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World Council of Churches - News Release
Contact: +41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 21/02/2005

WCC CENTRAL COMMITTEE ENCOURAGES CONSIDERATION OF ECONOMIC MEASURES FOR
PEACE IN ISRAEL/PALESTINE

Free photos available, see below

The World Council of Churches (WCC) central committee reminded the
Council's member churches that "with investment funds, they have an
opportunity to use those funds responsibly in support of peaceful
solutions" to the Israel/Palestine conflict.

The WCC governing body encouraged the Council's member churches "to give
serious consideration to economic measures" as a new way to work for
peace, by looking at ways to not participate economically in illegal
activities related to the Israeli occupation. In that sense, the committee
affirmed "economic pressure, appropriately and openly applied," as a
"means of action".

As an example, the WCC governing body mentions the "process of phased,
selective divestment from multinational corporations involved in the
occupation" now being implemented by the Presbyterian Church (USA). "This
action is commendable in both method and manner, [and] uses criteria
rooted in faith."

The recommendation, approved one day before the end of the 15-22 February
meeting of the Council's governing body in Geneva, is contained in a
minute addressed to WCC member churches. In it, the committee also notes
that "in the conflict in Israel and Palestine there is a renewal of hope,
although there is not yet a reduction of the threats that separate the
parties".

The document points out that "illegal activities in occupied territory
continue as if a viable peace for both peoples is not a possibility", and
that multinational corporations have been involved in a number of
"violations of international law" within that territory.

The committee's 150 members affirm: "The concern here is to abide by law
as the foundation for a just peace." "We are not blind to facts and must
not be complicit in them even unwittingly."

While highlighting the "growing witness and impact of church engagement
that includes both Israelis and Palestinians", including initiatives like
the WCC-led Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel
(EAPPI), the committee also "urges the establishment of more and wider
avenues of engagement between Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities
pursuing peace".

As a frame for its recommendation, the WCC governing body recalls both its
1992 statement that "criticism of the policies of the Israeli government
is not in itself anti-Jewish", and its 1969 call for "effective international guarantees for the political independence and territorial integrity of
all nations in the area, including Israel". It also mentions its 2004
recognition of Israel's "serious and legitimate security concerns".

The full text of the WCC central committee minute follows:

Minute on Certain Economic Measures for Peace in Israel/Palestine

In the conflict in Israel and Palestine there is a renewal of hope
although there is not yet a reduction of the threats that separate the
parties to the conflict. Palestinians have now organized two elections
with constructive effect, despite continuing occupation, and plan another
at mid-year. The churches welcome that momentum is building for peace and
for solutions which credibly engage those who must make peace, the
powerful as well as the weak.

The churches note the growing witness and impact of church engagement that
includes both Israelis and Palestinians. The WCC-led Ecumenical Accompaniment Program (EAPPI) is present and supportive of both Palestinians and
Israelis who suffer under current circumstances. There is also growing
interest among churches in taking new actions that demonstrate commitment
to and enhance prospects for a just, equitable and lasting peace in both
Israel and Palestine.

Notable among these are initiatives within churches to become better
stewards of justice in economic affairs which link them to on-going
violations of international law in occupied territory. The Central
Committee takes note of the current action by the Presbyterian Church
(USA) which has initiated a process of phased, selective divestment from
multinational corporations involved in the occupation. This action is
commendable in both method and manner, uses criteria rooted in faith, and
calls members to do the "things that make for peace" (Luke 19:42).

The concern here is to abide by law as the foundation for a just peace.
Multinational corporations have been involved in the demolition of
Palestinian homes, and are involved in the construction of settlements and
settlement infrastructure on occupied territory, in building a dividing
wall which is also largely inside occupied territory, and in other
violations of international law being carried out beyond the internationally recognized borders of the State of Israel determined by the Armistice of
1949.

In this 38th year of occupation the desire for a just and equitable peace
is growing. For churches of the WCC such hopes are guided by positions and
programmes that reflect a search for truth amid much trouble.

The WCC has called, since 1969, for "effective international guarantees
for the political independence and territorial integrity of all nations in
the area, including Israel" and restated the concern at regular intervals,
most recently in recognizing, in 2004, Israel's "serious and legitimate
security concerns".

In 1992, the WCC Central Committee stated that "criticism of the policies
of the Israeli government is not in itself anti-Jewish". During the Oslo
peace process of the 1990s churches supported civil society projects of
rapprochement between communities in conflict in the Holy Land.

In 1995, the Central Committee established criteria for economic actions
in the service of justice, namely, that these must be part of a broader
strategy of peacemaking, address flagrant and persistent violations, have
a clear and limited purpose plus proportionality and adequate monitoring,
and are carried out transparently.

In 2001, the WCC Executive Committee recommended an international boycott
of goods produced in illegal settlements on occupied territory, and the
WCC-related APRODEV agencies in Europe are now working to have Israeli
settlement products fully and properly identified before shipment to the
European Community in accordance with the terms of the EU's Association
Agreement with Israel.

Yet illegal activities in occupied territory continue as if a viable peace
for both peoples is not a possibility. We are not blind to facts and must
not be complicit in them even unwittingly. The Central Committee, meeting
in Geneva 15-22 February 2005 therefore:

encourages member churches to work for peace in new ways and to give
serious consideration to economic measures that are equitable, transparent
and non-violent;

persuades member churches to keep in good contact with sister churches
embarking on such initiatives with a view to support and counsel one
another;

urges the establishment of more and wider avenues of engagement between
Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities pursuing peace;

reminds churches with investment funds that they have an opportunity to
use those funds responsibly in support of peaceful solutions to conflict.
Economic pressure, appropriately and openly applied, is one such means of
action.

[WCC Central Committee - Geneva, 21 February 2005]

Free high resolution pictures and additional information about the WCC
central committee meeting are available at:
www.oikoumene.org > Central Committee

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
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The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 342, in
more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly,
which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.