Loading ...JVP supports UCC Church Taking Action towards a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine | Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish support for UCC Church Taking Action towards a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine
Growing support for divestment from occupation in US churches
June 29, 2015 (Cleveland, OH)–Jewish peace activists in attendance at the United Church of Christ General Synod this week in Cleveland express support for the church’s deliberations regarding divestment from the Israeli occupation. Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) is proud to support its partners in the UCC Palestine/Israel Network as they call on their community to make the ethical decision to withdraw their investments from companies complicit in military occupation and human rights abuses against Palestinians. The General Synod plenary body will vote on a resolution recommending specific actions towards a just peace in Israel/Palestine as early as this afternoon (Monday, 6/29).
“There is no contradiction between choosing to divest from companies complicit in human rights abuses and maintaining good interfaith relations with Jews,” stated JVP board member Lev Hirschhorn from the Cleveland gathering. “The church should follow its conscience in speaking up for justice, and divestment is an effective means to align the church’s investments with its values.”
The United Church of Christ is considering taking concrete actions towards a just peace in Israel-Palestine during its General Synod in Cleveland June 26-30. The resolutions discussed call for targeted divestment from companies that profit from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, specifically Motorola, Hewlett Packard (HP), Caterpillar, Veolia and G4S. They also call for the boycott of companies whose products are made in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, and for the Church to petition Congress to ensure that foreign aid to Israel does not violate US law regarding countries that engage in human rights abuses, as well as for study of the Kairos Palestine document, a call for solidarity from Palestinian Christians.
A growing number of Jews oppose the building of illegal settlements and increasingly support putting pressure on Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. Given the recent election of an extreme right-wing and anti-peace Israeli government, it is more apparent than ever that it will take outside pressure to move towards justice and peace in the region.
The United Church of Christ has long opposed the occupation and taken a principled stand to advance peace with justice. Divestment from companies that are complicit in human rights abuses being committed in Israel/Palestine is the next step in this process.
Concurrently, the Episcopal Church and Mennonite Church are also considering similar resolutions to take action towards bringing about a just peace in Israel/Palestine.
Source: jewishvoiceforpeace.org