Occupied Territories Campaign

In 2016, the Green Party of Canada passed a BDS resolution, a courageous and potentially world-changing gesture. Unfortunately, that stance was watered down somewhat in Dec. 2016. However, in early 2017, the GPC ultimately ratified the party resolution calling for BDS.

Meanwhile, the NDP resolution calling on Israel to end its occupation and on Canada to ban products made in Jewish settlements failed to make it to the floor at the February 2018 federal NDP convention in Ottawa.

Are you concerned about the seemingly never-ending conflict between Israel and Palestine? The best antidote to depression and apathy is action!

What you can do

1. Actively Support CUSJ’s motion to support the Boycott movement.  UUJPME recommends the UUA not invest in the top five companies that benefit from the occupation:  Caterpillar, Motorolla Solutions, HP Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and G4S.
2. Seek first to understand! Start an Israel-Palestine conflict study series in your congregation.  Try out the UUJPME Study Guide.
3. Support the UUJPME (UU’s for justice and peace in the Middle East). Their divestment resolution did not receive the 67% support required to pass at the 2016 UUA General Assembly, even though the majority supported it.
4. Learn more about the boycott-divestment-sanctions (BDS) movement.

• Learn about the political backlash to BDS and the resulting attack on freedom of speech and non-violent dissent. (Voices/Voix – CUSJ is a member)
• Join the BDS movement, and promote it in your congregation and community.

5. Consider joining or supporting organizations, like CJPME and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights,  that are fighting for change.
6. Write a letter to your local newspaper. Here is an example of one such letter from CUSJ member Joy Johnston  of Comox Valley BC.
7. Host a movie night. For suggestions, click here.
8. Support the economy of Palestine through Zatoun products.

Congregational actions

CUSJ invites ministers to submit sermons that they have on this topic, or examples of activities in their congregation to end the occupation in Palestine. Ideally we would like to show a cross-section of activities across Canada. So far, Toronto First Unitarian has responded, and we thank Rev. Newton!

• Tangled Webs sermon by Rev. Shawn Newton, First Congregation of Toronto.
• A sermon by Rabbi Margaret Holub, circa 2014: Why I support BDS.
• The United Church’s Unsettling Goods Campaign