Signposts Down a "Mediator's" Memory Lane

A cryptic post by our old friend  this week ...

Our old friend the ex-vicar of Virginia Water is certainly not camera shy, whether behind or in front of the lens. In the new Facebook page he opened last week on behalf of the so-called Peacemaker Mediators organisation of which he is "CEO" he has posted numerous photos of himself and his adventures.

The happy snap of Sizer up close and chummy with a sly old villain who virtually invented brand Palestinian is conspicuous by its absence.  (Let me make good the deficiency!)

Also missing is the ex-vicar's happy snap with  Sheikh Raed Salah, leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel, whose alleged appalling antisemitic attitude towards Jews and Israel is described (along with Sizer's stance towards Salah) here. 

(Let me oblige again):

But do have a look at the link I've provided above, because there are other happy snaps of Sizer and Salah there, as well as of Salah with Sizer's Facebook buddy Reading PSC (Palestine Solidarity Campaign) founder Tony Gratrex, a 9/11 troofer whose Facebook wall is littered with antisemitism and who according to the article I've linked to has been a congregant of Christ Church, Virginia Water.

As you might surmise from these photographic omissions the ex-vicar's repellent flirtations with Israel-did-9/11 conspiracy theories do not figure in the Peacemaker Mediators' album either.

It's on the vanilla side but is no less instructive for that.

The cleric in the photo at bottom left is our old friend Father Dave Smith, Sydney's answer to Sizer (and like the CEO himself and certain other members of Peacemaker Mediators' International Board of Reference, pre-eminently, perhaps, Baroness Tonge, a proven partisan of the anti-Israel cause).

Here's a reminder of the ex-vicar's predilection for appearing on the Iranian regime's Israel-demonising mouthpiece Press TV:

Here's a reminder of one of the many conferences Sizer has attended that undermine Israel (please note the following two photos are versions of ones that appear on the Mediator's Facebook album):

Have a scroll through the list of participants at that event in Qatar to see the company that was kept!  Here's what was approved by the participants:

'International Conference for the Defense of Jerusalem has praised the proposal of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani calling for approaching the UN Security Council to adopt a resolution on forming an international commission to investigate all the actions taken by Israel since the 1967 occupation in Arab Jerusalem, in order to erase its Islamic and Arabic identity. 

The Conference also welcomed HH the Emir's call to prepare a comprehensive strategy for the various sectors and projects needed by the city of Jerusalem. This came in the "Doha Declaration" which was released this evening at the end of the International Conference for the Defense of Jerusalem, delivered by HE Assistant Foreign Minister for International Cooperation Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Jabor Al-Thani. The Declaration said: 

The International Conference for the Defence of Jerusalem was hosted by Doha, the capital of the State of Qatar from 26 to 27 February 2012 in implementation of the resolution No. 503 of the 22nd Arab summit held in Sirte on 28/3 / 2010. The Conference was held under the slogan "support the steadfastness of Jerusalem", under the auspices and attendance of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, in the presence of President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, Arab League Secretary General Dr. Nabil Al Arabi, Arab foreign ministers, heads of international and regional organizations and bodies, organizations and federations advocating human rights, clerics, as well as intellectuals, legal , political and history figures who gathered in a historic global mobilization to express solidarity with the Palestinian people in the city of Jerusalem and their legitimate rights.

The Doha Declaration went on to say: Siding with Jerusalem and out of commitment to support its resilience and the stability of its people in addressing the Judaization of this eternal city; the city of intolerance, religious coexistence and the blending of cultures through time prior to the occupation.After an in-depth study of the city's status quo and the enormous challenges facing its Arab identity and the Judaization threats including the forced displacement of people and continued and escalating measures in destructing Islamic and Christian sanctities and obscuring the city's history and human heritage.Out of our commitment to legitimate resolutions, treaties and international conventions and out of adherence to the noble principles of the Charter of the United Nations regarding international law and international humanitarian law for the return of Jerusalem as a city of peace, security, freedom and justice, emphasizing it as the eternal capital of the State of Palestine. 

