Contact:
Sr.Ruth Lautt, O.P., Esq.
National Director, Fair Witness
(516) 870-0335 Ext. 3

(Jericho, New York) October 11, 2006 -- Christians for Fair Witness on the Middle East strongly rejects the assertions in America Magazine’s editorial “Unending War.” The staff at America once again places the state of Israel under its highly selective “ethical” microscope as they comment on Israel’s use of cluster bombs in the last days of the war with Hezbollah.

Fair Witness certainly does not endorse the use of cluster bombs -- and we endorse the use of maximal efforts to avoid the tragedy of civilian casualties in war. However, reasoned denunciation of such weapons is compromised by the gratuitous and wholly unfounded accusation of ethnic cleansing. Rev. Dr. Peter Pettit expressed concern that “America’s inflammatory accusations, devoid of meaningful analysis, seem designed not to build a case against cluster bombs, but to inflame passions against the Jewish state.”

“While ignoring the serious threat Israel was under when Iranian-backed Hezbollah, armed with an arsenal of missiles, attacked Israel early this summer, America hurls the invidious accusation of “ethnic cleansing” at the Jewish state.” says Sr. Ruth Lautt, O.P.

Cluster bombs are very destructive weapons.  But to attribute a motivation of “ethnic cleansing” to Israel, -- a charge we do not recall being leveled against NATO forces after their use of cluster bombs in Serbia and Kosovo -- while ignoring more obvious motives such as delaying the return of Hezbollah terrorists to the region, is irresponsible at best.  

“Using the emotionally charged rhetoric of ‘ethnic cleansing’ that has no basis in fact, does nothing to promote any real understanding of the issues involved in this conflict,” according to Rev. Dr. Roy Howard, “but merely serves to stir up anti-Israel animus.”

“America’s allegation of ‘ethnic cleansing’ is a canard that has no logical place in analyzing Israel’s tactics,” added Fr. James Loughran.  “If there is any attempt to ‘cleanse’ this region of any group it is Hezbollah’s, Hamas’ and Iran’s openly stated policy to destroy the Jewish state.”

We must remind America that there is an “unending war” in this region because Israel’s Arab neighbors have refused since 1936 to accept the presence of a Jewish state. Repeated Arab attacks in the form of five wars and endless acts of terrorism have forced the state of Israel into an unending, unwanted mode of self-defense.