Anti-Israel Christian Left Sees ‘New Opportunities’ in Congress, Administration

Michie

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The Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA)and United Methodist Kairos Response (UMKR), two prominent Christian left supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel, recently hosted a webinar in which panelists outlined “new opportunities” for BDS and other anti-Zionist actions in the new 117th Congress and Biden Administration.

One panelist, Mark Harrison, the director of UMC Peace with Justice programs, gloated that activists such as those from MFSA and UMKR had “successfully moved the Democratic party” away from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

This recent event, titled “A New Congress, A New Administration: New Opportunities for Palestinian Rights!”, commenced with a welcome from Bridget Cabrera, the executive director of the MFSA. John Wagner, co-chair of UMKR, then gave an address, reminding viewers that “divesting from companies and entities who support the occupation of Palestine” is the goal of UMKR.

Harrison served as a panelist alongside Kyle Cristofalo, senior director of advocacy and government relations of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). Cristofalo’s speech mainly addressed Congress and lobbying, as he outlined which new members of Congress seem “sympathetic to Palestinian rights” according to the groups’ criteria, and which members of Congress will hold key committee positions relevant to Israel and Palestine this session.

He addressed the Democratic primary election defeat of Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY), the former House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman and vocal advocate of a strong U.S.-Israel alliance. Engel lost to now-Congressman Jamaal Bowman, and Cristofalo asserted that “Israel-Palestine played a role in the primary defeat” in the heavily Democratic New York district which covers parts of the Bronx and Westchester County.

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Anti-Israel Christian Left Sees ‘New Opportunities’ in Congress, Administration - Juicy Ecumenism