From earliest days the Christian Church has used. the name “Israel” in its worship. accepting the Jewish scriptures as its Old Testament, and identifying itself as God’s People Israel. The book of Psalms, Israel’s prayer book is used extensively in Christian worship, in both Catholic and Protestant forms. In my own Church of Scotland, the name Israel appears often in what we sing.

THIS MUST NOW STOP.

Israel has become the name of a junta of killers, a designation of death for innocent children, women and men in Gaza and the West Bank.

THIS NAME MUST NOT BE USED IN THE HOLY PLACE OF CHRISTIAN WORSHIP

This will be a deprivation but necessary as the nation Israel does not exist at present, and should not be treated as such by the Church.

It may well be the case that it should cease to be recognised as a nation by the international community, so that a NO ISRAEL policy becomes political as well as ecclesial.

THIS IS NOT ANTI SEMITIC. I am without prejudice towards all semites, including Jews. It is a theological judgement on Israel as the name of a nation.

Palestine Action, which exists to promote the cause of Palestinians against zionist Israelis, and the Israeli Defence Force, has done some unwise things, like throwing paint on aircraft that might be used in Gaza, has been declared a terrorist organisation by the British Government which seems unaware that it is supporting a terrorist state.

Sue Parfitt amongst others has acted in support of Palestine Action, and has been arrested for doing so. She is a hardened pacifist who has been arrested a number of time for protesting against state violence.

I think she is acting as a disciple of Jesus, AND I AM HAPPY TO DECLARE MY SUPPORT OF HER. I HOPE OTHER FOLLOWERS OF JESUS, ALONG WITH OTHER GOOD PEOPLE, WILL SUPPORT HER AGAINST THE DANGEROUS NONSENSE OF THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.

Like Sue Parfitt, I am 83 years old and a retired clergyman.