29 September 2019 | https://bit.ly/2lSsG2T
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Marc Ellis comments on Naim Ateek's letter to the Episcopal Bishops following the Episcopal General Convention. When we think of protest letters, Martin Luther King’s letter from a Birmingham jail comes to mind. But there’s a tradition of protest letters to the unjust powers-that-be. Written for immediate effect, they are preserved in history and studied. These letters change the way we view the world. They call us to act for justice in our time.
Add another protest letter, from a Palestinian cleric, Reverend Naim Ateek. This one’s personal. I first met Naim in Jerusalem in 1987 when I presented my Jewish theology of liberation. He asked me to read his manuscript on a Palestinian theology of liberation. After reading the first pages, I knew a new theological day was dawning. A Jewish and a Palestinian theology of liberation could make an impact for justice. Naim’s book was published as the first Palestinian Uprising was in full swing. Soon after he founded Sabeel, a Christian liberation theology center, in Jerusalem. During the intifada years, Naim and I traveled the world speaking against Israeli militarism and justice for Palestinians. Naim and I broke an important barrier. A Jewish and Palestinian theologian could work across faith and political boundaries. Jews and Palestinians could learn from one another and develop mutual respect. Together we nurture hope that one day Jews and Palestinians will be equal in the land. Please support Mondoweiss today with a tax-deductible donation. What Naim and I wanted hasn’t worked out politically. The religious arena is another story. Since 1987, the churches have made great headway. This summer church divestment season is testament to how far American church folks have grown in appreciation of Palestinian life. Now prophetic Jews stand by the side of divestment supporters in the churches. The barrier Naim and I crossed is barely recognizable today. Jewish-Palestinian solidarity is taken for granted. Perhaps that’s why Naim was so disappointed when his own Episcopal Church denied the strong resolution brought before their general convention in June. Naim’s protest letter is strident and heartbreaking. It’s also instructive. Naim begins with a topic he and I have discussed for decades, the interfaith ecumenical deal: - See more at: http://mondoweiss.net/2015/07/ateeks-moral-universe#sthash.zysREsyG.dpuf Companies, pension funds, even governments in countries around the world have thrown their support behind the Israeli boycott.
By: Olivia Ward Foreign Affairs Reporter, Published on Mon Jul 20 2015 The Star BDS achievements The BDS movement has scored notable tactical successes in the decade since it was launched by Palestinian activists, claiming 100 victories in the U.S. alone. Here are some of its gains: ECONOMIC KLP: The Norwegian insurance giant divested from Germany’s Heidelberg Cement and Mexico’s Cemex over their use of Palestinian natural resources in the occupied territories. Veolia: The French conglomerate sold almost all of its business in Israel after losing major international tenders because of its involvement in Israeli projects in the occupied territories. G4S: The security company has been hit by millions of dollars in divestments from the Gates foundation and the American United Methodist Church pension fund because of its involvement in Israeli prisons where Palestinians are incarcerated. U.S. Presbyterian Church: Divested from three international companies involved in the occupation, including Caterpillar, HP and Motorola Solutions. George Soros Fund Management: Divested all its stock in the Israeli company SodaStream, which operates in the occupied territories. PGGM: The major Dutch pension management fund divested from five Israeli banks over their involvement in the occupied territories. Norway: The country’s giant sovereign wealth fund divested from two Israeli companies involved in settlement construction. Europe: Governments have issued guidance notices to their citizens and businesses advising them against involvement in Israeli projects in the occupied territories, including East Jerusalem. The EU issued guidelines against funding Israeli projects and entities in the territories. CULTURAL International petition: Almost 1,000 British cultural figures signed a pledge for a cultural boycott of Israel, joined by others in Montreal, Ireland and South Africa. Major U.S. filmmakers, writers, musicians and artists refused to participate in Israeli cultural events. Holocaust survivors criticize Israel: A half-page New York Times ad signed by 327 Jewish Holocaust survivors condemned Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians and called for a “full economic, cultural and academic boycott.” Academic boycott: More than 1,200 Spanish university staff joined an academic boycott of Israel, along with Belgian students and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland. The American Studies Association and three other major U.S. academic groups endorsed an academic boycott of Israel. Mondeweiss
The United Church of Christ will hold its general synod in Cleveland June 26-30 and consider a divestment resolution targeting the Israeli occupation. On June 17, 2015, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu issued a statement supporting the resolution. My dear sisters and brothers in the United Church of Christ, Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom we share work and witness on behalf of God’s love and God’s justice. I write to endorse, “A Call for the United Church of Christ to Take Actions Toward a Just Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”, Resolution #4, which will be put to the vote at your 30th General Synod later this month in Cleveland, Ohio. We grieve over Israel’s decades long oppression of Palestine and Palestinians: The illegal occupation; the expanding West Bank settlements; the separation wall; the siege of Gaza; the manipulation of water rights; the network of checkpoints and settler bypass roads; the detention of people without charges; the travel restrictions, identity cards, and disruption of every aspect of daily life for Palestinians. We condemn the brutality of Israel’s policies. But we do not condemn Judaism or Jews. As South African, we recognize institutionalized racism when we see it. We have experienced the corrosive effects of segregation – and have witnessed the healing power and joy of reconciliation. It is unconscionable to remain silent, or neutral, in the face of injustice. Neutrality maintains the status quo and compounds the injustice. The depth of my commitment to justice in the Holy Land has cost me friends and elicited vehement criticism. It is the cost of discipleship that