The Middle East

Text of motion: That this General Synod:; 1) thank Bishop Kafity for his presentation to this Synod and affirm his ministry;; 2) give its strong support to the Middle East Council of Churches and the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East in their life and witness;; 3) ask for the provision of educational resources to inform Canadian Anglicans about the Middle East crisis, the exodus of Christians from Jerusalem and about our ecclesiastical partnerships;; 4) affirm the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, including choice of their own representatives in the Peace talks and the establishment of their own State alongside the State of Israel;; 5) urge the United Nations, and the Canadian Government as convenor of the Refugee Working Group, to promote a solution for Palestinian refugees in accordance with United Nations resolutions;; 6) urge the United Nations to offer protection of the people in the occupied territories until peace arrives, and to apply consistently all United Nations resolutions on the Middle East;; 7) encourage Canadian Anglican tours and tourists to the Holy Land to meet people of all faiths and political beliefs as promoted by the Middle East Council of Churches. CARRIED Act 42

Notes: The following members of Synod abstained: the Reverend Canon Andrew Gates, Mr. Justice Ronald Stevenson, Mr. Michael Wolff and Mr. Justice David Wright.

Subjects: Kafity, Samir; Middle East - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Palestinian Arabs - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Middle East Council of Churches; Anglican Church of Canada - Relations - Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East; Tourist trade - Israel; Tourist trade - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Refugees - Middle East