Canada United Church Votes to Boycott Israeli Settlement Products

The General Council of the United Church of Canada (UCC), the country’s largest Protestant denomination, voted Wednesday to support a motion calling for a boycott of products produced in Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.

European Phoenix -- The United Church of Canada is well known for siding with the underdog and now they’ve taken a stand with the Palestinian victims of Israeli occupation.

Canada’s largest protestant denomination voted to promote an economic boycott of products produced in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories at a national assembly this week.

Perhaps predictably, supporters of Israel's violations of international law in Canada's influential Zionist community have insinuated that the United Church is exhibiting "anti-Semitism".

The United Church however maintains that its decision to promote a boycott of certain Israeli products is guided by international legal opinion and the church's staunch anti-racist belief in the equality of human beings.

The Canadian government has voiced opposition to proposed boycotts of Israel but pro-Palestinian activists in the United Church argue that the injustice against Palestinians, some of whom are Christian, is so egregious that strong economic action against Israel is needed.

Activists say that the Canadian government should take a more balanced approach towards the Israel/Palestine conflict and should not be seen to be affording impunity to Israel when it commits war crimes and crimes against humanity.

While Israel’s numerous supporters in the Canadian mainstream media have attempted to make the United Church’s endorsement of international law appear radical, United Church members draw attention to the increased international consensus on the illegality of the settlements.

Members of the church suggest that peace will only come to Palestine if morality and law are respected, as opposed to downplayed and sullied by partisan ideologues in the Canadian journalistic and political establishment.