Global Ministries joins ecumenical letter to Sec. Blinken: Oppose Israeli designation of human rights groups as “terrorist”
Global Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ was among 15 churches and faith-based organizations which sent a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken this morning. The letter expressed “significant concerns about the recent Israeli decision to label key Palestinian human rights and civil society organizations as ‘terrorist organizations,'” and asked that he “publicly oppose this move and also intervene with your Israeli counterparts by calling for the immediate reversal of this action.”
On October 19, the Israeli Ministry of Defense declared key Palestinian human rights groups to be “terrorist organizations.” The groups are: Defense for Children International-Palestine, Al-Haq, Addameer, Bisan, the Union of Agricultural Working Committees, and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees. The letter describes these organizations as “among the most respected Palestinian human rights organizations,” ones “many of us rely on for information and with which we have long established relationships.”
The letter asserts that “[t]his is a dangerous escalation of Israel’s ongoing attacks on civil society and human rights defenders.” It concludes by stating, “As Churches and church-based organizations we unequivocally reject this move and call on you to both demand its immediate reversal and to insist on protection for Palestinian civil society and human rights defenders.”
Disciples and UCC partners, including Palestinian Christian organizations and B’Tselem, have already condemned this declaration.
Click here to read the full text of the ecumenical letter to Sec. Blinken.
Related: Global Ministries among 288 organizations and leaders in solidarity with Palestinian civil society.
Take action:
Global Ministries (Disciples & UCC) Action Alert: Support Human Rights Work in Palestine
Churches for Middle East Peace Action Alert: Ask Your House Member to Cosponsor New House Resolution Opposing Designation of 6 Palestinian NGOs as “Terrorist” Organizations