| Presbyterian Divestment from Israel | ||||||||||||||||||
| In July 2004 the Presbyterian Church of U.S.A.voted 431-62 to begin "selective divestment" from companies that do buisness with Israel and "help"; Israel continue the occupation of Palestinian territories. The resolution condemning Israel made no mention of Palestinian violence or Palestinian terrorism. The only two other countries the Presbyterian Church divested from were apartheid South Africa and Sudan for their support of genocidal Arab militias. In August 2005 the Presbyterians chose four companies to begin divesting from. They were ITT Industries, Motorola, and Caterpillar for allegedly "supporting the Israeli occupation" and Citigroup for allegedly funding Palestinian terrorism. There are many different opinions on this decision of the Presbyterian Church, some have called the move "one sided" or "anti-semetic" and others have praised the move. Many Presbyterians have publicly condemned the move and at the same time some Jewish groups have praised the decision. Below are some links discussing this issue. | ||||||||||||||||||
| On June 2006 the Presbyterians drafted a new "compromise" resolution which replaced the call to divest from Israel with a call to invest only in "peaceful pursuits" in Israel and Palestine. The Presbterians omited the word divestment from the resolution. The resolution also contained a clause acknowledging that the decision to divest from companies doing buisness with Israel caused "hurt and misunderstanding" among the Jewish population and among some Christian Groups as well and also added that the church "greives the pain and accepts responsibility for the flaws in the process of adopting the divestment decision. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website of the Presbyterian Church of U.S.A.: pcusa.org | ||||||||||||||||||
| News Presbyterians Adopt Compromise Resolution on Israel The new resolution, reached by the Committee on Peacemaking and International Issues, replaces the call "to initiate a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel" in connection with the security fence and related topics with a general phrase that calls for the church to invest only in "peaceful pursuits" in Israel and Palestine. The new resolution does not include the word "divestment." The committee also added a clause that acknowledges that the 2004 decision to divest from companies doing business with Israel "caused hurt and misunderstanding" among the Jewish community and adds that the church "grieves the pain" and accepts responsibility for the flaws in the process of adopting the divestment decision. -June 20 2006 http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/012/3.18.html Presbyterians Meet with Hezbollah The good news is the people who met with Hezbollah have been fired. Jewish Group Supports Presbyterian Divestment from Israel "While Not In My Name has not taken a position on divestment, we appreciate the serious and deliberative approach PC (USA) has taken, seeking to end injustice. NIMN welcomes these bold and important positions by a mainstream religious institution in the United States. We have consistently advocated an end to Israel's illegal occupation and settlements, a suspension of U.S. military aid to Israel until the occupation ends, and freedom from violence for all people of the area. We call for the removal of the illegal wall Israel is erecting inside the West Bank." "With both major U.S. political parties adopting a position on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict that is entirely one-sided and pro-Israel's Prime Minister Sharon, this action by the Presbyterian Church (USA) helps place the political and humanitarian issues in focus. It highlights the depth of the problem and the concerns and responsibilities of all citizens for a just resolution." "We recognize that people of good will can differ as to tactics in trying to end Israel's illegal and immoral occupation. But we reject the idea that the PC (USA) decisions to explore selective divestment and to condemn the Wall are anti- Semitic, as this implies these actions have been chosen to harm the Jewish people." Survey of Presbyterian Churchgoers This page has been taken down since I made this site and I wasn't able to archive it. But the page contained this: a survey taken shows 60% of Presbyterians were unaware of the divestment until after it was approved. Of those that were aware only 28-30% backed divestment. Congress Condemns Presbyterian Divestment Resolution Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA) and thirteen of his colleagues in the House of Representatives today sent a letter to the leader of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, deploring its recent adoption of a resolution calling upon the Church to divest from companies doing business in Israel and urging that it be rescinded. The letter expresses their belief that the resolution is irresponsible, counterproductive and undermines the prospect of peace by “emboldening those who seek to de-legitimize the State of Israel.” Canadian Presbyterian Church does not support divestment from Israel "The Reverend Stephen Kendall, Principal Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of Canada has said that the Canadian Church, unlike the 216th General Assembly, has: "not adopted any resolution with respect to divestment in Israel." Presbyterians Threatened Over Mideast Policy "The Presbyterian Church (USA) has stepped up security at its headquarters and advised its churches to be on alert after receiving a letter threatening arson attacks because of its policies in the Middle East." |
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| Presbyterian Churchgoers Fight Against Divestment Presbyterians For Israel "This page is maintained by a longstanding member and elder in the Presbyterian Church USA as an act of apology and atonement to our Jewish brethren for the ongoing attacks of my own denomination and other "mainline churches" on the survival of the state of Israel." Presbyterians Concerned for Christian Jewish Relations "PCJCR is an informal group of members, ministers, and congregations of the Presbyterian Church (USA); we are committed to a positive, constructive and respectful relationship with Jews" "Presbyterians Concerned for Jewish & Christian Relations (PCJCR) is calling on all Presbyterians to work toward the reversal of the decision of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.(PCUSA) to divest its funds from certain companies doing business with Israel." Presbyterians Launch Petition to Reconsider Divestment from Israel "Members of the Presbyterian Church USA began a web-based petition to bring about a reconsideration of the denomination’s controversial proposal to “divest” funds from corporations working alongside Israel, Monday, August 23, 2004." "The online petition, which began with only 14 signatures of Presbyterians on Monday, grew to a whopping 11,224 Total Signatures by 4 p.m. Tuesday. Nonetheless, the signatories have a long ways to go before bringing the issue back up on the table." The Presbyterian Petition 13,666 people have signed this petition that calls on the Presbyterians to reverse their divestment against Israel. Sign the petition |
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| Other Church Divestment News Episcopal Church next to shun Israel "Leaders of the Anglican Church, which is in the U.S. includes the Episcopal Church, USA, are preparing to follow in the footsteps of the Presbyterian Church, USA, which incurred widespread condemnation this summer when it voted to side with the Palestinians and economically divest from [Israel]." UCC Adopts Israel Divestment Proposal "Jewish and Christian activists were fuming on Tuesday after the United Church of Christ voted to adopt a resolution urging divestment from Israel, during its biennial general synod in Atlanta." "the resolution calls upon UCC-affiliated ministries, and bodies to "use economic leverage including, but not limited to, advocating the reallocation of US foreign aid so that the militarization of the Middle East is constrained; making positive contributions to groups and partners committed to the nonviolent resolution of the conflict; challenging the practices of corporations that gain from the continuation of the conflict; and divesting from those companies that refuse to change their practices of gain from the perpetuation of violence, including the occupati |
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| Also see: AUT Boycott Against Israel World Opinion Has Shifted to Israel's Side America's Suport for Israel Gallup Poll: America's Support for Israel |
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