The United Methodist Church has rejected several resolutions calling for the 12-million-member Protestant church to divest from companies engaging in business with Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. Church committees over the weekend voted down four Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions resolutions brought to a vote at the church’s quadrennial United Methodist Church General Conference in…
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The American Jewish Congress issues this statement on May 18th:
Last week, former President Bill Clinton defended his record on Israel and that of his wife, presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during a political rally for her campaign, in response to a heckler. Secretary Clinton also issued a press statement criticizing the BDS movement amid the United Methodist Church’s move to pass a resolution boycotting Israel, which ultimately failed this weekend during its annual General Conference. Today, American Jewish Congress (AJCongress) President Jack Rosen issued the following statement:
“The Clintons have always been a strong ally to Israel, and history will always recall President Clinton’s determined efforts to establish a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians during his time in the White House. We were very impressed with Mr. Clinton’s candor, responding with substantive and genuine answers to a heckler at Secretary Clinton’s political rally, and reminding the world of the dire tactics used by Hamas in Gaza — using its own citizens as human shields — so often forgotten by proponents of BDS.
“Secretary Clinton’s statement could not have come at a more vital juncture, as the United Methodist Church voted on pro-BDS resolutions over the weekend. It was a bold decision for Clinton to critique the parent organization of her own religion in defense of the Jewish State’s right to self-determination. For months, the American Jewish Congress has been appealing the Methodist Church to disavow any BDS resolutions that are put forth by its members, and in one fell swoop Secretary Clinton was able to help put the issue to rest.
“We thank the Clintons for standing up for what is right and defending Israel.”
The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organization issued this statement on May 19:
Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations today welcomed the rejection of four anti-Israel divestment resolutions by committees of the Methodist Church, calling the decisions an “appropriate refutation of the anti-Israel bigotry and bias of BDS.”
SMG, Chairman and MH, EVC/CEO of the Presidents Conference said, “The rejection of several anti-Israel divestment resolutions by leaders and members of the Methodist Church during its quadrennial General Conference reflects their understanding of the sense of fairness held by the majority of members of the Church. It is an appropriate refutation of the anti-Israel bigotry and bias of BDS, singling out Israel for punishment using standards not applied to any other country. These measures are being promoted by a small, well-organized and vocal group within the Church advocating a highly politicized, divisive agenda designed to delegitimize and isolate Israel.
Proponents of this anti-Israel agenda have threatened to try to revive their resolutions at plenary sessions of the General Conference. If they succeed in bringing the resolutions forward, we are hopeful the delegates to the General Conference will continue to reject these destructive resolutions targeting Israel.”
The Union for Reform Judaism issued the following statement on May 20, 2016:
Statement by Rabbi Rick Jacobs, Union for Reform Judaism President:
This week’s clear decision by the United Methodist Church rejecting the efforts of those who misguidedly sought to draw the Church into the boycott, divestment, sanctions campaign to delegitimize Israel is a welcome step in support of peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
We share that desire to hasten a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Every day the occupation causes pain and hardship to too many Palestinians. Our opposition to BDS in no way diminishes our constant concern for the vulnerable across the globe, including in Palestine. Yet BDS, a one sided tactic that singles out Israel and companies working in or doing business with Israel, is a hindrance to the peace process. BDS ignores the complexity of Israel’s reality and favors isolation over engagement and dialogue.
We look forward to working alongside our friends and allies in the United Methodist Church who are committed to a two-state solution. We offer our partnership so that we together, in the words of Isaiah, can be “restorers of the breach” that threatens to divide us from each other and from the backbreaking work God commands of us to shape a world of reason and justice, of compassion and peace.