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United Church of Christ votes to boycott & divest from companies profiting from Israel’s occupation
http://mondoweiss.net/2015/06/companies-profiting-occupationThe United Church of Christ Palestine-Israel Network (UCC PIN) is pleased to announce that today the plenary of the 30th General Synod taking place in Cleveland passed Resolution #4, calling for boycotts and divestment from companies that profit from Israel’s occupation of Palestinian lands.
“As disciples of Jesus, we hear and seek to heed his call to be peacemakers, responding to violence with nonviolence and extending love to all,” said Rev. John Deckenback, Conference Minister of the Central Atlantic Conference of the UCC, which submitted the resolution to the synod. “It is in that spirit of love for both Israelis and Palestinians, and a desire to support Palestinians in their nonviolent struggle for freedom, that the United Church of Christ has passed this resolution.”
“In approving this resolution, the UCC has demonstrated its commitment to justice and equality,” said Rev. Mitri Raheb, a Christian Palestinian and Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land, who traveled to Cleveland for the synod. “For Palestinians living under occupation or facing systematic discrimination as citizens of Israel, enduring the destruction of their homes and businesses, the theft of their land for settlements, and living under blockade and siege in Gaza, this action sends a strong signal that they are not alone, and that there are churches who still dare to speak truth to power and stand with the oppressed.”
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The vote, which was 508 in favor, 124 against, with 38 abstentions, was the culmination of a process that began in 2005 to end the Church’s complicity in Israel’s nearly half-century-old occupation and other abuses of Palestinian human rights. It also comes as a response to the Christian Palestinian community’s call for Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, as embodied in the Kairos Palestine document, which seeks to achieve Palestinian freedom and rights using peaceful means, inspired by the US Civil Rights and South African anti-Apartheid movements.
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Israel detains Palestinian archbishop
The human rights and Palestine solidarity organization BDS South Africa condemns Israel's recent arrest and detainment of Palestinian Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna.
Over the past weekend Archbishop Hanna was arrested when he participated in a non-violent protest march against Israel's illegal seizure of a Palestinian hospital which is part of the al-Baraka ("house of blessing"
Presbyterian church complex, north of Hebron in Palestine.
An international delegation from the Presbyterian church, as well as other international peace activists, took part in the protest march with Archbishop Hanna against the illegal Israeli seizure of the Palestinian hospital and church compound. According to the protestors, the sale of the hospital and church compound is illegal under international and canonical law.
Palestinians claim that the seizure of the hospital and church compound are being used to establish an illegal Israeli settlement outpost which Israelis eventually want to have form part of the illegal Gush Etzion Israeli settlement bloc. Last month Israel's Haaretz newspaper leaked details of the illegal seizure of al-Baraka hospital and church compound by a Jewish billionaire with the assistance of an Israeli settler. It is alleged that the sale was made by employing a variety of shell corporations and charitable organizations to cover up the acquisition of the church property.
ABOUT ARCHBISHOP HANNA
Archbishop Hanna is an outspoken critic of Israeli policies against fellow Palestinians - both Palestinian Christians and Muslims. He is also one of the Palestinian authors of the Palestinian Kairos Declaration, which articulates the views of Palestinian Christians and was inspired by the famous South African Kairos document.
Archbishop Hanna has previously said: “Israel desires to conceal the Christian dimension of the Palestinian issue. Israel attempts to present this conflict as a Jewish-Muslim religious conflict, and it also attempts to neutralize the Christian position, and therefore it is irritated by the growing Christian voices raised on the Palestinian issue. We [Palestinian Christian clergy] have always asserted that the Church in Palestine is there to serve all Palestinians for it is a church for the people. It is also a church that is deeply rooted in this land and the Arab Palestinian Christians and Muslims who live in it.”
Website: https://www.facebook.com/bdssouthafrica
South African group advancing and working with the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel movement.
Source: http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/news/914-israel-detains-palestinian-archbishop
--------------
Now read the Haaretz article RDO : .......
Defense minister okays work on West Bank church compound bought for settlers
Renovation aimed at establishing new settlement between Hebron and Gush Etzion; compound bought by non-profit controlled by U.S. billionaire Moskowitz, earmarked for settlers.
By Chaim Levinson 22:47 20.06.15
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has approved continued renovation of a church compound in the southern West Bank that was purchased by representatives of U.S. billionaire Irving Moskowitz and earmarked for settlers.
On May 22, Haaretz reported that Moskowitz’s representatives had purchased the compound, opposite the Al-Arroub refugee camp, from an American Presbyterian church that built it in the late 1940s. The compound extends over 40 dunams (about 10 acres) and has eight structures. It was purchased from the U.S. church through a fictitious front – a Swedish entity masquerading as a church, headed by a Christian woman from Norway who is close to right-wing causes. In 2012, the asset was registered to a nonprofit association controlled by Moskowitz. Renovations began in March, ahead of reported plans to establish a settlement outpost there.
