Churches vote to divest from companies supporting Israel's military occupation of Palestine

Palestine Press Releases
Methodist Conference urged to follow Anglican lead on Palestine

The Methodist Church should follow the example of the Anglican Consultative Council and vote to divest from companies supporting Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine, according to a motion to be debated by its 2005 Conference in Torquay this week.

Memorial No 28 (submitted by York and Hull District Synod) calls for the Methodist Church of Great Britain to undertake a review of its investments “with a view to divesting from any corporations or activities which support the illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip”. The motion notes the World Council of Churches endorsement of last year’s divestment decision by the Presbyterian Church of the USA, and draws attention to continuing Israeli actions in defiance of international law such as the ongoing construction of the Separation Wall and the persistent expansion of settlements on Palestinian land. The response currently proposed by the conference’s Memorials Committee, however, recommends that the motion be referred to the Methodist Church’s Joint Advisory Committee for Ethical Investment, with a view to reporting back to the 2006 Conference instead of taking a decision this year. John Hilary, Director of Campaigns and Policy at War on Want, said: “Israel continues to defy international law with its actions in Palestine, and each new day of the occupation sees more Palestinians condemned to poverty and despair. We call on the Methodist Church to follow last week’s decision by the Anglican Consultative Council and vote now to divest from companies supporting the military occupation of Palestine. Actions not words are needed if we wish to see justice for the Palestinian people.”

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Notes to Editors:

1) The full text of Memorial 28 to the Methodist Conference (and proposed response) is available at www.methodist.org.uk/static/conf2005/co_73_memorials_0505.doc

2) The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) unanimously passed a resolution on 22 June 2005 commending its member churches to consider divestment from companies supporting the occupation of Palestine; see www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/articles/39/75/acns3996.cfm

3) War on Want is holding a fringe meeting at the Church of England’s 2005 General Synod in York, at 6.45pm on Friday 8 July 2005, to discuss the Church’s response to last week’s ACC resolution. The fringe will take place in Goodricke College Room 20 (G/020), University of York.

4) For more details or further comment, contact War on Want campaigns officer Nick Dearden on 07932 335464 or John Hilary on 07879 641848.


URL: http://www.waronwant.org/?lid=10277