On Wednesday, August 15 the General Council of the three-million member strong United Church of Canada (UCC) voted to approve comprehensive policy on Israel/Palestine, including the boycott of goods produced in Israeli settlements, which are illegal under international law. The vote was re-confirmed by members on Friday, August 17.
The policy also said the United Church policy would include “continue to identify the end of the occupation as necessary for peace in the region” and affirmed that “non-violent resistance to the occupation is justified and should be supported by all who seek and end to the occupation.”
It also calls for education and economic action directed against settlement products and directs “the Executive of the General Council to explore the wisdom of divesting in companies that are profiting from or supporting the occupation” and “requesting that the Canadian government ensure that all products produced in the settlements be labelled clearly and differently from products of Israel.”
You can read the full details of the resolution.
The policy was passed after seven hours of debate with what United Church officals said was a vote “substantially in favour” of the boycott motion. The resolution comes after the United Church released on May 1, 2012 its Working Group on Israel/Palestine Policy.
This action by the UCC, Canada’s largest Protestant mainline denomination, follows moves by the United Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), two large mainline Protestant Christian denominations in the United States, which both adopted boycott motions targeting settlement products at their membership general assemblies in May and July 2012.
Below is a round-up of some of the reaction and press coverage in response to this historic win for the BDS movement in Canada, and was only possible due to years of work and education carried out by people of conscience within the UCC working in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Reaction
Independent Jewish Voices commends United Church for finalizing stand against Israeli occupation
BIAC congratulates United Church of Canada on settlement boycott
CJPME: In historic vote – United Church will boycott “Settlements” and United Church approves boycott as official church policy
Canadian Friends of Peace Now: CIJA’s Outrage is Outrageous, Says CFPN (in response to the Centre for Israel & Jewish Affairs’ reaction to the vote)
Media Coverage
Toronto Star: United Church members vote for boycott of products from Israeli settlements
Globe & Mail: United Church of Canada approves Israeli settlement boycott
rabble.ca: Israeli settlements and the United Church boycott: Responding to three common distortions
Postmedia: United Church approves controversial boycott of some Israeli products
Huffington Post: Israel Boycott: United Church Of Canada Will Not Buy Products From Settlements
Haaretz: Canada’s largest Protestant church approves boycott of Israeli settlement products
PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK 