Below please find more detail on the World Council of Churches recommendation.
Best,
Kris
---Forwarded Message---
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 04:43:57 -0600
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Ann Hafften <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: World Council of Churches - economic measures 050224
Feb. 23, 2005
>From the ELCA Middle East Networking List...
The World Council of Churches central committee, at its Feb. 15-22 meeting,
encouraged consideration of economic measures for peace in Israel and
Palestine. The ELCA is a member of the World Council.
The WCC central committee reminded member churches that "with investment
funds, they have an opportunity to use those funds responsibly in support of
peaceful solutions" to the Israel/Palestine conflict.
The WCC governing body encouraged the Council's 347 member churches "to give
serious consideration to economic measures that are equitable, transparent
and non-violent" as a new way to work for peace, by looking at ways to not
participate economically in illegal activities related to the Israeli
occupation.
Here is the text of the "minute" or action, followed by the WCC press
release. On the web page, http://www.oikoumene.org/cc2005.html, click on
"Israel/Palestine Economic Measures for Peace."
Minute on economic measures for peace in Israel/Palestine
The Public Issues Committee proposes Actions by the Central Committee on the
following issues.
The Public Issues Committee proposes the Central Committee to adopt the
following minute on Israel/Palestine.
Minute on Certain Economic Measures for Peace in Israel/Palestine.
In the conflict in Israel and Palestine there is a renewal of hope although
there is not yet a reduction of the threats that separate the parties to the
conflict. Palestinians have now organized two elections with constructive
effect, despite continuing occupation, and plan another at mid-year. The
churches welcome that momentum is building for peace and for solutions which
credibly engage those who must make peace, the powerful as well as the weak.
The churches note the growing witness and impact of church engagement that
includes both Israelis and Palestinians. The WCC-led Ecumenical
Accompaniment Program (EAPPI) is present and supportive of both Palestinians
and Israelis who suffer under current circumstances. There is also growing
interest among churches in taking new actions that demonstrate commitment to
and enhance prospects for a just, equitable and lasting peace in both Israel
and Palestine.
Notable among these are initiatives within churches to become better
stewards of justice in economic affairs which link them to on-going
violations of international law in occupied territory. The Central Committee
takes note of the current action by the Presbyterian Church (USA) which has
initiated a process of phased, selective divestment from multinational
corporations involved in the occupation. This action is commendable in both
method and manner, uses criteria rooted in faith, and calls members to do
the "things that make for peace" (Luke 19:42).
The concern here is to abide by law as the foundation for a just peace.
Multinational corporations have been involved in the demolition of
Palestinian homes, and are involved in the construction of settlements and
settlement infrastructure on occupied territory, in building a dividing wall
which is also largely inside occupied territory, and in other violations of
international law being carried out beyond the internationally recognized
borders of the State of Israel determined by the Armistice of 1949.
In this 38th year of occupation the desire for a just and equitable peace is
growing. For churches of the WCC such hopes are guided by positions and
programmes that reflect a search for truth amid much trouble.
The WCC has called, since 1969, for "effective international guarantees for
the political independence and territorial integrity of all nations in the
area, including Israel" and restated the concern at regular intervals, most
recently in recognizing, in 2004, Israel's "serious and legitimate security
concerns".
In 1992, the WCC Central Committee stated that "criticism of the policies of
the Israeli government is not in itself anti-Jewish". During the Oslo peace
process of the 1990s churches supported civil society projects of
rapprochement between communities in conflict in the Holy Land.
In 1995, the Central Committee established criteria for economic actions in
the service of justice, namely, that these must be part of a broader
strategy of peacemaking, address flagrant and persistent violations, have a
clear and limited purpose plus proportionality and adequate monitoring, and
are carried out transparently.
In 2001, the WCC Executive Committee recommended an international boycott of
goods produced in illegal settlements on occupied territory, and the
WCC-related APRODEV agencies in Europe are now working to have Israeli
settlement products fully and properly identified before shipment to the
European Community in accordance with the terms of the EU's Association
Agreement with Israel.
Yet illegal activities in occupied territory continue as if a viable peace
for both peoples is not a possibility. We are not blind to facts and must
not be complicit in them even unwittingly. The Central Committee, meeting in
Geneva 15-22 February 2005 therefore:
encourages member churches to work for peace in new ways and to give
serious consideration to economic measures that are equitable, transparent
and non-violent;
persuades member churches to keep in good contact with sister churches
embarking on such initiatives with a view to support and counsel one
another;
urges the establishment of more and wider avenues of engagement between
Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities pursuing peace;
reminds churches with investment funds that they have an opportunity to
use those funds responsibly in support of peaceful solutions to conflict.
Economic pressure, appropriately and openly applied, is one such means of
action.
WCC Central Committee - Geneva, 21 February 2005
WCC Press Release
21 February 2005 - pr-cc-05-08
WCC central committee encourages consideration of economic measures for
peace in Israel/Palestine
The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee reminded the Council's
member churches that "with investment funds, they have an opportunity to use
those funds responsibly in support of peaceful solutions" to the
Israel/Palestine conflict.
The WCC governing body encouraged the Council's member churches "to give
serious consideration to economic measures that are equitable, transparent
and non-violent" as a new way to work for peace, by looking at ways to not
participate economically in illegal activities related to the Israeli
occupation. In that sense, the committee affirmed "economic pressure,
appropriately and openly applied," as a "means of action".
As an example, the WCC governing body mentions the "process of phased,
selective divestment from multinational corporations involved in the
occupation" now being implemented by the Presbyterian Church (USA). "This
action is commendable in both method and manner, [and] uses criteria rooted
in faith."
The recommendation, approved one day before the end of the 15-22 February
meeting of the Council's governing body in Geneva, is contained in a minute
addressed to WCC member churches. In it, the committee also notes that "in
the conflict in Israel and Palestine there is a renewal of hope, although
there is not yet a reduction of the threats that separate the parties".
The document points out that "illegal activities in occupied territory
continue as if a viable peace for both peoples is not a possibility", and
that multinational corporations have been involved in a number of
"violations of international law" within that territory.
The committee's 150 members affirm: "The concern here is to abide by law as
the foundation for a just peace." "We are not blind to facts and must not be
complicit in them even unwittingly."
While highlighting the "growing witness and impact of church engagement that
includes both Israelis and Palestinians", including initiatives like the
WCC-led Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI),
the committee also "urges the establishment of more and wider avenues of
engagement between Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities pursuing peace".
As a frame for its recommendation, the WCC governing body recalls both its
1992 statement that "criticism of the policies of the Israeli government is
not in itself anti-Jewish", and its 1969 call for "effective international
guarantees for the political independence and territorial integrity of all
nations in the area, including Israel". It also mentions its 2004
recognition of Israel's "serious and legitimate security concerns".
---- ---- ---- ----
If you have received this bulletin directly from us, it is because you
subscribed to the ELCA Middle East Networking List. Please forward this
bulletin to others who are interested in a just peace for Palestine and
Israel.
To Join (or Leave) this List, go to www.elca.org/middleeast.
Ann Hafften
Coordinator for Middle East Networking
Division for Global Mission, ELCA
www.elca.org/middleeast
800-638-3522, ext. 6466
050224 wcc
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