Coalition of churches welcomes US abstention from UN resolution on Israel's illegal settlements

Illegal settlements

Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP) an American coalition of 22 national church denominations and organisations, including Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant traditions, has welcomed the US government's decision not to veto a UN resolution on Israel's illegal settlements.

On Friday, December 23, just days before the Christmas holiday, the UN Security Council passed a resolution demanding that Israel end all settlement expansion in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and calling on the Palestinian authority to take immediate steps to end terror and incitement.

In late November, CMEP delivered a letter to President Obama; Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power; and several other high level staff members within the State Department and White House to encourage a strong US response to a resolution in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) identifying settlements over the Green Line, including those in East Jerusalem, as illegal under international law.

In a statement Rev Dr Mae Elise Cannon, CMEP Executive Director said: "Churches for Middle East Peace supports the abstention of the US administration which allowed this resolution to pass. This historic action was one of the first times in recent years where the United States did not utilize its power of veto within the UNSC to block actions within the U.N. that address major global concerns about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. We believe the call on both parties to return to the negotiating table, to mitigate conflict and incitement, and for the Israelis to end the settlement enterprise are fundamental efforts that can lead to a just peace.

"CMEP seeks to encourage US Government policies that actively promote a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ensuring security, human rights and religious freedom for all people in the region. It is the consensus of our coalition that all Israeli settlements are illegal and obstacles to creating a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

This Advent Season we have been reflecting on the Good News of Jesus' birth and the reminder that even in the midst of great darkness, the light of God may break through. We are grateful to be able to celebrate together this recent action at the United Nations. There remains much work to be done, but for now we express our gratitude!"

The complete text of the UNSC Resolution can be read here: www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/SRES2334-2016.pdf

Read more about Churches for Middle East Peace here: www.cmep.org