Palestine-Israel Justice Project

The purpose of the Palestine-Israel Justice Project (PIJP) is to educate individuals, congregations, and the denomination about actions that work toward peace and justice between Palestine and Israel. Members attempt to give a balanced view of true plight of both Israelis and Palestinians through a variety of programs, projects, actions, and conference resolutions. 

The group meets the first Thursday of each month from 9:30 to 11 a.m.  During the pandemic meetings are by Zoom. Contact the PIJP Chair if you have an interest in the group.

General Mills/Pillsbury Boycott

From time to time, United Methodists have chosen to express their faith and work for social change as they did through the Nestle boycott of three decades ago. The practice of boycott has been encouraged by Christians in Palestine as a way to support Palestinians in the West Bank. Currently the boycott is focused on General Mills/Pillsbury, operating a dough factory in the illegal Atarot Settlement in East Jerusalem.

Longtime landowners, farmers, shepherds and olive tree growers were forced off their property to make way for the building of this factory. Because General Mills/Pillsbury is a large employer in our community, a decision to boycott has been difficult. The Minnesota Palestine Israel Justice Project is joining hands with our national body, United Methodists for Kairos Response, and U.N. peace advocates from around the globe to support this important work.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to express our love for neighbor through acts of mercy and justice. Dr. Cornel West reminds us: “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public”. Minnesota United Methodists are encouraged to become informed about this initiative, and as world citizens, join in support of this effort to express Gods love in public. Read the full statement with rationale for this effort.

Key projects and initiatives:

• Displays at annual conference session to illustrate the conditions prevailing in Palestinian areas
• Creates curriculum and shares resources to educate about Palestine/Israel, available through the PIJP website
• Introduced resolutions that were then passed at annual conference and passed along to General Conference as well as Minnesota government representatives; resolutions provide support for “on-the-ground” learning through trips to Palestine/Israel.
• Supports the planting of olive trees in Palestinian lands
• Supports solar lights for children in Gaza and Bethlehem to study by

Contact

Chair: Shirley Duncanson

sduncanson@comcast.net / (763) 561-9466