Canadian church group rejects Israel boycott

[oberliner]

TORONTO (JTA) -- Canada's largest Protestant denomination, the United Church of Canada, rejected a series of resolutions calling for a boycott of Israel.

Church delegates meeting in Kelowna, British Columbia voted Thursday against three measures that would have ended trade, cultural and academic ties with Israel. The resolutions also called for financial divestment and sanctions. Canadian Jewish groups had described the proposed resolutions as anti-Semitic.

Earlier, delegates repudiated background material on one resolution that claimed some politicians are dual Canadian-Israeli citizens and therefore could have questionable loyalties. The material also said members of Parliament have taken Israeli-sponsored junkets, "which might be called bribes."

We have "not begun or approved a boycott on a national level," United Church spokesman Bruce Gregersen told the Canadian Press. But he added that individual churches and members are encouraged to "undertake their own initiatives, which may include economic boycotts."

http://jta.org/news/article/2009/08/14/1007256/canadian-church-group-rejects-israel-boycott