Apartheid-Free Working Group

1. What is the Apartheid-Free pledge?
We affirm our commitment to freedom, justice, and equality for the Palestinian people and
all people. We oppose all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression; and we declare ourselves an Apartheid-Free Community, and to that end, we pledge to join others in working to end all support for Israel's apartheid regime, settler colonialism, and military occupation.

2.  Why does the pledge focus on Israel when apartheid is present in other countries? 
The Apartheid-Free movement is a response to a faith-based initiative dating back to December 2009, when Palestinian Christians urgently appealed to the global church to stand with them and peacefully resist Israeli apartheid policies governing their daily lives.  For details see Kairos Palestine: A Moment of Truth (https://www.KairosPalestine.ps).  

3. Is it antisemitic to become an Apartheid-Free congregation?
Absolutely not. The pledge specifically opposes all forms of racism, bigotry, discrimination, and oppression. Therefore, it follows that the pledge opposes all forms of violence and discrimination against Jews.  This action is directed solely at the Israeli government’s discriminatory policies and practices. Criticism of the Israeli government as a political entity is not antisemitic. Indeed, some Jewish organizations, such as B’Tselem, ICAHD (Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions), IfNotNow, International Jewish Collective for Justice in Palestine, and Jewish Voice for Peace, as well as some Jewish media such as 972 Magazine and Jewish Currents, continue to call out the Israeli government’s apartheid practices. Note too that the pledge does not speak to “Israel’s right to exist in peace and security” (Arafat, 1988), but it does emphasize that Israel’s existence cannot be at the expense of the Palestinians through apartheid practices, settlements on Palestinian land, and occupation by military force.

4. Why was apartheid-free.org established?

The apartheid-free.org organization was formed in January 2022, after extensive investigations by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, Al Haq, and the UN became public. Each organization determined that Israel's treatment of the Palestinian people amounts to the crime of apartheid.

5. Is the term “apartheid” inflammatory?
This depends on the person who is hearing the term. A dictionary definition of the word apartheid refers broadly to a system of governmental laws or policies to keep groups of people separate and treat them differently, especially to the disadvantage of one group. Although the word had its origins in the discriminatory practices of South Africa, it is not unique to that country. Human rights organizations, journalists, lawyers, ambassadors, and politicians (e.g., Jimmy Carter’s Palestine Peace Not Apartheid, 2006) verify that apartheid is enforced by the Israeli government against Palestinians. Based on international law, the term is appropriate. Although some groups might resist using the word, the term apartheid accurately applies to the oppressive system Palestinians face in their daily lives.

6. Who has signed onto the Apartheid-Free Pledge?
Worldwide faith-based communities, organizations, and businesses have taken the Apartheid-Free Pledge. As of January 20, 2025, there were 445 such signatories. A survey of the Binkley congregation in September-October 2024 showed that at least 95 members and friends of Binkley supported the Apartheid-Free Pledge. Members of the following faith-based communities form the steering committee of apartheid-free.org:

Alliance of Baptists
American Friends Service Committee
Black Christians for Palestine
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Community Peacemaker Teams
Episcopal Peace Fellowship – Palestine
Israel Network
Friends of Sabeel North America
Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Mennonite Palestine Israel Network
Quaker Palestine Israel Network
United Church of Christ
United Methodists for Kairos Response
Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East