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Sabeel-Kairos Conference

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1 Sabeel-Kairos Conference
Oxford 30th June 2018

2 Being Part of a Global Network
Kairos Palestine Statement on the 70th Anniversary of the Nakba; ‘We call upon the international community to remember its own resolutions and to abide by them. We call upon churches to be the conscience of humanity and hear the cry of the oppressed in the Holy Land.

3 We urge the international community to shoulder its responsibilities
We urge the international community to shoulder its responsibilities. We call upon it to exert every pressure, even sanctions if necessary, to force Israel to follow the path of peace and justice, to lift the oppression from the people of Gaza and all the Palestinian people, to prevent death in the Holy Land, abandon its apartheid practices, and comply with international law. We call on churches in our Holy Land and throughout the world to be courageous and faithful to their mission, to assume their responsibilities towards the Holy Land and all those who live in it, to bring through their prayers awareness of what is going on in the Holy Land, and to take effective steps towards justice, equality and peace in this land where the roots of their faith lie.’

4 Sabeel Wave of Prayer Lord, we pray that the Palestinians in Gaza may continue to express their protest in a non-violent way. Our on-going prayer is for all Palestinian refugees to be restored to their homelands. We remember the Palestinian families as they grieve for those who have been killed and care for those who have been injured. We give thanks for the people of conscience who are prompted to cry out for justice and restitution in the face of the powerful. It is difficult to know how to respond to the anniversary of Balfour in the correct way. At the 10th international Sabeel conference earlier this year, representatives of Sabeel Jerusalem and international delegates worked together to produce a statement and call to action. The key elements are outlined here, and you can pick up a hard copy today too.

5 A Christian voice against violations
The Great March of Return The American Embassy moving to Jerusalem The killing of young volunteer medic Razan Al-Najjar

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7 ‘Christian Aid deplores the senseless loss of life in Gaza
‘Christian Aid deplores the senseless loss of life in Gaza. The vast majority of those who have been protesting over recent weeks are doing so because they refuse to live any longer in despair and without dignity.’

8 Embrace the Middle East encouraged their supporters to write to members of Parliament; ‘The killing of unarmed protestors, the disproportionate use of lethal force, and the attacks on healthcare personnel, journalists, and worst of all, children, would constitute grave breaches of international law, and possibly war crimes. We cannot remain silent about this.’

9 Quakers in Britain ‘We call on the Israeli military to end their violent use of live gunfire on unarmed protesters, in clear violation of international law. We mourn the ongoing 50-year military occupation of Palestinian land by the Israeli government that has led to such despair and tension.’

10 Methodist Church ‘The killing of unarmed protesters is unacceptable in any circumstance and a crime against humanity.’

11 Church of Scotland “Yesterday’s violence is shocking, shameful and is to be condemned in the strongest possible term’ ‘The Church of Scotland reaffirms its firm belief that Christian theology should never be used to justify or perpetuate a situation of injustice.’

12 CAFOD, Embrace, CA, Quakers and EAPPI were part of a coalition calling for an investigation into the use of force; 'investigate all alleged violations and abuses of international humanitarian law and international human rights law' and calls on Israel and 'all relevant parties' to cooperate with it.’

13 ‘Sabeel-Kairos continues to condemn the senseless and deplorable killing and injuring of peaceful protesters.  We continue to support non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation and blockade, including morally responsible investment, boycotts, sanctions and divestment.’

14 Political and economic pressure and change
Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

15 Asking Churches to adopt Morally Responsible Investment
Sabeel Kairos along with War on Want, the Amos Trust and Pax Christi with the expertise of other agencies have put together a Church Activist Guide

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17 The legal case The development of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, which violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime. The continued construction of the Separation Wall on Palestinian land, which was declared illegal by the International Court of Justice. The forceful transfer of Palestinians from their homes, including children as young as 12, taken to Israel and held in prison without trial, is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and constitutes a war crime. The exploitation of Palestinian natural resources such as land, offshore minerals, quarries & water is considered pillage and prohibited by the Fourth Geneva Convention and the Hague Regulations. International law specifies that pillage is prohibited for the occupier, as well as by private companies which may be given access by the occupying power.

18 The ethical case “ Where you put your money, there your heart will be also.” matthew 6:21 Earning money through investment in companies whose products and services are used in such a way as to violate International Law and human rights is equivalent to profiting from unlawful acts and from the oppression of others. Investment in such companies can be seen as condoning the harm of civilians under occupation; and ignoring the human rights violations caused by illegal Israeli settlement policies. Investment in such companies enables the government of Israel to sustain the ongoing violation of human rights.

19 What are we asking churches to Do?
To fully disclose financial information and lists of their investments in companies and businesses, in a simple and coherent way. To identify any companies in their investment portfolio which are currently profiting from situations in which international law is violated, including illegal exploitation of natural resources, illegal construction of the separation barrier and its related infrastructure and illegal settlements. To put in place a comprehensive investment screening process, specifically relating to violations of international law to identify companies in their existing portfolio profiting from illegal activity and to prevent future investments in such companies. To ask churches to review their current policy of corporate engagement with companies in their investment portfolio found to be profiting from violations of international law. To make it time-bound, structured. This may potentially result in a change of investment strategy.

20 Act Now! Stage 1. raise awareness and create a support base at local level Stage 2. start campaigning with your church at national level Stage 3. apply pressure

21 Who else is in? 2012 Friends Fiduciary Corporation (Quakers) divested form companies complicit in Israeli human rights violations Presbyterian Church (1.5 million member) votes to divest from Caterpillar, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard and put in place an investment screen to stop supporting companies who profit from the occupation of Palestine.

22 2015 United Church of Christ (1 million members)Voted to divest from companies profiting from Israel’s control of the West Bank 2016 United Methodist Church (12.8 Members $20Billion fund) blocks 5 Israeli banks from its investment portfolio.

23 2017 Mennonite Church (75,000 members $3Billion fund) voted to sell its holdings in companies they say are profiting from business in territories occupied by Israel Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (4 million members) voted to introduce an investment screen to stop supporting companies profiting from Israeli rights abuses.

24 2018 Presbyterian Church makes strng statement in Palestine and Israel including asking REMax to withdraw from Settlements and opposing laws designed to suppress BDS. In the UK, the Methodist Church has a Position Paper on Palestine and Israel regarding investing in companies- focuses on engagement not divestment.

25 Take a Guide Engage with your local church on this issue- arrange events Attend a training session Join the denominational church groups working on this at a national level Let us know how we can support you

26 PEACE IS NOT THE PRODUCT OF TERROR OR FEAR
PEACE IS NOT THE PRODUCT OF TERROR OR FEAR. PEACE IS NOT THE SILENCE OF CEMETERIES. PEACE IS NOT THE SILENT RESULT OF VIOLENT REPRESSION. PEACE IS THE GENEROUS, TRANQUIL CONTRIBUTION OF ALL TO THE GOOD OF ALL. PEACE IS DYNAMISM. PEACE IS GENEROSITY. IT IS A RIGHT AND IT IS A DUTY. Archbishop Oscar Romero 7th January, 1978


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