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Kairos, CIDa, Israel

Taxpayer-funded church coalition calling for divestment of Israel

By Judi McLeod
Thursday, October 27, 2005

a Canadian taxpayer-funded coalition of 11 major churches and church agencies is holding a series of public forums in Toronto, which call for divesting in Israel, Canada Free Press has learned.

The social justice missioned KaIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives has received $2.9-million from CIDa (Canadian International Development agency) during the past two years.

KaIROS, which has 25 years of experience in supporting human rights and peace building in the Middle East, states on its literature that "Until a Palestinian state is realized, Israel is an occupying power in the Palestinian Territories and must respect international law as specified in the Fourth Geneva Convention."

With a generous budget to travel, nine delegates of the coalition signed a letter to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin last March from Jerusalem.

"Since our arrival in Jerusalem on March 17, a number of Palestinians have been killed each day, mainly in Gaza. These are Israeli reprisal killings for the suicide bombing attacks in the port city of ashdod, just outside of Gaza," delegates wrote to Martin.

KaIROS public forums on Israel divestment are being hosted over a two-day period in Toronto-based United Churches.

Representatives expected to attend tonight's free forum at Bloor Street United Church include the Canadian arab Federation, Zatoun: Fair Trade Olive Oil from Palestine. Palestine House Educational & Cultural Centre, World affairs Committee of Toronto Conference of the United Church of Canada and the Muslim Canadian Congress. among others.

KaIROS and friends are calling on companies and corporations to divest from Israel.

according to an Internet declaration, KaIROS considers that "earning money through investment in companies whose products and services are used in such a way as to violate international law and human rights is equivalent to profiting from unlawful acts and from the oppression of others."

To KaIROS, "investment in such companies can be seen as condoning the harm of innocent civilians under occupation and the illegal Israeli settlement policies that lead to human rights violations."

"Investment in such companies enables the government of Israel to sustain the ongoing violation of human rights of innocent civilians and "continuing such investments, once the facts are brought to our attention, constitutes deliberate condoning of the evil practices," claims KaIROS.

Not all Christian leaders approve of calls for divesting from Israel by a taxpayer-supported organization comprised by mainstream churches and church agencies.

"It is hypocritical for so-called Christians to attack Israel and at the same time worship an Israelite called Jesus and the God of Israel," said Dr. Charles McVety, President of Canada Christian College.

Dr. McVety noted that KaIROS is funded by the Liberal Government of Canada through CIDa.

"It is outrageous that the Liberal government would support a group that would call for divesting from Israel with $2.9 million of Canadian taxpayers' money and side with the Palestinians."


Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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