CJC representatives will attend the conference, which starts Sunday, to express concern about perceived anti-Israel proposals submitted for debate and to urge the 400 delegates to defeat the resolutions.

“The resolutions are one-sided, inflammatory and, in supporting a boycott of Israel, align the UCC with the enemies of Israel seeking its destruction,” said Bernie M. Farber, the CJC’s CEO.

He will be among CJC representatives on hand to ensure UCC delegates understand the harmful nature of the resolutions to the Jewish-UCC relationship.

They call on the United Church, Canada’s largest Protestant denomination, “to advocate a comprehensive boycott of Israeli academic and cultural institutions.” Another urges the church to “support the international campaign of boycott . . .

divestment and sanctions until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination.” “Of greater concern than the proposals themselves are the supporting materials, which constitute a direct assault on Canadian Jews, echoing classical anti-Semitic canards of dual loyalty and political manipulation,” said Farber in a news release.

The supporting materials castigate Canadian MPs who have “accepted sponsored trips to Israel, which might be called bribes,” and who are “affiliated with the State of Israel” or “are dual citizens with Israel and have sensitive roles in Canada.” “CJC and the United Church of Canada have worked assiduously toward rapprochement over the past several years, largely through the Canadian Christian-Jewish consultation,” added former CJC co-president Rabbi Reuven Bulka, who will also be in Kelowna.

“It is discouraging and frustrating to see all of this important effort imperiled by these resolutions and their supporting documents,” Bulka said. “If passed, these proposals will do irreparable harm to future relations, not only between our organizations, but also to dialogue between our communities.” UCC moderator Rev. David Giuliano acknowledged the proposals are controversial, but said: “We’re a church that debates these things in the open, and while some people may have put a proposal forward, it by no means says at this point that it is endorsed by the national church.” The war of words began last week with an op-ed piece submitted by the CJC to the National Post about four resolutions criticizing Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.