requires us to name evil and clearly oppose it. Calling me anti-Semitic will not stop me from speaking out for justice. We do not seek to demonize the architects of Israel’s occupation of Palestine, but to implore those with the political power to change their policies and their ways. Injustice brutalizes the humanity of the oppressors as well as that of the oppressed. Freedom for Palestinians will liberate Israelis, too. We are sisters and brothers of one family, the human family, God’s family. We are made for each other, for inter-dependence, for goodness and for love. When we recognize each other for what we truly are, we make the impossible possible. Thank you for recognizing our common humanity, for taking a stand for justice. Your resolution places you on the side of justice and human rights for all. I endorse fully your resolution’s proposal to use the powerful non-violent tools of economic leverage. These tools helped us to engineer a new day for my own country, South Africa. With you, we proved that economic pressure can force the most powerful to the table. I am grateful that your denomination stood with us then, voting to join the South African divestment movement, and that you are prepared once again to take this stand for justice. I applaud your decision to be guided by the faithful voice of the Christian community of Palestine, and to encourage widespread study of Kairos Palestine – a Moment of Truth (2009). It was just such a document which, in 1985, allowed the world to hear our voice and learn the depth of our oppression in South Africa. May we all heed the Kairos Palestine call, as people of faith, to engage in “resistance with love as its logic”. I affirm your resolution’s condemnation of all violence and your uncompromising commitment to the path of non-violence and inter-religious dialogue. And I commend the resolution’s call for accountability from your own, United States, government over its annual $3.1 billion in military aid to Israel. As US citizens you have the responsibility to speak truth to the power of your own government. As Christians you have the duty to side with the oppressed and by so doing to liberate the oppressor. I endorse your resolution, and fervently pray for the day when Palestinians and Israelis will be reconciled and live together in dignity, security, and peace, with equal rights for all. When that day comes our collective hallelujahs will resound across the world we share. God bless you. Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu Cape Town, South Africa FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Archbishop Desmond Tutu in a letter to the United Church of Canada urges the denomination to take peaceful, economic action against the Israeli occupation of Palestine. He calls for the United Church at its General Council meeting in August to, “join with other denominations around the globe who have decided to boycott and divest from companies that benefit from the occupation.” Desmond Tutu first rose to prominence in the struggle against apartheid. He was one of the initial and strongest advocates for boycotts, divestment and sanctions in South Africa. In 1984 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Tutu has been a frequent visitor to the Holy Land. In the letter he draws strong parallels between apartheid in South Africa and the treatment of Palestinians. “I saw the marks of apartheid in the policies of the Israeli government continued to the present day. The Palestinians are forced to live in segregated areas, often relocated to less desirable land so Jewish settlers can live in fine red ceramic-roofed houses with paved roads while most Palestinians live in squalor in villages and refugee camps. Water is diverted to settlers so that they can have nice green lawns, irrigated fields and community swimming pools while Palestinians endure shortages and dusty roads. I have looked at this and seen the ugly face of apartheid and the racism within it.” Tutu’s letter to the United Church is timely as it arrives before the triennial meeting of the denomination in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland and Labrador scheduled for Aug. 8-15. At its last meeting, the United Church voted in favour of boycotting goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements. Since then, SodaStream one of three targeted companies, have moved their facilities out of the occupied area. Ahava cosmetics, another targeted company, is reported to be ready to leave Palestinian territory also. Tutu’s letter also calls attention to Canada’s, “complicity in Palestinian suffering under occupation.” Rev. Steve Berube, co-chair of the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI), sees this letter as being important. “Archbishop Tutu, is one of the few people who can speak with authority when comparing his life in South Africa to what he has actually seen in Palestine.” Berube spoke of his own experience in the West Bank, “Like virtually every other human rights observer in Palestine, I witnessed Israeli violations of international human rights and humanitarian laws as well as the Geneva Conventions on a daily basis. With last year’s war in Gaza more people are beginning to wake up to the horrors of the occupation. The only way the illegal occupation will end is through civil society putting economic pressure on Israel and forcing them to negotiate seriously.” -30- For more information, please contact: Rev. Steve Berube / Telephone: (506) 381-7869 Email: sberube@nb.aibn.com Victory! United Methodist Conferences, representing thousands of churches, vote to Divest!6/26/2013 From US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation by Kathryn Johnson, Interim Director June 25th, 2013 United Methodists and allies demonstrate for divestment outside the 2012 General Conference. Big news! United Methodist annual (regional) conferences in New England, Minnesota, Pacific Northwest and Upper New York voted this month to divest from companies involved with Israel's occupation of Palestinian land including Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, Hewlett Packard, and General Electric. They joined conferences in West Ohio, New York, Northern Illinois, California Nevada and California Pacific which have already taken similar action. This brings the total to nine regional bodiesrepresenting thousands of churchesnationwide! Read more... Presbyterian committee passes call for divestment from occupation profiteers.
The Presbyterian committee on the Middle East has voted overwhelmingly in favor of divesting from three companies whose products are used by the Israeli military. http://mondoweiss.net/2012/07/presbyterian-committee-passes-call-for-divestment-from-occupation-profiteers.html |
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