US Jewish groups cancel talks with Protestants over church protest against US aid to Israel

NEW YORK – Several of the biggest American Jewish organizations are canceling talks with top Protestant leaders because of tensions over Israel.

The American Jewish Committee, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and, the leaders of Conservative and Reform Judaism said Wednesday they're withdrawing from the next meeting of the national Christian-Jewish Roundtable.

The dispute is over the churches' request that Congress investigate U.S. military aid to Israel. The churches are accusing the Jewish state of widespread human rights violations in the Palestinian territories.

The head of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is calling the claims against Israel repugnant and baseless.

Among those who endorsed the statement are the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the United Methodist Council of Bishops.