United Methodist Women’s Statement on Renewed Israel-Palestinian Violence

NEW YORK – United Methodist Women Director of Public Relations and Marketing Yvette Moore today noted that the organization “grieves for the continued loss of life and opportunities for just peace in Israel and the still Occupied Territories. We pray for peace with justice in Jerusalem. We condemn the eviction threats and abuse against Palestinian families in East Jerusalem that preceded this current wave of violence and call for an immediate cease-fire. The United Methodist Church’s “Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Lands” resolution was first adopted in 2004 as a call for a just peace in this area, and it was reaffirmed in 2008 and 2012.  We reiterate the United Methodist Church’s call for the U.S. government to work with the United Nations to end the Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land and resources. We call on the United States to end all military aid to the area.

Opposition to Israeli Settlements in Palestinian Lands Excerpt:

Moore referred the media to this earlier organizational statement: “The United Methodist Church opposes the continued military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, the confiscation of Palestinian land and water resources, the destruction of Palestinian homes, the continued building of illegal Jewish settlements, and any vision of a ‘Greater Israel’ that includes the occupied territories and the whole of Jerusalem and its surroundings. We urge the U.S. government to end all military aid to the region, and second to redistribute a large amount of aid now given to Israel and Egypt; to support economic development efforts of nongovernmental organizations throughout the region, including religious institutions, human rights groups, labor unions, and professional groups within Palestinian communities.” (from The Book of Resolutions of The United Methodist Church, 2016.)

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United Methodist Women is the nation’s largest denominational organization for women. Members turn their faith, hope, and love into action, raising more than $10 million annually to support community centers and other programs empowering women, children, and youth in the United States and around the world.

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Contact: Yvette Moore, ymoore@unitedmethodistwomen.org