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August 2026

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is a Palestinian-led, nonviolent global movement for freedom, justice and equality. BDS upholds the simple principle that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity. This movement takes as its energizing vision the earlier successful use of boycott, divestment and governmental sanctions that brought an end to South Africa’s deeply entrenched apartheid regime.

The use of economic leverage – boycott, divestment and sanctions – has a long tradition within the United Church of Christ. Resolutions calling for boycott, divestment and sanctions in support of justice for the Palestinian people were approved overwhelmingly by delegates at UCC General Synod in 2015, 2017, 2021 and 2025.

Christian leaders in Palestine are fully in support of boycott, divestment and sanctions as nonviolent means to end occupation and oppression. They issued an eloquent, prayerful endorsement of this movement through the 2009 document Kairos Palestine: A moment of truth, A word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering, and the 2020 document Kairos Palestine: Cry for hope: a Call to decisive action. A long list of Christian denominations, religious bodies and civil society organizations have also endorsed and joined this movement.

Submitted by Diane Dulin, Orchard Ridge UCC

• HERE Reject expansion of U.S.-Israeli military cooperation! See here for more information and to join the letter writing campaign.

• Demand freedom for Natalie Abudayehh and Sami Safi! 
• Senator Van Hollen's office is involved in trying to get Natalie and Sami Safi (an American citizen) and their classmates released from prison after they were abducted from Birzeit University housing located north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. 
• You can advocate for Sama Safi HERE with MPower Action.
• You can advocate for Natalie Abu Dayyeh HERE with this template letter from the ELCA. (You can change the language to indicate you are UCC.)

• Sign a petition HERE to demand freedom for Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, a physician who is being held and tortured in an Israeli prison. He and about 90 other medics are being held in detention instead of trying to save lives in Gaza. Here is an article about Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya and the status of other medical professionals who are being held.

• Ensure inclusion of funds for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network which includes Augusta Victoria Hospital in the FY27 budget HERE.

A group in Appleton, Fox Valley for Palestine, has announced a new film series that starts in September 2026. Movies include: 

September 19: “The Voice of Hind Rajab”

October 10th: “American Doctor”

November 7th: “The Encampments”

December 5th: “Where Olive Trees Weep”

Learn more at https://foxvalleyforpalestine.org

Threading Solidarity: Tatreez from Teejop to Palestine is an exhibit of tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) that will be open to the public thru August 29 at the Ruth Arts Gallery, 111 S. Livingston Street, #100, Madison.

The exhibition highlights the work of tatreez practitioners in both Teejop and Hebron, Palestine. The collective in Hebron is comprised entirely of Palestinian women, while the local community is both multi-ethnic and multi-generational. This matrilineal practice that was once taught to most girls as young as 6 in Palestine has proliferated among first and second-generation Palestinians, and allies, in Teejop. Visitors are invited to honor Palestine and its enduring resilience across space and time.

The Wisconsin Conference Palestine Justice Working Group is providing Listening From The Heart Workshops to give attendees an experience of listening (on a video) to Palestinians and Israelis who have lost a loved one to the violence and then process these with other attendees at the Workshop. The sharing of these bereaved family members invites us to listen with our hearts to the lived reality of the speakers to learn more about the human cost of the Conflict.

Watch for more information on our updated Fall in-person workshops to be held in each of the three Conference Regions.

If your church is interested in hosting a workshop, please contact the Rev. Lisa Hart.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition and US Boats to Gaza are looking for religious leaders to join them for any part of the 2026 Autumn Gaza flotilla. Learn more at https://freedomflotilla.org/ or https://usboatstogaza.org/.

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For more frequent news and updates, you are invited to subscribe to receive weekly Palestine Awareness Updates from LisaAnn Trembath at Madison Christian Community. Email latrembath@gmail.com to be added to the list.