sabeel ecumenical liberation theology center type non profit organization industry liberation theology social action founded 1989 jerusalem headquarters jerusalem key people naim ateek director website www.sabeel.org sabeel arabic the way and also a channel or spring ecumenical liberation theology center is a christian liberation theology organization based in jerusalem . it was founded by palestinian anglican priest rev. naim ateek the former canon of st. george s cathedral in jerusalem . an official partner of the presbyterian church usa 1 sabeel has friends of sabeel chapters in the united states canada the united kingdom sweden denmark norway ireland france germany the netherlands and australia . according to its official website sabeel strives to develop a spirituality based on love justice peace nonviolence liberation and reconciliation for the different national and faith communities . in particular the group aims to promote a more accurate international awareness regarding the identity presence and witness of palestinian christians as well as their contemporary concerns . 2 sabeel which advocates morally responsible investment 3 has been described by its critics as promoting an anti israel agenda including divestment from israel . it has also been accused of using antisemitic rhetoric . 4 the rev. canon dr. richard k. toll the chair of friends of sabeel north america 4 denies those allegations writing that the state of israel is not above criticism and needs to be challenged when its policies are wrong . and its policy of occupation is wrong . toll also says that sabeel consistently condemns anti semitism in all its ugly forms . 5 contents 1 political vision 1.1 principles for a just peace 1.2 disagreement with zionist interpretations of the old testament 1.3 ateek s internal struggle with the israel issue 2 friends of sabeel 3 mixed support from different christian denominations 4 criticism 4.1 coe college 4.2 stephen roth institute 4.3 dexter van zile camera and judeo christian alliance 4.4 anti defamation league 4.5 dafka 4.6 criticism of and support for old south church 4.7 sabeel s responses to frequently asked questions 4.8 connection to protestant church in the netherlands 5 see also 6 external links 7 references political vision edit principles for a just peace edit in 2004 sabeel issued a document entitled principles for just peace in palestine israel outlining their support for a two state solution as an immediate goal while envisioning that it may eventually lead to a one state solution . 6 the document outlines several demands made of israel including the need for reparations to be made to palestinians . it further states that no solution is acceptable if it does not guarantee the palestinians and israelis right to self determination independence and sovereignty and calls for a peace treaty between the two states of palestine and israel guaranteeing the full sovereignty and territorial integrity of each including recognized borders water rights and other resources . 6 the genuine hope two sovereign and fully democratic states this scenario envisages the total withdrawal of israel from all the occupied territories including east jerusalem according to united nations resolutions 242 and 338 . the palestinians will establish their sovereign state on the whole of the 23 % of the land of palestine ... as to jerusalem it will have to be shared . the city must remain open to all . a peace treaty will be drawn up and the two countries will become inter dependent economically and will help each other develop their resources for the well being of both their peoples ... the vision for the future our vision involves two sovereign states palestine and israel who in the future may choose to enter into a confederation or even a federation possibly with other neighboring countries and where jerusalem becomes the federal capital . indeed the ideal and best solution has always been to envisage ultimately a bi national state in palestine israel where people are free and equal living under a constitutional democracy that protects and guarantees all their rights responsibilities and duties without racism or discrimination . one state for two nations and three religions . 6 in december 2009 sabeel endorsed the kairos palestine document a prayerful call by palestinians christians to end the occupation . based on the 1985 south african kairos document palestinian clergy called to the churches of the world for a moment of truth a word of faith hope and love from the heart of the palestinian suffering . disagreement with zionist interpretations of the old testament edit sabeel s founder anglican priest naim ateek outlined his disagreement with what he sees as zionist interpretations of the old testament in his 1989 book justice and only justice a palestinian theology of liberation before the creation of the state of israel the old testament was considered to be an essential part of christian scripture pointing and witnessing to jesus . since the creation of the state some jewish and christian interpreters have read the old testament largely as a zionist text to such an extent that it has become almost repugnant to palestinian christians the fundamental question of many christians whether uttered or not is how can the old testament be the word of god in light of the palestinian christians experience with its use to support zionism . 