On Wednesday 2nd May, The United Methodist Church voted against two proposals to divest from companies that provides security equipment used by Israel against the Palestinian population.

The United Methodist Church, which is the nations largest mainline protestant churches, denounced the Israeli occupation and the settlements and according to the New York Times called for “all nations to prohibit the import of products made by companies in Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.”

However, they came against intense lobbying by American jews and Israeli's, who denounced the move and asked for a more neutral resolution that would, according to the lobbyists, encourage “positive investment in Palestine.”

On 30th June, The Presbyterian Church USA will vote on a divestment measure at its general assembly, in Pittsburgh.

Both groups have maintained a good relationship with the Christian population in Palestine, and have supported numerous projects including building schools, health centres and youth centres, and continue to send delegations to the holy land.