A few days before the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the leader of Canada's biggest Protestant church asked MPs to speak out against “apartheid” in Israel..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, United Church Moderator Reverend Carmen Lansdowne said she could not find words after hearing about the recent killings..“The current Canadian government has condemned Palestinians’ right to resist the occupation even non-violently using resistance tools of boycott, divestment and sanctions,” Reverend Lansdowne wrote the Commons Foreign Affairs committee. .“This leaves Palestinians few other non-violent options.”.“Canada should protect and promote the human rights of Palestinians, including the right to non-violently resist oppression under the ongoing occupation consistent with their right to self-determination,” wrote Lansdowne. .“Furthermore, Canada should respect and uphold the right of Canadians to freedom of expression and choice, including the right to engage in boycott and divestment in opposition to the Israeli occupation.”.Since the Liberals were elected in 2015, the Trudeau government has given Gaza over $150.7 million in foreign aid..The United Church Moderator’s submission to the Commons committee was co-signed by Reverend Linda Nicholls, primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, National Bishop Susan Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Canada and Reverend Dorcas Gordon, Principal Emerita of the Presbyterian Church of Canada..“Violations of human rights, Palestinian rights in particular, and of international law occur within the context of Israel’s longstanding and ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories,” the church leaders wrote MPs. .“Stronger action is needed from the international community.”.“There is widespread consensus in the international human rights community that the Government of Israel is implementing a system of apartheid in its policies and practices, both inside Israel and in the occupied Palestinian territories,” they wrote..On September 27, the commentary was given to the Commons committee. Ten days later, attacks by Hamas killed 4,426 people in Israel..On Facebook, Lansdowne posted that after the attacks last Saturday, she could not find words because of the harm done by the killing of Jews..“I have been sitting on the side of my bed for an hour trying to figure out what or how to say something about what is happening in the Holy Land,” wrote Lansdowne. .“I am conflicted as my personal feelings do not align completely with existing Church policy and that is because, as a Church, we are not aligned. So I am hesitant to say anything at the same time as I feel I can’t say nothing.”.“Not all Palestinians, not even all members of Hamas, are militants,” wrote Reverend Lansdowne. .“It is very complex.”
