wfn.org | News Release -- Concern Expressed for Palestinian Community

["Broadhurst, Tom" <tbroadhu@united-church.ca>]

For Immediate Release -- Thursday August 20, 2009

Concern Expressed for Palestinian Community

Toronto:  On the final day of its meeting in Kelowna,  British Columbia,
August 9-15, 2009, The United Church of Canada's 40th G eneral Council
expressed concern for a West Bank Palestinian community e ngaged in
non-violent protests.

Commissioners approved a motion "to support a KAIROS urge nt action and
direct the General Secretary, General Council, to communica te our
solidarity to the village of Bil'in as they continue no n-violent
protests of settlement construction, and the barrier wall  on their lands
and in the face of arrests of community leaders, includ ing Mohammed
Khatib, and the escalating violence they face."

The Rev. Vicki Obedkoff, from Toronto Conference, said th e motion gave
General Council the opportunity to "send a message of s olidarity to
people who are scared." She said the army is closing  in on the village.

Information posted on the KAIROS website says that Israel i military
forces have arrested Khatib, a key Palestinian organizer  in the West
Bank village of Bil'in. Khatib travelled to Canada in J une on an 11-city
speaking tour to raise awareness of the situation in th e village.

The website notes that the people of Bil'in have accuse d two
Canadian-based companies "of being involved in constructing  illegal
Israeli-only settlements on Bil'in lands."

KAIROS is an ecumenical church-based social justice movemen t. The United
Church of Canada is one of KAIROS' ecumenical partners.

For further information, please contact:

Mary-Frances Denis

Program Coordinator, Media and Public Relations
The United Church of Canada
416-231-7680 ext. 2016 (office)
mdenis@united-church.ca

>-30-