c. 2006 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) A guest commentary I wrote calling upon U.S. churches to criticize U.S.-backed Israeli attacks in Lebanon (“U.S. Churches Should Condemn the Slaughter,” Religion News Service, Aug. 9), has drawn different kinds of criticism.

The respected National Council of Churches (NCC) claims it has been addressing the conflict, but no one is listening. “We are right here,” it insists, “calling on President Bush to broker an immediate cease-fire,” and remaining “vocal and outspoken” against the violence.

I overlooked church outspokenness, the NCC said, because I am “a victim like most Americans” of the mainstream media’s refusal to cover statements on the war issued by churches. I know those statements exist, and I had read most of them, and I’m aware that mainstream media frequently screen out the church’s prophetic witness on issues.

But with all due respect to the NCC, its response misses the core point of my column: that “it is time for U.S. churches to find a place amid their general lament over violence, to say bravely, creatively and with a love for the good of all, that Israel’s murderous aggression with U.S. backing _ is wrong.” That’s the sticking point. Will the U.S. churches use their moral suasion to expose the destructive influence of the U.S./Israel axis of power in the Middle East?

Calling for this critique of the U.S./Israel axis does not mean that I am “attacking Israel,” “hating Jews” or “hating myself or my country,” as vitriolic e-mail and phone messages have claimed. Nor am I an “anti-Semitic Mel Gibson;” as it happens, I published a 2004 critique of Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic messaging in “The Passion.”

Nor does my critique of the U.S./Israel axis mean I will stop exposing ways my own Christian tradition fueled centuries of anti-Semitism and other exploitations. Nor have I ever condoned the Hezbollah rocket attacks or the terrorist actions of any group. As my column noted, Hezbollah’s actions are also “murderous,” “aggressive” and “unjustified.”

My commentary’s core point calls on U.S. churches to interpret the U.S./Israel axis of power in the Middle East. That is what the churches need to start talking about, whether or not the media pay attention.

The dominant view among defenders of U.S./Israel policy is that the axis is a necessary bulwark against Islamic fanatics and fascists who are implacably evil, attacking the democracy and freedom of the West. The role of the U.S./Israel axis, though, is far less noble _ in fact, it is increasingly destructive and aggressive. I cannot make the full argument here, but offer three claims and then direct readers to some substantiating sources:

First, terrorist actions do not result simply from implacable evil. They are a result of a mixture of shame and repression experienced when peoples’ homelands are occupied and exploited. Bombing and occupations by the U.S./Israel axis _ whether in Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq or elsewhere _ promote (but do not justify) terrorism. (See Robert Pape, Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism.)

Second, there is growing evidence that Israel planned its bombing campaign against Lebanon well before Hezbollah’s July 12 attacks, and that the U.S. knew about key aspects of that plan, even encouraged it as preparation for possible attacks on Iran later. (See Seymour Hersh, “Washington’s Interest in Israel’s War,” The New Yorker, Aug. 21, 2006).

Third, the U.S. and Israel hold nuclear weapons, and the U.S. has been considering tactical deployment of them in Iran. Iran is being demonized for developing uranium, even though it has submitted to intrusive inspections, unlike Israel which developed its arsenal largely in secret and remains outside inspections processes. (Herman and Peterson, “The Fourth `Supreme International Crime.”’) The leading procurers, and the most likely users, of nuclear weaponry among nations are the U.S. and Israel. (http://www.electricpolitics.com/2006/05/the_fourth_supreme_internation.html).

In short, the overweening power of the U.S./Israel axis is driving both war and the entrenchment of terrorism in the Middle East. When will U.S. churches expose and criticize that axis?

(Mark Lewis Taylor is professor of theology and culture at Princeton Theological Seminary, and is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA). His most recent book is “Religion, Politics and the Christian Right: Post-9/11 Powers and American Empire” (Fortress Press, 2005).)

KRE/LF END TAYLOREditors: To obtain a photo of Mark Lewis Taylor, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.