Russell Williams
Well-Known Member
At the Baltimore-Washington angle conference Rev. Randy and I will be asked to vote on the following matter. I have provided a brief summary of the petition along with a few comments on the situation. Relating to this issue what are the thoughts of the Administrative Board?
Petition for General Conference
Proposed Resolution: Aligning UMC Investments with Resolution on Israel and Palestine
Whereas Palestinian Christians have implored Christians everywhere to put actions behind their words to end Israel's occupation of Palestinian land, which is destroying their lives; and
Whereas, although the United Methodist Church has long opposed the occupation United Methodist Church boards and agencies still hold stocks in companies that sustain it;
This is followed by 12 more whereas's
Be it further resolved that the general conference of the United Methodist Church: instructs the United Methodist Gen. agencies, including the Gen. Board of pension and health benefits, to divest promptly from Caterpillar, Motorola, and Hewlett-Packard Until these companies and their involvement in the Israeli occupation;
Commentary:
Why is there no resolution calling for the agencies of the Methodist Church to divest themselves of any and all organizations that do business in Gaza until such time as the government of Gaza is willing to take actions against those who organize rocket attacks and/or suicide bombing attacks on Israel?
Gaza is now controlled by Hamas. Since the charter of Hamas states: "The time will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews [and kill them]; until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: Oh Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him![39,, " why does this resolution not also include sanctions against Hamas and the territories it controls until such time as Hamas changes its charter?
I would appreciate learning what the position paper is of the Palestinian Christians when they talk of peace in the Middle East. Is it their position that Israel pull all settlements out of the West Bank? Is it their position that Israel pull out of East Jerusalem? Is it their position that all of the Arabs who left Israel be allowed to return to the lands and houses they vacated in 1947 or 1948 or is it the position of the Palestinian Christians that peace will be achieved when, as I read in a newspaper clipping posted on the bulletin board of the local mosque, all of the Jews in Israel leave and move to some other country, preferably the United States.
To me it seems unrealistic to simply say to the citizens of Israel that the Hamas charter wants all of you who are Jewish to be killed and, these settlements are annoying the people that want to kill you, so please stop annoying the people who want to kill you and move out of these settlements.
Petition for General Conference
Proposed Resolution: Aligning UMC Investments with Resolution on Israel and Palestine
Whereas Palestinian Christians have implored Christians everywhere to put actions behind their words to end Israel's occupation of Palestinian land, which is destroying their lives; and
Whereas, although the United Methodist Church has long opposed the occupation United Methodist Church boards and agencies still hold stocks in companies that sustain it;
This is followed by 12 more whereas's
Be it further resolved that the general conference of the United Methodist Church: instructs the United Methodist Gen. agencies, including the Gen. Board of pension and health benefits, to divest promptly from Caterpillar, Motorola, and Hewlett-Packard Until these companies and their involvement in the Israeli occupation;
Commentary:
Why is there no resolution calling for the agencies of the Methodist Church to divest themselves of any and all organizations that do business in Gaza until such time as the government of Gaza is willing to take actions against those who organize rocket attacks and/or suicide bombing attacks on Israel?
Gaza is now controlled by Hamas. Since the charter of Hamas states: "The time will not come until Muslims will fight the Jews [and kill them]; until the Jews hide behind rocks and trees, which will cry: Oh Muslim! There is a Jew hiding behind me, come on and kill him
