The National Executive Council of EPF is supporting an economic and commercial boycott of products linked to oppression of Palestinian people and occupation of their land. As we struggle with what this means we recommend several starting places: First please read the Episcopal Peace Fellowship statement on Boycott, Divest and Sanction and EPF Chair Linda Gaither’s Commentary.
Please keep in mind the EPF discipline on all issues to
PRAY, STUDY and ACT.
We suggest the following as a place to begin personally, in our congregations and communities.
What you can do Personally:
1. Take the Pledge: “I pledge to Pray, Study and Act regarding Boycott/Divestment” see petition here;
2. Include Israel and Palestine in your daily/weekly prayers; Prayers for the Middle East
3. Read about the Israeli Occupation. One book if you’re just getting started is a book by Phyllis Bennis (Director of the New Internationalism Project of the Institute for Policy Studies), the book is called, Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Primer
4. Write to your elected officials.
5. EPF is supporting the boycott of Motorola. Please consider boycotting Motorola products.
Why Boycott? Over the years the boycott has been a successful nonviolent tactic that has encouraged institutions and industry to alter their policies regarding race, hiring, working conditions and much more. A few examples are the bus boycott in the civil rights struggle, South Africa and the Taco Bell boycott more recently.
Why MOTOROLA? (see Campaign to End the Occupation) We are joining an ongoing campaign for boycotting Motorola, we are not alone. Motorola supplies Israel with the military tools it needs to sustain its occupation and oppression of the Palestinians – from fuses for aircraft bombs and guided missiles; military encrypted systems with transportable units which deploy with the army in to the battle field; advanced radar/thermal camera surveillance systems for the settlements; metal detection gates used at checkpoints; and a cellular network tailored for the settlements.
For more information please click here. Motorola consumer products are: Mobile Phones, Mobile Accessories (bluetooth),
Walkie-Talkies, Cordless Phones, Digital TV set-top boxes,
Cable and DSL Modems and Gateways and other home networking products.
What You Can Do Within Your Congregation:
1. Introduce a group study. We recommend a wonderful resource from the Presbyterians, Steadfast Hope. Churches for Middle East Peace also has a Church Tool Kit.
2.Read together the book: Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Primer. or the Kairos Document.
3. Review the Episcopal Churches’ policy on Israel/Palestine.
4. Recruit members to sign the pledge petition.
5. Sell Palestinian Olive Oil and other Palestinian product at church.
More resources and suggestions will be coming…watch on the EPF
website www.epfnational.org.
Join the EPF Israel/Palestine Action Group
Conveners: Donna Hicks
Newland Smith
