The United Church of Canada has voted to boycott settlement products. Below are two responses from Jewish community organizations. Both say that the United Church is threatening interfaith harmony; and both describe the settlements as Israel.
First, the World Jewish Congress:
NEW YORK… The World Jewish Congress strongly condemns the outrageous decision taken by the United Church of Canada to support a boycott of Israeli communities and for its stated regret for previously calling for Palestinian recognition of Israel’s Jewish character….Evelyn Sommer, Chair, World Jewish Congress, North America, said… “The leaders of the UCC have made an unfortunate decision that denies the facts of the Jewish people’s historical presence in their homeland…”
B’nai B’rith Canada:
B’nai Brith Canada has condemned recommendations passed by the United Church of Canada today that lay the groundwork for the boycott of products from Jewish communities in Biblical Israel. The final vote to approve and actualize this boycott is expected on Friday.
Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, issued the following statement:
“At a time when thousands of Syrian citizens are being slaughtered, we find this obsession with the Jewish State highly suspect. The subtext of these recommendations is that Jews cannot legitimately establish working communities in Biblical Israel – this is a first step towards calling for ethnic cleansing of Jews from these areas.”
The subtext of these recommendations is that Jews cannot legitimately establish working communities in Biblical Israel
No, the subtext is that they cannot illegitimately establish such communities. Israeli settlements on the West Bank have no legal validity according to a binding UN Security Council resolution.
What next, B’nai B’rith? A declaration that jailing a Jewish thief is antisemitic?
Settlerspeak triumphs!
I wouldn’t agree that anyone anywhere has the right to establish a community or settlement exclusively for their own race or excluding members of other races. Let no one establish a community from which Jewish people are excluded. I wouldn’t agree that the status of a territory in ancient times determines who has or has not a right to be there now. Would anyone proclaim this idea seriously as a general principle?
The World Jewish Congress condemns, B’nai B’rith condemns..
They can ”condemn” all they like. Everyone involved in this issue is only a few or one more condemn away from not even bothering to reply and explain their position to them.
The kiss of death will delivered with… ”So What? and We Don’t Care”
I’m already at my don’t care , no one owes them anymore explainations.
RE: “The subtext of these recommendations is that Jews cannot legitimately establish working communities in Biblical Israel” ~ Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada
MY QUESTION: And exactly what territory does “Biblical Israel” encompass?
“PASTOR” JOHN HAGEE SPEAKETH ON “BIBLICAL ISRAEL”:
“A Serial Obstructionist”, By Rachel Tabachnick, ZEEK – Forward, 3/15/10
ENTIRE ARTICLE –
http://zeek.forward.com/articles/116518/
• ALSO SEE: “Hagee’s Gifts to Pro-Settler Groups” [Ariel (settlement), $500,000], by Richard Silverstein, Tikun Olam, 2/12/10 LINK – http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2010/02/12/hagees-gifts-to-pro-settler-groups/
• AND SEE: “Recruiting Brecht to Whitewash Occupation”, by Richard Silverstein, Tikun Olam, 8/26/10
LINK – http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2010/08/26/recruiting-brecht-to-whitewash-occupation