Founded in 1971, Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East (UUJME) works within the Unitarian Universalist community to promote peace and justice in Israel-Palestine, including a settlement of the conflict affirming the equality, dignity, freedom and security of all peoples involved.

UUJME has a national Board of Directors as well as several local groups affiliated with Unitarian Universalist churches throughout the United States. This web site contains many resources for people interested in learning more about the conflict in Israel-Palestine, which stretches back to the 1880s, as well as resources for those ready to take action to promote justice and human rights in Israel-Palestine. 

 Photo: Emile Ashrawi, West Bank, Palestine

Read an account of UUJME's July, 2011 human rights/fact-finding trip to Israel-Palestine, an update on local chapter activity, and more in UUJME's Fall 2011 newsletter.

UUJME is alarmed by the US government's threats to block the upcoming Palestinian statehood petition at the United Nations and to punish Palestinians for asking for UN recognition by withholding US aid.  We urge you to contact President Obama and members of Congress to urge them not to stand in the way of the Palestinians' quest for freedom, dignity, and self-determination. Full statement and government contact information.

UUJME is sponsoring another sermon contest for the upcoming year, making it our 3rd annual contest!  Once again we are planning to present the winning sermon at an event during the 2012 General Assembly, which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona next summer.  Our contest topic this year is "What actions do UU principles, history and values call us to take in the movement to end the occupation and human rights abuses in Israel/Palestine?" Read details and submission instructions here.

The UUJME Board decided to create a summer newsletter this year to give our members and friends the details about the goings-on at General Assembly in June.  You can read it here.

UUJME is offering to subsidize half the cost of the Budrus public screening package until the UUA discount expires on July 17, so act fast!  Read more ...

We managed at the last minute to live stream Hanan Watson's sermon presentation at the UUJME Sermon Contest Award Dinner (great big thanks to board member Dana Ashrawi!).   If you missed it live you can watch it below.  You'll have to watch a short commercial first, unfortunately, but it's well worth it for the free streaming service.  You can also read the transcript of the sermon.  And definitely check out Rev. Jason Lydon's runner-up sermon as well!

Just Vision is offering a special UUA discount rate on a public screening package for their high-acclaimed, award-winning documentary film Budrus.  This offer is good between June 15 and July 17, 2011 for UU churches and groups wanting to screen the film.  Read on for more details ...

Also, don't miss UUJME's own screening of Budrus, taking place during the UUA General Assembly on Friday, June 24 at 1:00 pm in Charlotte Convention Center 208A!

UUJME is excited to announce the winner of the 2nd Annual UUJME Sermon Contest:  Hanan Watson, pictured far left, of All Souls Unitarian in New York City for her sermon entitled, "Waking Up to Shatter the Silence".  Our judges also decide to award a special runner-up position this year to Rev. Jason M. Lydon, pictured left, of Community Church of Boston for his sermon, "Be Not Afraid: Truth Telling and Justice Seeking".  Congratulations to our winners! 

Click here for more details on the contest results as well as information about the Sermon Contest Award Dinner to be held June 23 during the General Assembly in Charlotte, NC.

The UUJME Spring 2011 Newsletter is now available in PDF format. 

Read about UUJME's activities at the upcoming 2011 General Assembly, our partnership with Jewish Voice for Peace, our upcoming trip to Israel/Palestine, news from our local groups, and more!

Check out UUJME's Facebook page and let us know what you think.  Please click our "Like" button if you like what you see!

UUJME's immediate past president, Don McInnes, will lead his 4th human rights trip to Israel/Palestine this coming summer.  The trip will take place July 16 - 27. 

See our trip flyer and contact Don at don@3mlaw.com or 617-661-9000 for additional details and/or to reserve a spot on the trip.

 Photo from 2009 UUJME trip to Israel/Palestine

UPDATE:  Abdallah Abu Rahmah was released on March 14, 2011 after serving 16 months in prison for organizing demonstrations in Bil'in against the construction of Israel's separation barrier and confiscation of land. 

UUJME has officially signed Jewish Voice for Peace's letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  urging her to intervene on behalf of Abdallah Abu Rahmah, a human rights activist from Bil'in who was arrested by Israel and imprisoned during an 8-month trial in which he was convicted of "organizing illegal demonstrations" and "incitement".  He will be sentenced on October 10 and faces 10 years in prison.  Abdallah Abu Rahmah is a teacher from Bil'in, the Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank which has seen around 60% of its land confiscated for Israel's illegal separation wall and Jewish-only settlements.  Abu Rahmah is the coordinator of Bil'in's Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, which has staged weekly non-violent demonstrations against the Wall for the last five years.   To sign the letter, as an individual, to Secretary Clinton click here.  To learn more about Abdallah Abu Rahmah, click here.

UUJME has officially endorsed Jewish Voice for Peace's initiative to compel TIAA-CREF to divest from companies profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land.  A representative from JVP will be present in the UUJME booth, #326, at the exhibit hall at General Assembly to discuss this initiative and other JVP work.  Note that this topic is particularly timely for UUs since the UUA recently announced it was transferring its retirement fund from Fidelity to TIAA-CREF.

On January 8, 2009, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) established an emergency relief fund for the people of Gaza in light of the Israeli bombardment and invasion. Visit the UUSC web page on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and learn about the current status of the situation in Gaza and the details of the UUSC's relief work there. Please consider finding a way to publicize this fund within your congregation. You might also consider finding a way for your congregation to take up a special collection for this fund, perhaps on a Sunday morning.

Click here to donate to the Gaza Humanitarian Relief Fund.