel© In the theological view of the church, the state Israel is by no means coessential with the Biblical conception of Israel® The very promises of God tell us that the role assigned to Israel is net to disturb the neighbouring nations but to become :,a blessing in the midst of the land" (See especially Isaiah 19:23-25)» Hence, for the state Israel the state of being a "blessing" has never been and will never be within the limits.of possibility as long o.s she, leaving the path of peace and coexistence, enters the way cf strife and war, becoming the tool of alien powers end political interests and relying on their help© Israel must realize that there is no moral ground on which her action could be justified©

We beliebe, therefore, that, for the ecumenical community cf the churches, the right way of exercising their "ecumenical responsibility", taking into account the realities of the existing circumstances, is to strengthen that perfectly reasonable political proposal and demand that Israel withdraw her troops from the occupied Arab territories and, in tire spinűt of striving for peaceful coexistence ord with respect for its miles, she seek a negotiated settlement© We consider the help given so far by the World L>ouncil of Churches to the; Arab refugees expelled from their homes as acts of the Christian diakoria and wc should like to hope that an ecumenical chur ch declaration in the Interest of a right solution cf the problems will not be delayed© (As a criticism inspired by good will and the intention to help, we note that the pronouncements of the World Council of Churches on grave political issues have net hitherto gone farther than those of the UNO which do not reflect at all the existing international situation© We hope thai the statement of Section III of the World Conference on Church and Society to the effect that the UNO is not "sacrosanct" will remedy this state of affairs)o