Israel: An Apartheid State

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have called Israel an “Apartheid State” for its numerous human rights violations against Palestinians.  Now the Oregon-Idaho Conference has joined them by passing a resolution at its most recent Annual Conference affirming that “apartheid is antithetical to the Gospel message.” 

The resolution, which was submitted by the OR-ID Holy Land Task Force and Methodist Federation for Social Action, and passed by a 145-48 vote,  calls on the US Government to “condition US funding to Israel upon Israel’s willingness to dismantle its apartheid system and implement all the rights due to Palestinians under international law.” A letter will be sent to our elected officials addressing this. 

The resolution further urges “all United Methodist clergy and laity to listen to the voices of Palestinians” and offers an opportunity to do so by studying “Cry for Hope," a document prepared by Palestinian Christians. The OR-ID Holy Land Task Force and MFSA encourage everyone study this document. Representatives of both organizations are also available to do presentation to church groups or individuals.

The full text of the resolution, as well as the letter to elected officials is available on the Conference website.

-- Submitted by Dee Poujade, OR-ID Holy Land Task Force