The Declaration pays tribute and homage to the Palestinian people in Jerusalem for their steadfastness in the face of Israeli violations of the city's holy sites, history and heritage.It welcomes the invitation of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani to use Jerusalem's freedom as a fulcrum of all Palestinians and an incentive for achieving the reconciliation and ending the division.The Declaration appreciates and supports the proposal of HH the Emir to go to the Security Council to adopt a resolution for the formation of an international commission to investigate all Israeli actions taken since the 1967 occupation of Jerusalem with a view to erase its Arab and Islamic features. It also welcome HH the Emir's invitation to prepare a comprehensive strategy for the various sectors and projects that Jerusalem needs, and Qatar's willingness to participate with all its capacities in accomplishing this strategy and putting it into practice. It emphasizes that it breaches the international law and international humanitarian law to forcefully displace the people of Jerusalem through Judaization schemes, the denial of justice, obscuring history and heritage, land alienation and property confiscation.

The Declaration calls on international powers who remain silent towards Israeli violations to assume their responsibility and compel Israel to implement all UN resolutions relevant to Jerusalem. The Doha Declaration calls on the UN and all its relevant institutions to shoulder their responsibilities towards Jerusalem and its people; to ensure that they enjoy all their civil, economic and social rights in their city; and to preserve the city's sacred sites, historical monuments and human heritage. (MORE) The Doha Declaration calls on the Government of Switzerland, the depositary of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 to speed the call for the resumption of the Conference of High Contracting Parties to the Convention in pursue to implementing the resolutions of the General Assembly of the United Nations in this regard, in order to take the necessary measures to stop the Israeli violations and the protection of Jerusalem , its people and its holy sites. It expresses deep concern about the ongoing Israeli works including excavations and archaeological excavations in Al-Aqsa Mosque and around Old City, which seriously affect distinctive character of city at the religious, cultural, historical and demographic levels, and contradictory with the decisions of UNESCO and the UN resolutions related to the city's territory and the rules of international law and especially the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property of 1954.

 The Declaration also urges the free world to defend the city of Jerusalem and to support its people and its holy sites as a humane obligation and a civilized duty, and as a right imposed by principles of international law, the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949, the Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict 1954, the Convention for the Protection of World Cultural and Historical Heritage 1972, the resolutions of international legitimacy on the status of Jerusalem as occupied territory and the relevant decisions of UNESCO. It also urges the Israeli authorities to stop unilateral policies and procedures for imposing a fait accompli on the ground in the city of Jerusalem, including the immediate cessation of all settlement activities, the removal of the apartheid wall in accordance with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, the preservation of Islamic and Christian sanctities, guarantee the free access, not to cause prejudice to the geographical, political and demographic status of the city for Judaization schemes.

The Declaration calls on the UNESCO to safeguard the cultural heritage of the occupied city of Jerusalem on the basis of its resolutions on it, and to work on the application of the eighth paragraph of the decision of its Executive Board 35 m / 49 and resolution EX / 12 (185 EX / 14 and 185 EX / 52 amended), which calls for assigning one or more of recognized experts to be permanent and based in East Jerusalem to regularly report on all aspects related to the educational, cultural and population status of the city of Jerusalem. It praises the efforts of Jordan in its support of the endowments in the city of Jerusalem, and the role of HM King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein in support of Jerusalem and the protection of holy sites and the steadfastness of Jerusalem people , particularly the efforts made in the UNESCO to issue a unanimous verdict obliging Israel not to take unilateral action to change the features of Mughrabi Gate Road. 

Finally, the participants in the International Conference for the Defense of Jerusalem extended thanks the State of Qatar, its Emir, government and people, for the generous hosting of this conference, and providing all means of success as well as their efforts in support of the city of Jerusalem and its people for their steadfast stand against the Israeli occupation and the continued schemes for Judaizing the city.

