WHEREAS, the United Church of Christ has affirmed its support for a secure state of Israel in a previous Synod resolution [“The Israeli-Palestine Conflict” (1987)], and that the existence of Israel as a Jewish state is important, and
WHEREAS the United Church of Christ has also condemned anti-Jewish positions in previous resolutions [“Anti-Semitism” (2001), and “Relationship between UCC and the Jewish Community” (1987)], and
WHEREAS, the United Church of Christ has affirmed its concern about the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine, and the importance of justice for both Israelis and Palestinians in resolutions [“Bringing Justice and Peace to the Middle East” (1999); “Jerusalem City of Life” (1997); and “Palestine/Israel” (1997)], and
WHEREAS, as a result of the Israeli settlements, access roads, and military control areas, Palestinians have been constrained in smaller and smaller densely populated, non-contiguous areas, and
WHEREAS, many innocent Israeli and Palestinian civilians have been killed in the struggle for this land, and
WHEREAS, Israel has a very large peace movement that opposes the occupation of Palestine, and
WHEREAS, in polling data, a majority of Israelis express a desire for negotiations with Palestinians, a two-state solution, and evacuation of settlements in the context of a peace accord, and
WHEREAS, the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority have accepted provisions of the Road Map to Peace, and
WHEREAS, Christian Zionism, aligned with the minority Jewish settler group, takes positions on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that are contrary to the position of the Israeli government and of most Israelis, opposing a two-state solution and supporting transfer of all Arabs out of Palestine, and
WHEREAS, influential members of the current U.S. government endorse Christian Zionist positions as a basis for U. S. foreign policy, and
WHEREAS, the Just Peace Pronouncement that was adopted by the General Synod in 1985, as well as updates and similar proclamations of other denominations and like-minded groups, has received insufficient publicity within our denomination, in the mass media, and among U. S. government officials;
THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, that the IL Conference of the United Church of Christ recognizes the diversity of Biblical perspectives on the question of a Jewish homeland, but affirms that all such perspectives should be grounded in the message of justice and peace taught by Jesus and the biblical prophets, and
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ calls upon member churches to enter into prayerful study of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine using study materials provided by the Naperville First Congregational United Church of Christ at www.LoveAndJustice.org/AlternateVoice , and
LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ and its member churches engage in dialogue with our Jewish counterparts, making sure that this dialogue includes both Jews actively seeking peace with the Palestinians [for the Chicago area, Jewish peace groups include Not In My Name (www.NIMN.org) and Chicago Peace Now (www.PeaceNowChicago.org), both of which provide speakers for groups], as well as Jews who support the position of the right wing Jewish settlers, and
LET IT FINALLY BE RESOLVED, that the Illinois Conference of the United Church of Christ encourage its members to take action by:
(Click here for the revised resolution that was presented at the 2003 IL Conference Mtg.)