7 ateek s internal struggle with the israel issue edit in the book ateek also explained how he struggled to reconcile various dichotomies posed by his faith beliefs and identity as a boy remembering my family s harsh exile from beisan and later as a person of faith and a clergyman my own struggles with hate anger and humiliation were not easy . but these feelings had to be challenged continuously by the demands of love and forgiveness . at the same time i knew without a doubt that injustice is sinful and evil ; that it is an outrage against god ; and that it is my duty to cry out against it . it has taken me years to accept the establishment of the state of israel and its need although not its right to exist . i now feel that i want it to stay because i believe that the elimination of israel would mean greater injustice to millions of innocent people who know no home except israel . this does not suggest that the old testament is not the word of god but how can it be understood as that if a zionist theology of the old testament is accepted by christian groups 8 friends of sabeel edit friends of sabeel north america fosna works in the u.s. and canada to support the vision of sabeel . it cultivates the support of american churches through co sponsored regional educational conferences alternative pilgrimage witness trips and international gatherings in the holy land . 5 friends of sabeel chapters also exist in canada the united kingdom sweden denmark norway ireland france germany the netherlands and australia . in 2010 friends of sabeel north america circulated a list of ten companies to boycott titled all i want for christmas is an end to apartheid 9 stating that while there are many israeli and multinational companies that benefit from apartheid we put together this list to highlight ten specific companies to target . ahava delta galil industries motorola l oreal the body shop dorot garlic and herbs estee lauder intel sabra sara lee victoria s secret mixed support from different christian denominations edit sabeel has sent representatives to several denominational gatherings in the united states and has advocated for divestment resolutions which it sees as a non violent approach to resisting the occupation . 3 it has met with some success . the presbyterian church usa has passed divestment resolutions based on information provided by sabeel . 10 all of the major mainline denominations including the united church of christ the united methodist church the evangelical lutheran church in america and the episcopal church have discussed divestment and the possibility of using the money in their pension funds and endowments to exert pressure for peace in the middle east . 10 in february 2006 the world council of churches wcc commended the actions of the presbyterian church usa and urged other member churches worldwide to consider economic measures to end israel s occupation . 11 salpy eskidjian weiderud former special consultant to the geneva based wcc general secretary on palestine and israel has noted that support for divestment by the wcc governing body came in the backdrop of a history of bold statements since 1948 on its israel palestine policy and was a way of ensuring that it is not in any way contributing financially to what it says is illegal or immoral . 11 the episcopal church the united church of christ and others have passed sabeel influenced resolutions urging israel to dismantle the separation barrier and end its occupation of the palestinian territories . 11 other groups within these denominations have rejected and opposed these resolutions . rev. david runnion bareford of the biblical witness fellowship issued an apology to jews after the united church of christ issues their 2005 resolution . 6 he also accused an ad hoc group made up of sabeel representatives and ucc officials of becoming unduly 7 involved in the resolution process . the pcusa resolution also created much controversy leading to a 2006 synod renouncing the resolution that was made under the consultation of sabeel . criticism edit in addition to the mainline opposition groups that have formed as a result of sabeel s activity there have been other groups that have opposed either sabeel s goals or their manner of speaking their message . in some cases groups have accused sabeel of extremism and antisemitism . sabeel s most vocal critics are listed below with their most significant criticisms also listed . coe college edit the chair of the department of philosophy and religion at coe college iowa which had co sponsored a campus conference with a group of american supporters of sabeel acknowledged in a letter to a local rabbi that anti semitic remarks had been made at the conference . the chair wrote we regret any harm that may have been caused by such anti semitic statements but later told journalists covering the story that his letter was not an apology and that it was deliberately vague because he was unsure exactly which comments could be considered anti semitic . 12 stephen roth institute edit the stephen roth institute for the study of contemporary antisemitism and racism has claimed that sabeel commonly engages in blatant propaganda seeking to isolate and demonize israel while delegitimizing the right of the jewish state to exist . 13 sabeel has responded that it accepts the presence of israel in the land that was once palestine and asks that the two peoples be allowed to live together in this land as equals with full rights for people of both groups . . 14 dexter van zile camera and judeo christian alliance edit dexter van zile a member of the united church of christ and critic of israel divestment campaigns 8 9 has publicly stated in a camera publication that he condemns ateek s implication that ... israel is a baby and christ killing nation that stands in the way of humanity s salvation . given the role this imagery has played in promoting violence against jews and its use in reference to the jewish state is inexcusable . 15 van zile bases these accusations on statements excerpted from ateek s 2001 easter message such as in this season of lent it seems to many of us that jesus is on the cross again with thousands of crucified palestinians around him the israeli government crucifixion system is operating daily . 16 similarly in a february 2001 sermon ateek likened the occupation to the stone placed on the entrance of jesus tomb . this boulder has shut in the palestinians within and built structures of domination