Bernie Farber calls the four proposals anti-Semitic.

The four resolutions are among 105 to be debated at the meeting in Kelowna, B.C.

They call on the United Church “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.”

Farber said he is most concerned about statements made in the background portion of the resolutions, which in one case refers to “questionable positions of Canadian members of Parliament.” The document notes that some MPs have accepted sponsored trips to Israel, “which might be called bribes” and said “some members of Parliament are affiliated with the State of Israel.”

The church’s moderator, Rev. David Giuliano, acknowledged the proposals are controversial, but he noted once they have been brought forward by one of the church’s 13 regions, they must be debated.

“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,” Giuliano said.

“It’s something that we’re being asked to discuss and consider, and by some people approve.”

Giuliano acknowledged the proposals “at face value, are quite offensive to some people in the Jewish community because of the implications for Israel and are perceived even as anti-Semitic.”

He said when the proposals came in, his office recognized there would be concern and alerted the Jewish Congress.

Farber said he tried for three weeks to get a meeting with church leaders but his calls were not returned.

Giuliano said the debate will go ahead.

“One of the things that’s core to our identify is our willingness to wrestle with hard issues.”

Also appeared in The Truro Daily News