His preaching arouses passions

Re “Palestinian priest’s views spur criticism,” March 1

The Rev. Naim Ateek, an Anglican priest, preaches nonviolence, but he and his speakers spend so much energy vilifying Israel that they have none left for calling attention to the persecution of Christians by Muslims. Christians have been harassed and their property and churches vandalized. Israeli policing on the West Bank can be firm, but its purpose is to protect not only Israelis but also non-Islamist elements from terror and mayhem. Let Ateek try to preach the Gospel throughout the Arab world -- and also curse Islamist rulers while he’s at it.

Peter Brier

Altadena

As much as Ateek tries to deny it, he speaks about the modern state of Israel the way Christians in medieval Europe spoke about Jews. He has compared modern Israelis to Herod, who, according to the Gospel of Matthew, murdered all the infants of Bethlehem in an effort to kill the baby Jesus. He also has compared the occupation to the stone blocking Christ’s tomb.

This is all reminiscent of polemic in the New Testament that portrays Jesus’ opponents as embodying all that is wrong with humanity. This imagery, coupled with Ateek’s failure to honestly address the failings of Palestinian leaders, serves to demonize Israel.

If Ateek’s approach to peacemaking is “theologically correct,” as he asserts, then we must be living in the Middle Ages.

Dexter Van Zile

Boston

The writer is a media analyst with the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America.

It is clear from his interview that Ateek, the founder of Sabeel, a Jerusalem-based Palestinian liberation theology movement, is a man of peace. This article accurately characterizes the response to Sabeel’s conference as having “sparked controversy among some Jewish groups” rather than between Christians and Jews. The latest conference was attended by people of all faiths and was not only peaceful but informative and interesting.

Vicki Tamoush

Tustin