Resolution Passed at the 2024 Iowa Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (on Palestine)

  Submitted by: Rev. Brian Carter

 

THE FIRST SECTION IS THE AMENDMENTS TO A PREVIOUS RESOLUTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD WITH FOOTNOTES.

 THE SECOND SECTION IS THE RESOLUTION AFTER THE AMENDMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE FOOTNOTES.

 

This is an amendment to Resolution Number 9522 found on pages 49-50 in the Iowa Book of Resolutions (2023). The purpose of this amendment is to recognize and oppose the change in Israeli policy toward the Palestinians in the Gaza strip.

 9522. Palestine Human Rights (2019, 2021)

 WHEREAS: The United Methodist Church has affirmed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child1, which says “No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”, and

 WHEREAS: Palestinian children detained in the Israeli military system report being arrested in the middle of the night, typically arrive to interrogation bound, blindfolded, frightened, sleep deprived, and often give confessions after verbal abuse, threats, physical and psychological violence that in some cases may amount to torture. Israeli military law provides no right to legal counsel during interrogation; in all or nearly all cases, no parents are present during interrogation 2, and

 WHEREAS: The United Methodist Church opposes Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.3, and

 WHEREAS: International law prohibits the destruction of Palestinian property, the forcible transfer of civilians and further annexation of Palestinian land.4, and

 WHEREAS: Legislation was introduced in the United States Congress (H.R. 2590) which declares “US tax dollars are not to be used to violate Palestinian human rights”5; Legislation has been introduced (H.R.2590) to promote and protect the human rights of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation and to ensure that United States taxpayer funds are not used by the Government of Israel to support the … unlawful seizure, appropriation, and destruction of Palestinian property5

 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Iowa Annual Conference supports H.R. 2590; and That members of the Iowa Annual Conference urge their members of Congress to co-sponsor H.R. 2590;

 FURTHER, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Iowa Board of Church and Society convey their support of this resolution passed by the Iowa Annual Conference to the Iowa Congressional Delegation. and convey their opposition to the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and the annexation of any Palestinian land in violation of international law.

 

1 2016 General Conference Book of Resolutions, 6025 “A”

 2 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 37 A, B, C, D https://www.ohchr.org/en/professionalinterest/pages/crc.aspx

 3 2016 Book of Resolutions, 6111

 4 Fourth Geneva Convention, Article 49, pg. 185 and Hague Regulation 1907, Article 46 https://www.un.org/en/genocideprevention/documents/atrocity-crimes/Doc.33_GC-IV EN.pdf https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/ihl/WebART/195-200056

 5 https://mccollum.house.gov/sites/mccollum.house.gov/files/documents/Final_MCCOLL_005 xml.pdf

 

Rev. Brian Carter is a retired United Methodist Clergy, a member at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Urbandal and Iowa Methodist Federation for Social Action, and is the Iowa UMC representative on the IPN Joint Oversight Committee (board).