Home Events Church Organizations Resources Get Involved Contact Us	United Methodist – End The Occupation Task Force of NIC The Northern Illinois Conference End The Occupation Task Force works to educate United Methodist Northern Illinois Conference congregations on the urgent necessity of ending the 30 year Israeli occupation of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. Statement of Purpose The Northern Illinois United Methodists Organizing to End the Occupation have formed a coalition of laity and clergy concerned with a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. We realize that this lengthy conflict has its roots in history, and that for healthy growth to occur in Palestine/Israel, old grievances and hurts must be addressed, new ways of relating must be explored, and most importantly, peace with justice must encouraged to provide a Living Future, in safety and security for the peoples of the region. The NI United Methodists Organizing to End the Occupation, (UM, ETO), are greatly concerned about the use of U.S. tax dollars and weapons which enable the occupation to continue. Therefore we encourage U.S. citizens to contact elected officials to end the U.S. funding of military and economic aid which provide support for continuing the occupation. Further, we urge both sides of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to comply with the full implementation of UN General Assembly Resolutions 181 and 194 and UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. Moreover, we state firmly that for a just peace, all aspects of the 4th Geneva Convention must be upheld. As United Methodist Christians, we are faithful to Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (NRSV) The Book of Resolutions of the United Methodist Church, 2000 addresses the need for a just and lasting peace for the Palestinian people, stating: “Jerusalem is sacred to all the children of Abraham: Jews, Muslims, and Christians. We have a vision of Jerusalem as a city of peace and reconciliation, where indigenous Palestinians and Israelis can live as neighbors and, along with visitors and tourists, have access to holy sites and exercise freedom of religious expression. The peaceful resolution of the Jerusalem issue is crucial to the success of the whole process of making peace between Palestinians and Israelis.” (pp 730-731,#293) Further the Book of Resolutions states: “The United Methodist Church calls upon the United States, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, to accept the authority of the Security Council resolutions and abide by Resolutions 242 and 338, as well as all other relevant Security Council resolutions, that provide a framework for bringing this conflict to a just and permanent end.” (page 761, #305) Therefore, we, as Northern Illinois United Methodists, commit ourselves to work for a just peace in the Holy Land, an area sacred to many communities of faith, and we call for the following: • Ending the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem; • Withdrawing the Israeli military forces from Palestinian borders and an ending to U.S. military aid to Israel; • Dismantling or relinquishing the ownership of all Israeli settlements constructed during the occupation of the territories; and • Addressing the legitimate national and human rights concerns of the Palestinian people. Northern Illinois United Methodists Organizing to End the Occupation are committed to supporting this work through our prayers, actions, and outreach. We believe it is our faithful witness to our world community to enable a peaceful and just resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, resulting in a safe and secure environment for the region and providing freedom for Palestinians, Israelis, and all others who dwell in God’s Holy Land. News New England Conference Divestment Resolution Northern Illinois Conference Unwrapping the Rapture Resolution Information Sheets: Why We Care Confronting Anti-Semitism The Wall Why Camp David Failed Send mail to nic-eto@yahoogroups.com with questions or comments about Northern-Illinois-Conference End-The-Occupation
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