The United Church of Canada has voted to boycott settlement products. Below are two responses from Jewish community organizations. Both say that the United Church is threatening interfaith harmony; and both describe the settlements as Israel.

First, the World Jewish Congress:

“The leaders of the UCC have made an unfortunate decision that denies the facts of the Jewish people’s historical presence in their homeland…”

Evelyn Sommer, Chair, World Jewish Congress, North America, said… “The leaders of the UCC have made an unfortunate decision that denies the facts of the Jewish people’s historical presence in their homeland…”

NEW YORK… The World Jewish Congress strongly condemns the outrageous decision taken by the United Church of Canada to support a boycott of Israeli communities and for its stated regret for previously calling for Palestinian recognition of Israel’s Jewish character….

B’nai B’rith Canada:

B’nai Brith Canada has condemned recommendations passed by the United Church of Canada today that lay the groundwork for the boycott of products from Jewish communities in Biblical Israel. The final vote to approve and actualize this boycott is expected on Friday.

Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, issued the following statement:

“At a time when thousands of Syrian citizens are being slaughtered, we find this obsession with the Jewish State highly suspect. The subtext of these recommendations is that Jews cannot legitimately establish working communities in Biblical Israel – this is a first step towards calling for ethnic cleansing of Jews from these areas.”