AJC has condemned the World Council of Churches Secretary General, the Rev. Samuel Kobia, for his declaration that Israel’s “occupation” of Palestinian territories is “a sin against God.”

“Rev. Kobia parrots the same hypocritical statements regarding Israel that the WCC regularly issues, ignoring the root causes of Israel’s presence in the West Bank,” said Rabbi David Rosen, AJC’s International Director of Interreligious Affairs.

“Rev. Kobia willfully ignores the violent rejection of Israel’s very existence that is at the root of the conflict and makes no mention of the terrorism and incitement that has prevented the realization of the aspiration of the vast majority of Israelis, as well as of most Palestinians, to live in peace based on a two-state solution,” said Rosen.

“Let’s remember that the West Bank came under Israeli rule as the result of the attempted extermination of the Jewish State by the Arab nations in 1967,” said Rosen. “Israel does not seek to govern another people. Rather, Israel has offered in direct negotiations with the Palestinians repeatedly to withdraw from most of the West Bank in exchange for peace and security.”
Dr. Kobia’s remarks were part of his final report this week to the WCC central committee. He will step down as secretary-general at the end of the year.

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