Churches Gather in Washington, D.C., to Plan Advocacy on Israel-Palestine

More than 60 representatives of a dozen churches and human rights organizations from around the world, including the United Church of Christ, gathered in Washington, D.C., for a National and World Council of Churches consultation. The meeting took place in anticipation of the 50th year of Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Participants assessed the role churches have played in the struggle for peace in the Middle East and repeated their call to the Israeli government to end its occupation of Palestinian territories. They also called on the United States to adopt a neutral position, in hopes that Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace as equals.

Peter Makari, area executive for Global Ministries to the Middle East and Europe, said the connections made among the participating churches at the consultation were both historical and significant. “As we anticipate the 50th year of Israeli occupation, the need to draw attention to it, mobilize our members to advocate for change, consistent with our General Synod policies and statements, and to support our partners there who live the reality of occupation daily are all urgent,” Makari said. “We are in a position to make our voices heard, and must continue to do so, in solidarity and accompaniment with partners.”

The consultation asked the U.S. government to stop arming various state and non-state actors in the Middle East, such as foreign militaries and rebel groups, and to reconsider increasing military aid to Israel. It also asked the U.S. to end efforts by states to penalize the use of non-violent measures, including economic leverage, to influence policy in Israel.

In a joint statement, the Rev. Olav Fykse-Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches, and Jim Winkler, president and general secretary of the National Council of Churches (USA), said: “We call for an end to the occupation and to settlements on occupied land, with all its grave and deteriorating dimensions for the Palestinian people, but also for Israel and the whole region beyond. We ask for full respect and protection of human rights defenders, for the rights to tell the truth, to express concern, and to take democratic, non-violent actions for justice and peace.”

The two leaders also voiced concern about several matters. “We are deeply concerned about Israeli legislative and other measures to curtail the work of Palestinian and Israeli development and human rights organizations, as well as the lack of transparency concerning investigations into international humanitarian (including faith-based) organizations in the Gaza Strip and the possible negative consequences to delivering critically needed aid to this besieged area,” they said. They added that “churches in the United States have tremendous potential, which must be mobilized, to call on the American government to do much more to secure a just and lasting peace for Israel and Palestine.”

The article notes that the UCC is among a handful of churches that have called for divestment from and boycott of companies profiting from the Israeli occupation. A 2015 General Synod resolution highlights education, non-violent action and interfaith dialogue as strategies the denomination can pursue toward a just peace. UCC national officers also recently issued a statement and cooperated on an ecumenical effort in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement.

Makari said the consultation also emphasized other actions churches can consider. These include supporting the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel, in which volunteers walk the streets to witness and document any harassment, and taking part in the World Week of Prayer for Peace in Palestine and Israel. During that week, from Sept. 18 to 24, churches, faith-based communities and civil society organizations around the world commit to a week of advocacy and action in support of an end to the occupation and a lasting peace for all people in Israel-Palestine (Matthew 5:9).

Source: Read the original report