The Haaretz report took security officials by surprise. The army was unaware of the purchase and soldiers on patrol in the area were told the compound was being turned into a hostel.
After the report was published, the Civil Administration held a number of meetings, after which it was decided to stop the work and scrutinize the legality of the purchase. Right-wing activist Aryeh King, who is heading the work at the site for Moskowitz, agreed.
Early last week at a meeting in Ya’alon’s office, military lawyers told the defense minister they saw no legal impediment to continuing the renovation, as long as no changes were made to the facade of the building. Ya’alon accepted their position.
The defense minister’s approval would be required before anyone could move into the compound, and this has not been obtained so far. Nor has the matter been discussed. Ya’alon has not yet ruled on a request by the Gush Etzion Regional Council to have the compound placed under its jurisdiction.
Source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.662191
The human rights and Palestine solidarity organization BDS South Africa condemns Israel's recent arrest and detainment of Palestinian Archbishop Theodosios Atallah Hanna.
Over the past weekend Archbishop Hanna was arrested when he participated in a non-violent protest march against Israel's illegal seizure of a Palestinian hospital which is part of the al-Baraka ("house of blessing"
Presbyterian church complex, north of Hebron in Palestine.
An international delegation from the Presbyterian church, as well as other international peace activists, took part in the protest march with Archbishop Hanna against the illegal Israeli seizure of the Palestinian hospital and church compound. According to the protestors, the sale of the hospital and church compound is illegal under international and canonical law.
Palestinians claim that the seizure of the hospital and church compound are being used to establish an illegal Israeli settlement outpost which Israelis eventually want to have form part of the illegal Gush Etzion Israeli settlement bloc. Last month Israel's Haaretz newspaper leaked details of the illegal seizure of al-Baraka hospital and church compound by a Jewish billionaire with the assistance of an Israeli settler. It is alleged that the sale was made by employing a variety of shell corporations and charitable organizations to cover up the acquisition of the church property.
ABOUT ARCHBISHOP HANNA
Archbishop Hanna is an outspoken critic of Israeli policies against fellow Palestinians - both Palestinian Christians and Muslims. He is also one of the Palestinian authors of the Palestinian Kairos Declaration, which articulates the views of Palestinian Christians and was inspired by the famous South African Kairos document.
Archbishop Hanna has previously said: “Israel desires to conceal the Christian dimension of the Palestinian issue. Israel attempts to present this conflict as a Jewish-Muslim religious conflict, and it also attempts to neutralize the Christian position, and therefore it is irritated by the growing Christian voices raised on the Palestinian issue. We [Palestinian Christian clergy] have always asserted that the Church in Palestine is there to serve all Palestinians for it is a church for the people. It is also a church that is deeply rooted in this land and the Arab Palestinian Christians and Muslims who live in it.”
Website: https://www.facebook.com/bdssouthafrica
South African group advancing and working with the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel movement.
Source: http://www.alternativenews.org/english/index.php/news/914-israel-detains-palestinian-archbishop
--------------
Now read the Haaretz article RDO : .......
Defense minister okays work on West Bank church compound bought for settlers
Renovation aimed at establishing new settlement between Hebron and Gush Etzion; compound bought by non-profit controlled by U.S. billionaire Moskowitz, earmarked for settlers.
By Chaim Levinson 22:47 20.06.15
Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has approved continued renovation of a church compound in the southern West Bank that was purchased by representatives of U.S. billionaire Irving Moskowitz and earmarked for settlers.
On May 22, Haaretz reported that Moskowitz’s representatives had purchased the compound, opposite the Al-Arroub refugee camp, from an American Presbyterian church that built it in the late 1940s. The compound extends over 40 dunams (about 10 acres) and has eight structures. It was purchased from the U.S. church through a fictitious front – a Swedish entity masquerading as a church, headed by a Christian woman from Norway who is close to right-wing causes. In 2012, the asset was registered to a nonprofit association controlled by Moskowitz. Renovations began in March, ahead of reported plans to establish a settlement outpost there.
The Haaretz report took security officials by surprise. The army was unaware of the purchase and soldiers on patrol in the area were told the compound was being turned into a hostel.
After the report was published, the Civil Administration held a number of meetings, after which it was decided to stop the work and scrutinize the legality of the purchase. Right-wing activist Aryeh King, who is heading the work at the site for Moskowitz, agreed.
Early last week at a meeting in Ya’alon’s office, military lawyers told the defense minister they saw no legal impediment to continuing the renovation, as long as no changes were made to the facade of the building. Ya’alon accepted their position.
The defense minister’s approval would be required before anyone could move into the compound, and this has not been obtained so far. Nor has the matter been discussed. Ya’alon has not yet ruled on a request by the Gush Etzion Regional Council to have the compound placed under its jurisdiction.
Source: http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.662191