Jewish Voice for Peace congratulates United Church of Christ on taking a strong stand for a just peace in Israel/Palestine

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Jewish Voice for Peace congratulates United Church of Christ on taking a strong stand for a just peace in Israel/Palestine

UCC votes to withdraw financial complicity with Israeli occupation
Thousands of JVP supporters thank UCC in sign-on letter.

June 29, 2015 (Cleveland OH)—The United Church of Christ voted overwhelmingly today to approve a resolution calling for concrete action towards a just peace in Israel/Palestine. 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. The resolution included divestment from specific companies that profit from the occupation, a boycott of products produced in illegal Israeli settlements, and advocacy to ensure that foreign aid to Israel does not violate US law regarding countries that engage in human rights abuses. The following are quotes for publication from Jewish Voice for Peace activists present at the UCC General Synod in Cleveland Ohio. For more details see the United Church of Christ Palestine/Israel Network’s press release.  

Laila Berstein, Jewish Voice for Peace-Boston member: “I heard a clarity here of the need to take concrete action, and I have a deep faith that the UCC will be our partner in moving forward towards justice. A groundswell of frustration with the status quo and principled moral clarity has led many members of the United Church of Christ to declare they are no longer satisfied to pray for peace while paying for occupation.

Lev Hirschhorn, Jewish Voice for Peace board member: “I’m honored to be here as the UCC took a courageous step to put their words into action and divest from occupation. My conversations at the General Synod have shown me that we’re on the precipice of a new political moment. Progressives are speaking up, and it’s only a matter of time until Israel is held accountable for its human rights abuses and violations of international law.”

Carolyn Klaasen, Jewish Voice for Peace-New York member: “In the UCC I’ve found a partner not only in ending the Israeli occupation, but in all of our shared work for justice. This is just the beginning of our multi-faith work.”

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Jewish Voice for Peace (www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org) is a national, grassroots organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for a just and lasting peace according to principles of human rights, equality, and international law for all the people of Israel and Palestine. Jewish Voice for Peace has over 200,000 online supporters, over 65 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Council, and an Advisory Board made up of leading U.S. intellectuals and artists.