Churches council studies a Palestinian-rights policy

A proposed National Council of Churches policy statement calls on Israel to recognize "the right of national self-determination for the Palestinian Arabs and their right to select their own representatives and to establish a Palestinian entity, including a sovereign state," reports Monitor contributor Tracy Early.

Reaffirming the council's support for Israel, the new statement calls on Palestinians and the Arab states to recognize "Israel as a Jewish state with secure, defined, and recognized borders." The National Council of Churches includes 32 Protestant and Eastern Orthodox denominations with 40 million members.