The Rev. John Wagner, United Methodist Kairos Response
“The United States has long opposed Israeli-only settlements on land set aside for a future Palestinian state. They are illegal according to international law and provocative obstacles to any kind of workable peace agreement, as US presidents from both our major political parties have repeatedly stated. In spite of our objections, Israel continues to build more of them. Boycotting products produced within these settlements is a non-violent way to support the rights of all people in the region, regardless of their ethnic origin. As of our General Conference in 2012, this is also the official stance of the United Methodist Church. Our denomination is now asking all those who seek justice for all in the Middle East to consider boycotting settlement products such as SodaStream.”
Shan Cretin, General Secretary, AFSC
“The American Friends Service Committee has supported and led a variety of boycott and divestment campaigns linked to civil rights, anti-apartheid, farm worker, and prison rights struggles. Economic activism, such as the SodaStream boycott led by interfaith groups in the United States, calls us to be accountable to our values and reminds us that all our actions must be conducted in ways that affirm our common humanity. We also recognize that boycott, divestment, and sanctions tactics when used strategically are effective nonviolent tools for realizing political and social change, means that have been shown to be more effective at achieving just outcomes than violent alternatives.”
Karen Danielson, MAS Outreach Director
“While MAS has always stood for justice and will continue to do so, as MAS Outreach Chicago Director and MAS PACE (public affairs and civic engagement) Interfaith Coordinator, I strive to place people of faith into responsible action. It is my commitment and recommendation to our membership to stand with the many other faith communities to boycott Sodastream on Super Bowl Sunday as it continues to profit while ignoring the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and operates in an illegal settlement in the West Bank.”
Zahra Billoo, Executive Director CAIR – San Francisco Bay Area
I am proudly supporting SodaStream boycott this SuperBowl Sunday and beyond. We cannot continue to support companies that are profiting from the apartheid policies of the state of Israel and the resulting oppression of the Palestinian people.
Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb, Shomer Shalom Network for Jewish Nonviolence
“The Palestinian people have not only been denied many basic human rights in their ancestral land, they have also been vilified and demonized as inherently violent and irrational, hence, undeserving of being granted their rights. There is nothing violent or irrational about the boycott campaign. Its means are peaceful, its objective are clear. It deserves our support.”