Here's another Israel-demonising conference in which our old friend participated:

“The first round of dialogues between Muslims and Evangelical Churches” was held from 26-30 May, 2012, in Tehran-Iran. The conference was organised by the Center for Interreligous Dialogue (CID) of the Islamic Culture and Relation Organizations (ICRO) in cooperation with the Fellowship of the Middle East Evangelical Churches (FMEEC) and with the participation of Muslim – Christian representatives from Middle East. The conference was attended by the Rev. Haroutune Selimian, the President of the Armenian Evangelical Community in Syria.

During the period of 26 -30 May, 2012, Muslim and Christian scholars in “The first round of Dialogue between the Muslims and Evangelical Churches” discussed Jerusalem al- Quds and how it can be made easily accessible as a place of worship once again, because Jerusalem al-Quds a place of worship for all three major Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Other experts talked of good relations and the trust between Muslims and Christians before Israeli occupation of Jerusalem al-Quds.

Other prominent Christian figures believed that it was the duty of Christians to free Jerusalem-al Quds. Continuously, the strong relationship of Christian-Islam mutual relations inspire hope for the Christian minority that lives in Persia and elsewhere to be safe and peaceful on the principles of the brotherly love upon the basis of the principle of co-existence."

The purpose of the trip down Memory Lane seems to be not only a reminder of the path the CEO's trod but a signpost to where he's going, and his new toy too.

The overriding  impression is that the ex-vicar has travelled around the world winning friends and influencing people in the cause of undermining Israel. And is continuing to do so, as he continues to jet off to exotic climes.  (Morocco a week ago, Egypt now.)

The Church of England newspaper carried on 11 May an article by Canon Chris Sutton:

 'Peacemaker Mediators was launched on Saturday May 6 at Christ Church Virginia Water. It aims to be a catalyst for peacemaking, especially where minorities are persecuted, where justice is denied, human rights are suppressed or reconciliation is needed. The director, the recently retired vicar of Christ Church, the Rev Stephen Sizer, wants to work with other peacemaking charities, with a specific role of dealing with causes not consequences.

Patrons of the charity are Archbishop Mouneer Anis (Jerusalem and the Middle East) and the former Archbishop of Uganda, Henry Orombi.

A vile distortion of Niemoller's message

The Panel of Reference includes Bishop Michael Langrish, former Bishop of Exeter.

Speaking from this Sunday’s lectionary he noted that Ephesians 2: 14 reads “Christ is our peace who has broken down the dividing wall to make peace”. The cross which was a priestly and prophetic act is not a victory over hatred, Bishop Langrish said.  Jesus was not winning a conflict but putting an end to conflict.  Pouring millions into peacekeeping only keeps warring parties apart.  The Christian community struggles to keep reconciliation alive. “This charity is committed to keep that witness alive,” he said, “a vocation to which Christ calls us and for which he gives us the grace.”....

Approx. 3:20 "They came for the Palestinians"

Canon Garth Hewitt, the founder of Amos Trust, and a trustee of the charity, gave a concert with guitar and harmonica. His songs had lines such as

“In the tents of God mercy all are accepted., God is still waiting with wide open arms”

“I believe in the way of peace,  I believe in the way of freedom

Oh in my heart I do believe, In the way of peace and the way of Jesus”

And referring to the Bethlehem Wall, “No injustice will last forever, one day the wall will fall”

“When we do not speak up so the truth dies, It’s the devils moment. Kyrie eleison.”

A painting called “The Devil’s Moment” was auctioned in aid of the new charity. [Painting pictured, with Sizer]

Several members of the panel of reference referred to the courage that Reverend Sizer had shown under significant pressure, from people one contributor noted, who were afraid of what he was saying....' [Emphasis added]

I wonder whether those members of the Board of Reference approve Sizer's despicable 9/11 comments and other outrageous assertions, then.

