4.8. The perception that the resolutions reflect a broader and troubling institutional bias against Israel within PCUSA offices and committees.

4.8.1 The Presbyterian News Service (PNS)
4.8.2. PCUSA - Washington Offices
4.8.3. The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP)

The PNS is the official news agency of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Its editorial guidelines include, “reporting the facts accurately, clearly, fairly, impartially, and promptly.” Its stated purpose is “to seek and to tell the truth.” (19) Nonetheless, from January 1, 2000, to June 30, 2004, the PNS ran over ninety stories on Palestine and Israel [see Appendix A]. Thirty-five of these could be regarded as neutral. Fifty-seven portray Israel negatively. None portrays Israel positively, and none portrays Palestinians negatively. The only Israelis who receive favorable coverage by the PNS are Women in Black, members of Peace Now (or related groups), and “refuseniks.”

Politically charged and biased language is employed. Israel is blamed for an almost freakish assortment of things; and demands are made that the PNS partly acknowledges would spell the destruction of the current State of Israel. In some cases the PNS simply reports the offensive quotes of others, but it doesn't correct misinformation contained in those quotes.

In the stories carried by the Presbyterian News Service, Israel is called an apartheid state at least nine times. (20) The “occupation” is cited as the source of all violence and conflict in at least eight articles. (21) Israel is accused of ethnic cleansing. (22) Israelis are compared to Hitler. (23) The occupation and other Israeli actions are compared to stones like the stone that sealed Jesus' tomb. (24) Israel is described as colonial. (25) American politicians are said to be pandering to the Jewish lobby. (26) Sharon's provocative visit to the Temple Mount is regarded as the cause of the current Intifada. In two articles Sharon is described only as having visited a Muslim holy site; no mention is made of the fact that the Temple Mount is also considered the most holy Jewish site. Also absent is the fact that Sharon sought and received permission from the Palestinian Security chief for his visit. (27)

The Mohammed Al Dura incident is mentioned in detail, and clearly considered the equivalent of deliberately targeting children. In no case are the serious doubts that Israelis could have fired the shot that killed Al Dura presented. (28) Israel is blamed for Palestinian violence, (29) for the decrease in the Christian population, (30) and even for one man's increased cigarette smoking. (31) Israelis were soundly rebuked for uprooting olive trees. (32) Israeli soldiers were depicted making a game out of breaking Palestinian children's bones. (33) Demands were made for an international peacekeeping force (34) and right of return. (35) President Bush was accused of reversing his position on right of return--a puzzling charge since US policy has never focused on right of return. (36) Two astonishing and absurd factual statements went unchallenged: that Palestinians descended from the ancient Canaanites (37) and that Palestinians “were the ones to export the gospel so successfully.” (38)

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   4.1. The resolution relies upon flawed sources of historical background information
   4.2. The resolutions are premised upon flawed theological grounds
   4.3. Speakers were carefully chosen with no balance
   4.4. The error of calling for immediate and unconditional removal of the security barrier
   4.5. Divestment is the wrong pathway to peace in the region and guarantees that our church will play no constructive role as a mediator
   4.6. The error of trying to legislate a foreign policy by biennial resolutions in a fluid and constantly changing Middle East
   4.7. The strong probability that the resolutions do not reflect the views of a majority of Presbyterians
   4.8. The perception that the resolutions reflect a broader and troubling institutional bias against Israel within PCUSA offices and committees
      4.8.1. The Presbyterian News Service (PNS)
      4.8.2. PCUSA - Washington Offices
      4.8.3. The Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP)