The Acts of Convention

House of Deputies

The House of Deputies Committee on Social Justice and International Policy presented its Report #14 on Resolution D038 (Civil Rights and Equality for All in Israel) and moved adoption with amendment.

Original Text of Resolution:

(D038)

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church express concern regarding the more than 50 discriminatory laws in Israel aimed at its Palestinian and ethnic minority citizens that have created an unequal system of access to land, housing, education and full rights in the political system that draws disturbing comparisons to the segregation and Jim Crow era in the United States which led to the Civil Rights Movement; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call on Israel to embrace a vision of a democratic state with equal rights for all citizens, including Jews, Christians and Muslims, recognizing that Israel cannot be both a democracy and a Jewish state that privileges Jews in its legal system over its other citizens; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call on the President of the United States and Congress to suspend all military aid to Israel until Israel is in full compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by changing its laws, policies and practices that favor its Jewish citizens and discriminate against its Christian and Muslim citizens and other minorities; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call on the President of the United States and the Secretary of State to advocate with their Israeli counterparts to cease all actions that block equal access of all citizens in Israel in the following areas: a. legal system; b. citizenship privileges; c. income and employment; d. distribution of resources and social welfare; e. access to land; f. educational resources; g. availability of health resources; h. political participation, including freedom of speech and the right to dissent.

Committee Amendment:

Resolved, the House of Bishops concurring, That the 79th General Convention of tThe Episcopal Church express concern regarding the more than 50 discriminatory laws in Israel aimed at its Palestinian and ethnic minority citizens that have created an unequal system of access to land, housing, education and full rights in the political system that draws disturbing comparisons to the segregation and Jim Crow era in the United States which led to the Civil Rights Movement; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call on Israel to embrace a vision of a democratic state with equal rights for all citizens, including Jews, Christians, and Muslims, recognizing that Israel cannot be both a democracy and a Jewish state that privileges Jews in its legal system over its other citizens; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call on the President of the United States and Congress to suspend all military aid to Israel until Israel is in full compliance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by changing its laws, policies and practices that favor its Jewish citizens and discriminate against its Christian and Muslim citizens and other minorities; and be it further

Resolved, That the General Convention call on the President of the United States and the Secretary of State to advocate with their Israeli counterparts to cease all actions that block equal access of all citizens in Israel in the following areas: a. legal system; b. citizenship privileges; c. income and employment; d. distribution of resources and social welfare; e. access to land; f. educational resources; g. availability of health resources; h. political participation, including freedom of speech and the right to dissent.

An electronic vote was taken on Resolution D038, resulting in 433 yes votes and 377 no votes.

Motion carried

Resolution adopted with amendment

(Communicated to the House of Bishops in HD Message #302)