Local Editor

The United Church of Canada (UCC), the largest Protestant denomination in the country, voted for boycotting products made in or linked to "Israel's" settlements in the occupied West Bank and occupied East al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The Montreal Gazette reported that a spokesperson of the UCC general council identified as Bruce Gregersen, stated that the decision is considered a significant step.
The UCC will be holding another vote on Friday to decide whether this boycott would be a regarded as a permanent policy of the church.
The "Israeli" settlements are self-contained, fortified towns or conclaves built in the West Bank and East al-Quds (Jerusalem).
They are considered illegal by the UN and most countries because those territories were captured by "Israel" in a war in 1967 and are hence seen as being subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbids construction on occupied land.
"Israeli" Ynet News reported that the Centre for "Israel" and the Jewish Affairs in Canada said that it was "outraged by this decision", and considered it "a move that singled out Jewish communities for boycott".

The Centre claimed that this decision is considered a "reckless path", and added that the decision just dismisses the concerns of the Jewish community in Canada.
A number of industries have sprung up in the settlements, with products like cosmetics, wine and plastics exported around the world.
Individual church members are not required to participate in the boycott, but they will be encouraged to do so - and spread the word at the same time.

Source: Montreal Gazette, edited by moqawama.org