A010 (Recognition of Apartheid in Israel/Palestine)

House of Bishops Message #04

The House of Bishops informs the House of Deputies that on Jun 23, 2024 it considered resolution A010 (Recognition of Apartheid in Israel/Palestine). The house acted to:

Reject


Resolved, the House of Deputies concurring,

That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church recognize that the State of Israel’s legal system as it pertains to the treatment of its non-Jewish citizens and residents of Occupied Territories, particularly Palestinians, correspond to the definitions of apartheid elaborated in the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and set out in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention affirm that apartheid is antithetical to the Gospel message and to our Baptismal Covenant to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being;” and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention call on the Office of Government Relations to represent ending the Israeli government’s apartheid as a policy priority of The Episcopal Church and to influence policy and legislation on this issue; and be it further

Resolved, That the 81st General Convention, recognizing the Western roots of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, as well as the historical evils of anti-Semitism, call on The Episcopal Church to commit itself to a practice and promotion of healing and reconciliation for the benefit of and among all God’s people.

That the 81st General Convention of The Episcopal Church, acknowledging our continuing struggle in the United States to achieve racial equality, recognize that the State of Israel has passed laws that discriminate against its non-Jewish citizens, particularly Palestinians, and that its military occupation of East Jerusalem and the West Bank and blockade of Gaza impose prejudicial treatment of Palestinians and privilege Israeli settlers, contravening international law and human rights; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention recognize that these discriminatory laws and treatment correspond to the definitions of apartheid elaborated in the International Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and set out in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention affirm that apartheid is antithetical to the Gospel message and to our Baptismal Covenant to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being;” and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention of The Episcopal Church call on the U.S. government to withhold military funding from the State of Israel until Israel eliminates apartheid laws, respects Palestinian human rights, and stops violating international law.