United Church of Canada |

NEWS

“Witnessed widespread Israeli human rights violations”

In a recent letter to US Congress, 15 Christian leaders representing U.S. churches and religious organizations have asked members of Congress to reconsider US aid to Israel.

The letter states the leaders have “witnessed widespread Israeli human rights violations committed against Palestinians, including killing of civilians, home demolitions and forced displacement, and restrictions on Palestinian movement, among others.”

The church leaders add: “Accordingly, we urge an immediate investigation into possible violations by Israel of the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act and the U.S. Arms Export Control Act which respectively prohibit assistance to any country which engages in a consistent pattern of human rights violations and limit the use of U.S. weapons to ‘internal security’ or ‘legitimate self-defense.’ More broadly, we urge Congress to undertake careful scrutiny to ensure that our aid is not supporting actions by the government of Israel that undermine prospects for peace. We urge Congress to hold hearings to examine Israel’s compliance, and we request regular reporting on compliance and the withholding of military aid for non-compliance…

“As Christian leaders in the United States, it is our moral responsibility to question the continuation of unconditional U.S. financial assistance to the government of Israel. Realizing a just and lasting peace will require this accountability, as continued U.S. military assistance to Israel — offered without conditions or accountability — will only serve to sustain the status quo and Israel’s military occupation of the Palestinian territories.”

The letter, (click here) includes signatories by representatives of the Mennonite, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and United Church ministries.

This past August the United Church of Canada past a resolution to boycott Israeli products.

In other issues. . .

The Times of Israel reports Mohammed Badie, Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, “Egypt’s foremost Muslim Brotherhood official called on the Arab world Thursday to replace negotiations with Israel with “holy Jihad…” Click here to read the article in its entirety.