wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Pro-Israel evangelical groups label divestment efforts

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>]

Note #8984 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

05572
Oct. 24, 2005

Pro-Israel evangelical groups 
say divestment efforts are anti-Semitic
 
by Michele Green
Ecumenical News International  

JERUSALEM - Pro-Israeli evangelical Christians have denounced as anti-Semitic
efforts by some U.S. Protestant groups to divest from companies associated
with Israel.

	The groups also have vowed to counter the effort by increasing
investment in such firms.  
  
	The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), which runs
an annual weeklong conference here in support of Israel, said it will set up
a trade office to encourage Christian investment in the Jewish state. The
move is a response to recent decisions by U.S.-based Protestant groups to
re-examine investments in companies connected to Israel and its occupation of
Palestinian territories.  
  
	"With a worldwide constituency, we are in a position to make a
difference against worldwide divestment," Malcolm Hedding, ICEJ's executive
director, said on Oct. 20 during the Israeli Feast of the Tabernacles
conference.  
  
	The conference, which drew about 5,000 evangelical Christians from
around, is held to coincide with the Jewish harvest festival of Succoth. One
of its highlights is a march through the streets of Jerusalem by Christians
waving Israeli flags.  
  
	Hedding said his organization will take a "proactive approach" to
stemming the divestment tide by helping Christians invest in Israel and
Israeli companies.  
  
	Several U.S. Protestant churches, including the Presbyterian Church
(U.S.A.), the U.S. Episcopal (Anglican) Church and the United Church of
Christ, recently have voted to re-examine their investments in companies seen
as profiting from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the
construction of the so-called "security wall."	
  
	Jewish groups have asserted that the divestment trend is being
encouraged by pro-Palestinian lobby groups working in the United States. Some
churches backing the economic measures say they are meant to pressure
companies whose products are used for aggression or violent suppression of
people.  
  
	Hedding said the ICEJ will team with the International Christian
Chamber of Commerce to establish a trade office in Israel to introduce
Christian businessmen to Israeli business opportunities.  
  
	"It needs to be easier for small investors to get that money into the
nation and the economy," said Dale Neill, president of the International
Christian Chamber of Commerce. 

	The ICEJ said it also will try to bring more Christian pilgrims to
the Holy Land to boost the Israeli tourism economy.

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