United Church of Canada Israel/Palestine Proposal Passed!

After a final debate on Friday, August 17, 2012, that included prayer, praise, and some emotional pleas, the United Church has put its stamp of approval on a proposal that includes a call for a boycott of products from the illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

An attempt to amend the proposal to remove the economic action and require the church to remain neutral in the Israel-Palestine conflict was defeated in an intense debate at the 41st General Council. 

The General Council endorsed the report of The Working Group on Israel/Palestine Policy, whose policies and recommendations include recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, a call for renewed peace talks, and an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.

During debate earlier this week the proposal was expanded to include a section denouncing ongoing aggression and violence toward the state of Israel and its people and recognizing it as an important contributor to injustice in the region. The section also recognized the ongoing violence and hatred directed at Palestinians by settlers in the occupied territories.

During the final debate on Friday another amendment was approved to send the report and its policies on to church members for “study, prayerful discernment, and personal action.”

It’s now up to the Executive of the General Council to identify products, such as cosmetics and electronics, from the illegal settlements and inform church members, said Bruce Gregersen, General Council Officer for Programs, at a news conference after the proposal was passed.

Gregersen acknowledged that the Canadian government does not require identification of products from the settlements, although some European countries do. General Council will ask the federal government to require that such products be identified.

The church will also encourage members to discuss the report of the working group and contact federal politicians to discuss the federal government’s position on Israel/Palestine, Gregersen said.

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Click here for the complete text of all 13 motions approved by the UCC General Council on Israel/Palestine.

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