 The article continued:

'Canon Chris Sugden welcomed the launch of Peacemaker Mediators as timely for the UK because from a Christian perspective, making peace and achieving reconciliation depends on truth. “Truth is the only defence the powerless and marginalised have against the powerful.  If morality is reduced to personal opinion and preference, and if criticism of any position is taken as unacceptable offence, then all we have is a power-game and those in the minority are judged to be sick and suffering from some phobia or other. We must ensure the freedom to speak and seek the truth in the public square in our own country. Some will be pressing the parties in the forthcoming election to include the provision of conscience clauses in many of the current and contentious articles of legislation already on the statute book and envisioned.”

Bishop Michael has written to the CEN to clarify his comments reported above. He writes:

...Thank you for your very full coverage on the launch of this very important new initiative in this week’s CEN, in which you cover a number of remarks made by me.  However  among them I am reported as saying that ‘the cross is not a victory over hatred’.  Far from it.  In one sense we can say that it was hatred which put Christ on the cross, and his resurrection is very much a victory over it and the attitudes and actions which flow from it.  What I did say was that Christ  didn’t come merely to win a conflict – there’s no great merit in that. It was about giving people the means to end the conflict, the hatred, the enmity, the strife, with a new way of living instead.  When someone wins in a conflict there are still victors and vanquished – them and us.  When a conflict is overcome there is just ‘us’ – one new community in Christ.  National governments and international organisations today pour huge resources into ‘peace-keeping’ which generally amounts to little more than keeping warring parties apart – with often the most vulnerable continuing to suffer in the ensuing gap. The calling of the Church is to peace-making – at every level of human life. So, Peacemaker Mediators is committed to tackling the causes of conflict, recognising that wherever the Church is under-resourced, marginalised or persecuted in its work for reconciliation it needs our support.  Those of us who serve on the international Board of Reference share a commitment to this end.'

The impression of inexorable Israel-bashing as a key if not the main component in the new outfit's agenda is bolstered by the ex-vicar's personal posts on Facebook, in which, inter alia, he makes no secret of his admiration for that shameful old leftist Jeremy Corbyn, and posts such disgraceful images as the antisemitic Leunig cartoon I referred to recently and which I have posted above..

Fostering good relations with the Israel-rejecting Muslim world and winning converts to his anti-Zionist brand of Christianity in such places as South Korea is what the images suggest. There is no attempt to learn, much less empathise with, the mainstream Jewish attitude to Zion, and this underlines the one-sided nature of the organisation he now heads, and its preposterous claim to mediate, at least as far as Israel and its foes are concerned, since the so-called mediators (at any rate the ones who matter) are among those foes.

But just look at the vile endorsement of a murderer that one of the International Board of Reference of Peacemaker Mediators, Baroness Tonge, has made today:

As explained in a nutshell here:

'On May 20, 2004, the Tel Aviv District Court convicted Barghouti of three terror attacks in which five Israelis were murdered, and also of attempted murder, membership in a terror organization and conspiring to commit a crime. He was acquitted of 33 other murders with which he was charged, because of a lack of evidence. On June 6, 2004, Barghouti was sentenced to five consecutive life terms and 40 years.

The court said in its verdict that "Barghouti was responsible for providing the field units with money and arms…." The judges said that the attacks were sometimes "based on instructions" from Yasser Arafat.

The court found Barghouti responsible for a June 2001 attack in Maale Adumim, in which a Greek monk was murdered, a January 2002 terror attack on a gas station in Givat Zeev, a March 2002 attack at Tel Aviv's Seafood Market restaurant, in which three people were murdered, and a car bomb attack in Jerusalem.

David Saranga, a spokeman for Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom said, "The five people who were killed in these attacks that he ordered will not return to life. The widows and orphans will not get their loved ones back. But at least justice was done.'

Just look at the sentiments expressed by the organisation's CEO's Facebook friend and drivel merchant "Harriet," who runs a scurrilous website called Harriet's Place:

 

This too is all one post:

Another example of antisemitism pimped by Sizer's "Harriet":

Sullied by association with such sentiments, Peacemaker Mediators can only be held in disrepute, no matter how worthy and well-intentioned some of its personnel may be.