Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Methodist preacher to sue his own church over claim of anti-Israel bias

Robert Mendick, Chief reporter

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/8038848/Methodist-preacher-to-sue-his-own-church-over-claim-of-anti-Israel-bias.html

The legal dispute has been prompted by a controversial resolution passed at the Methodist Conference which called for a boycott of some Israeli goods.

If the legal action is successful, it would likely bring to an end all similar campaigns that boycott Israeli goods and services.

David Hallam, who preaches in Methodist churches around Birmingham, has accused his own church of wasting funds to pursue a vendetta against Israel. There are no Methodist churches in either Israel or the Occupied Territories Mr Hallam, 62, a former labour MEP, said: "What I object to is money which I am putting on the collection plate on a Sunday being used to fund a political campaign against the Jewish state. This is both discriminatory and a misuse of a charity's funds.

"The Methodist Church seems to think it has a God given right to tell Jews how to run their affairs. It is very disturbing we are getting involved in a territory where we don't have any members or churches."

Mr Hallam has recruited Paul Diamond, a barrister with expertise in human rights law and religious law, to bring the case.

Mr Diamond will argue that the Methodist resolution passed in the summer is in breach of European human rights law and a wide-ranging European Union directive on racism.

By singling out Israel, rather than other countries with often worse human rights records, Mr Diamond will claim the church is being deliberately prejudiced against the Jewish state.

Last week the Methodist Church defended the resolution, pointing out the boycott was only of goods made in illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza.

The church said the stance was supported by Palestinian Christians and denied any suggestion the move was racist or discriminatory against Jews.


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Thanks to Yisrael Medad

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