A petition organized by Pathways for Middle East Peace demands an apology from Reverend Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II for his recent comments in which he said he hoped American Jews would exert their “influence” to end Israel’s “immoral enslavement” of the Palestinians.

“Given the history of Jewish humble beginnings and persecution, there should be no ambiguity as to the ethical, moral, and dehumanizing marginalization and enslavement of other human beings,” Nelson — the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – said in a letter published on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day last month.

Addressed to Nelson, the petition noted, “Using stereotypes about Jewish influence and attacking American Jews as feckless collaborators isn’t legitimate criticism of Israel. It’s antisemitism — and antisemitism is always wrong.”

“As a person of faith and the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church, you should know better,” it added. “You should apologize immediately.”

The full petition can be viewed and signed here: pathways4peace.org/petition

Pathways for Middle East Peace is a nonprofit educational organization that promotes collaboration between mainline churches and the Jewish community.

For more information on Pathways for Middle East Peace, please visit: pathways4peace.org