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Resolution Number: 1994-D065
Title: Recognize Illegality of Israeli Settlements in Gaza and the West Bank
Legislative Action Taken: Concurred As Amended
Final Text:

Resolved, That the 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church recognize that Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the occupied territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace, and, therefore, calls upon the United States government:

  1. to withhold funds equivalent to those used by Israel for any settlement activity; and
  2. to make those funds available to Israeli settlers leaving the occupied territories for resettlement in pre-1967 Israel and equally for Palestinians accepting the principles of compensation for their lands and homes in Israel;

and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention commends the brave leadership of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Chairman Yassir Arafat for their bold steps towards peace.

Citation: General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, 1994 (New York: General Convention, 1995), p. 310.

Legislative History

Author:
Originating House: House of Deputies
Originating Committee: Committee on National and International Problems

House of Deputies

Original Text of Resolution:

(D065)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 1994 General Convention of the Episcopal Church recognizes that settlements in the Israeli occupied territories of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace, and, therefore, calls upon the United States government:

  1. to withhold funds equivalent to those used by Israel for any settlement activity; and
  2. to make those funds available to settlers leaving the occupied territories for resettlement.

Proposed Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 1994 71st General Convention of the Episcopal Church recognize s that Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip and the Israeli occupied territories of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace, and, therefore, calls upon the United States government:

  1. to withhold funds equivalent to those used by Israel for any settlement activity; and
  2. to make those funds available to Israeli settlers leaving the occupied territories for resettlement in pre-1967 Israel and equally for Palestinians accepting the principles of compensation for their lands and homes in Israel.

Deputy Toll of Oregon moved an amendment to D065 as amended.

Proposed Amendment:

Add the words"; and be it further" following "homes in Israel" and add

Resolved, that the General Convention commends the brave leadership of Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin and Chairman Yassir Arafat for their bold steps towards peace.

A vote was taken on the Toll amendment.

Motion carried

Toll amendment adopted

A vote was taken on D065 as amended.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in the HD Message #227)

House of Bishops

The Committee on National and International Problems presented its Report #29 on House of Deputies Message #227 on Resolution D065a (Settlements in Israel; Occupied Territories) and moved concurrence.

The House concurred

(Communicated to the House of Deputies in HB Message #246)

Resolution Concurred by Both Houses, September 2.

Abstract:   The 71st General Convention recognizes that Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are illegal under international law and calls upon the U.S. government to use foreign aid to discourage settlement activity. It commends the leadership of Yitzhak Rabin and Yasir Arafat.