With thanks to Steve Chase for his May 3 presentation on AFSC’s position on apartheid in Israel/Palestine, the Peace & Social Concerns Committee recommends that Meeting consider endorsing the Apartheid-Free Pledge below.

However, since this merits more explanation, and we anticipate some discussion within our meeting, before asking for approval and acceptance of the Pledge, we encourage Friends to attend the following:

• Information Session on the Pledge, Community Room, Saturday June 27, 10:30-11:30am
• Threshing Session on the Pledge, in-person only, in the Worship Room, Saturday, July 18, 10:30-12
• Threshing Session on the Pledge, blended, in-person and via Zoom, Saturday July 25, 4-5:30

The Pledge:

WE AFFIRM our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and all people;

WE OPPOSE all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and

WE DECLARE ourselves an apartheid-free community and to that end,

WE PLEDGE to join others in working to end all support to Israel’s apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.

After due consideration by Meeting, the Committee anticipates bringing this to Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business in September.