The missing Facebook page: a different story

Almost a week ago I reported the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s Facebook page was missing. That was the place where too often some very anti-Semitic articles were linked and some very anti-Semitic comments were allowed. This message is now on their web page:

IPMN Statement on Social Media

IPMN has been a presence on social media sites Facebook and Twitter over the last eighteen months, providing links to stories on Israel and Palestine that are not easily found in the mainstream U.S. media. We have had this clarification posted on our Facebook page:

“The opinions expressed in articles and/or videos posted here are those of the authors/producers, and not necessarily those of the IPMN. This Facebook page demonstrates the diversity of perspectives that exist on Israel/Palestine, and serves to encourage dialogue between differing positions.”

As our “fan base” has grown on Facebook to over 2100, so have the comments, both positive and negative. At present, Facebook does not provide a setting where fans can “like” and “share” links without posting comments that need to be monitored. Since IPMN has no paid staff, we will not be able to keep our Facebook page going, until such a time as new posting settings are made available. Until then, IPMN will post links to articles, commentary, videos, etc. on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IPMN

I had thought that perhaps it was something I had posted or even a comment that some friends had placed there that caused the problem. Evidently not. Today the Facebook page is completely gone and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs posted a statement aimed at the PC (U.S.A.). “JCPA CALLS ON THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA) TO CONFRONT ANTI-ISRAEL, ANTI-ZIONIST AND SOMETIMES ANTI-SEMITIC CONTENT IN ITS MISSION NETWORK.” The article begins:

The Jewish Council for Public Affairs called on the Presbyterian Church (USA) to take concrete actions to address the anti-Israel, anti-Zionist, and at times anti-Semitic content that has been all too common in the church’s Israel Palestine Mission Network (IPMN-PCUSA). The Israel Palestine Mission Network of the PCUSA (IPMN-PCUSA) is a group chartered by the PCUSA General Assembly and advised by members of the denomination's national staff. IPMN-PCUSA’s policies, programs, social media and other communications are a wellspring of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel invective, according to extensive research conducted by the JCPA and the Israel Action Network, an initiative of The Jewish Federations of North America in partnership with JCPA.

For example, at an opening program of the IPMN-PCUSA annual conference, the Rev. Craig Hunter said "greed and injustice is a cancer at the very core of Zionism." In a 2010 letter to church delegates, the IPMN-PCUSA falsely accused the Jewish community of intimidating Presbyterians by sending a letter-bomb to the church’s headquarters and setting fire to a church. IPMN-PCUSA tweeted an article proclaiming “Jewish power + Jewish hubris = moral catastrophe of epic proportions.” IPMN-PCUSA also has supported virulently anti-Israel resolutions including those equating Israel with Apartheid and has been a vocal supporter of the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanction movement.

Noting that the page is gone the JCPA states:

The IPMN-PCUSA Facebook page includes a cartoon of President Obama wearing weighty Jewish star earrings to suggest Jewish control of the American leaders, a common theme on the site. The IPMN-PCUSA has posted articles that accuse Jews of controlling Hollywood, the media, and American politics - and blaming Israel for the American housing and economic crisis. IPMN-PCUSA's communications chair also posted her opposition to a two-state solution and the existence of a Jewish state, something which she terms "anachronistic.” The same IPMN leader, Noushin Framke, clicked "like" on the Obama cartoon with the Jewish stars and another post that Hamas should keep Israeli Gilad Shalit hostage until Palestinians are granted a right of return.

While I am glad this much has been accomplished Twitter will still be a problem. Just today on Twitter The IPMN-PCUSA linked to an article by writer Stuart Littlewood who writes for the vile Veterans Today. They did not link to VT but to an Arab Newspaper but nonetheless the writer is the same. Yesterday they linked to James Wall and his article demonizing Alan Dershowitz. But at least there will no longer be a page where Framke can agree with vile links and comments.

HT Dexter Van Zile