Invest In Peace

Dear Methodist Church delegates

I write to urge to vote in favour of disinvestment from companies involved in the occupation of Palestinian land. I write as a British woman of Jewish heritage, with the support of my 87 year old Jewish mother, who feels ashamed of what she sees Israel doing in her name. Last year I visited the West Bank to see for myself, and was shocked at the inhuman nature of the military occupation, which affects every single Palestinian person in every single aspect of their lives. I am a member of a support group in the Uk, which is proud to have Jewish, Muslim, Christian and secular members working together to support the Palestinian people.

I truly believe that to be a true friend of the Israeli people, we each have a duty to stand up and criticise what is wrong about the behaviour of the Israeli state and of all those companies and individuals who support its occupation. This is not anti semetism - I believe that it is the opposite.

I attach a phtograph of myself harvesting olives from an 300 year old Palestinian tree, which will be destroyed next year in order to build the Israeli apartheid wall. This is not the way to build peace and justice.
thank you for reading this

Hilary Smith
Sheffield, U.K.