The Presbyterian Church in the United States has stepped up security at its churches and its headquarters after receiving a letter threatening arson attacks because of its policies in the Middle East. The letter was received on 10 November and threatened to set churches on fire while people were inside in retaliation for “anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes,” Jerry Van Marter, director of the Presbyterian news service, told the news agency JTA. The letter had no return address, but it bore a postmark from Queens, New York City, Van Marter said. The letter gave a 15 November deadline for the church to reverse its Middle East policies, he said. In June, the church’s general assembly decided to begin selective divestment from corporations doing business in, or with, Israel, to protest against the Israeli government's policy toward the Palestinians.
