Israel - Palestine Conflict

Distressed by the continuing conflict in Israel-Palestine and appalled by the enormous loss of life in Gaza between December 2008 and January 2009, in which the Israeli military attacks caused the loss of around 1300 lives, including 400 children, the massive destruction of property and the injury of thousands of people:

1. The Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland deplores the indiscriminate
use of rockets by Hamas against civilian targets and the massively disproportionate retaliation by Israel, using jet aircraft, naval and land forces, including the illegal use of white phosphorous shells in urban areas and  deliberate attacks against United Nations schools and food depots.

2. The Conference calls on the British and Irish governments to use their influence to end discussions on preferential trade arrangements between the EU and Israel unless and until Israel fully complies with UN resolution 242 (full withdrawal from lands occupied in 1967)

3. The Conference encourages Irish Methodists to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, for an end to walls of partition, annexation of land, the demolitions of Palestinian homes and violence from any party.

4. In making any visits to the Holy Land the Conference encourages Irish Methodists to meet both Jewish and Palestinian people, including the minority Christian communities of the region, and to inform themselves about the contemporary social and political realities of this area which is of such enormous significance to Christian, Jews and Muslims.