<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[American Methodist Church Calls for End to&nbsp;Settlements]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>08.03.11 &#8211; 22:15| PNN &#8211; Palestine News Network</p>
<p>Bethlehem – PNN- The American Methodist church  called on Tuesday for an end to illegal Israeli settlement activity and  American support of them, part of a “series of unprecedented steps” from  the largest Christian denomination in the United States.</p>
<p><img title="Image" src="https://i2.wp.com/english.pnn.ps/images/stories/2008/2010xmas01.jpg" border="2" alt="Image" hspace="6" width="720" height="480" align="middle" /></p>
<p>The move is just the latest from the Methodist church, which decided in July 2010 to boycott Israeli settlement goods.</p>
<p>Boasting  nearly 8 million members in the United States, it may yield influence  to pressure President Obama’s foreign policies—notably his use of the  veto against a United Nations Security Council condemning Israeli  settlements supported by the remaining 14 council members, nearly two  weeks ago.</p>
<p>The resolution, the result of discussions  held in a 40-member special church council tasked with following the  humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, calls for the  end of all violence Israeli or Palestinian and the beginning of “true  negotiations to end the Middle East conflict” on the basis of the end of  the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.</p>
<p>The  statement also called for an immediate freeze of illegal Jewish  settlements on Palestinian land and confiscation of Palestinian property  in East Jerusalem and the cutting off of American support for such  activities.</p>
<p>Rev. Danny Awad, assistant dean of  students at the Bethlehem Bible College, said the decision signaled that  the Methodist church “stood on its principles on the side of truth,  fighting against injustice wherever in the world it occurs.”</p>
<p>The  Methodist church in Bethlehem will celebrate 60 years since its  founding this coming April. It was bombed during Israel’s 2002 invasion  of the city.</p>
<hr />
<div id="relateditemtitle">Related news items:</div>
<ul id="relateditemlist">
<li><span class="mosextranews_date">08/03/2011 22:06</span> &#8211; <a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=9671&amp;Itemid=59">Bethlehem Celebrates International Women&#8217;s Day with Protest</a></li>
<li><span class="mosextranews_date">08/03/2011 14:53</span> &#8211; <a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=9668&amp;Itemid=59">Soldiers Attack Sit-in in Southern West Bank</a></li>
<li><span class="mosextranews_date">08/03/2011 12:24</span> &#8211; <a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=9667&amp;Itemid=64">Troops Arrest Eight Civilians and Distribute Demolition Orders to Villagers in the West Bank</a></li>
<li><span class="mosextranews_date">08/03/2011 12:23</span> &#8211; <a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=9666&amp;Itemid=74">Turkey Coop Reports Bird Flu South of Bethlehem</a></li>
<li><span class="mosextranews_date">08/03/2011 11:18</span> &#8211; <a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=9665&amp;Itemid=63">Gisha: Israeli Defense Ministry Only Allow Christian Worshippers to Leave Gaza</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://english.pnn.ps/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=9672&amp;Itemid=56">PNN &#8211; Palestine News Network &#8211; American Methodist Church Calls for End to Settlements</a>.</p>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://i2.wp.com/english.pnn.ps/images/stories/2008/2010xmas01.jpg?fit=440%2C330]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>