wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Assembly endorses Israel divestment

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Note #8414 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Assembly endorses Israel divestment
GA04121
July 2, 2004

Assembly endorses Israel divestment

Palestinian says merely issuing another statement is not enough

by Alexa Smith

RICHMOND, July 2 - The 216th General Assembly approved several measures
opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestine Friday, including a call for the
corporate witness office of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to begin gathering
data to support a selective divestment of holdings in multinational
corporations doing business in Israel/Palestine.

Divestment is one of the strategies that U.S. churches used in the 1970s and
'80s in a successful campaign to end apartheid in South Africa.

The vote was 431 to 62 to have the church's Mission Responsibility Through
Investment Committee (MRTI) study the matter and make recommendations to the
General Assembly Council (GAC).

When a handful of commissioners expressed reservations about the action, the
Rev. Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran pastor from Bethlehem, an ecumenical guest at
the Assembly, said divestment is important because it is a way for the
churches to take direct action. For too long, he said, the churches have
simply issued statements - and that is not enough.

"We have to send strong messages to such companies," Raheb said, referring
specifically to Caterpillar Inc., the American builder of the armored
tractors and bulldozers the Israeli army uses to demolish Palestinian homes.

"Sisters and brothers, this is a moment of truth," Raheb said.

The Rev. Victor Makari, the PC(USA)'s liaison to the Middle East, supported
the divestment strategy, saying, "I think the issue of divestment is a very
sensitive one with Israel. ... If nothing else seems to have changed the
policy of Israel toward Palestinians, we need to send a clear and strong
message."

The divestment action also calls for the United States to be an "honest,
even-handed broker for peace" and calls for "more meaningful participation"
in peace negotiations by Russia, German, France and others. It also
encourages the U.S., Israeli and Palestinian governments to "lay aside
arrogant political posturing and get on with forging negotiated compromises
that open a path to peace."

In other actions related to Israel, the Assembly voted by large margins to
condemn Israel's construction of a "security wall" across the West Bank;
disavow Christian Zionism as a legitimate theological stance and direct the
denomination's Middle East and Interfaith Relations offices to develop
resources on differences between fundamental Zionism and Reformed theology;
and study the feasibility of sponsoring economic-development projects in
Palestine and putting an action plan in place by 2005.

The actions on Israel were forwarded to the Assembly by the Peacemaking
Committee.

This story and many others may have photos, media, video clips that can be
found at http://www.pcusa.org/ga216/.

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