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06315 June 9, 2006
Both investment and divestment needed, Middle East caucus says
Group urges reaffirmation of 2004 selective, phased divestment decision
by Toya Richards Hill
LOUISVILLE * Both investment and divestment must happen in order to end hostilities in Israel and Palestine, the National Middle Eastern Presbyteri an Caucus (NMEPC) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) said in a newly released statement.
"While a positive investment strategy can be constructive and beneficial, it fails to identify and address the causes of the perpetuation of the conflict, and does not actively oppose the expansion of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories," said the caucus' June 1 statement.
"Investment strategies would encourage good neighborliness between the Israelis and Palestinians * but fail to stop the Israeli government from confiscating Palestinian property and expropriating Palestinian land," the caucus said.
"Both investment and divestment are needed to bring about justice and peace in this conflict."
Released just two weeks before the General Assembly (GA) of the PC(USA) meets in Birmingham, Ala., the caucus' statement affirms the action taken by the previous 216th GA (2004) to begin the process of phased, selective divestment from corporations whose business practices promote violence in the region.
The caucus, comprised of all PC(USA) Middle Eastern congregations, fellowships, Bible study groups and mission personnel serving in the Middle East, also in its statement "encourages the 217th General Assembly (2006) to reaffirm the 216th General Assembly's decision" regarding divestment.
Any sort of investment that causes injustice "is not church business," said Mansour Khajehpour, a member of the NMEPC executive committee and a student at Princeton Theological Seminary. "Church should not invest in any * oppressive situation."
The denomination's Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) Committee was charged with carrying out the GA's divestment action, which caused a firestorm of controversy and strained interfaith relations with a number of Jewish groups. The committee is now in the process of "engaging" five multinational corporations * Caterpillar Inc., Citigroup, ITT Industries, Motorola and United Technologies.
MRTI's work is expected to be under the spotlight during the assembly in Birmingham as the result of numerous overtures that have been submitted on divestment, most seeking to rescind or suspend the 2004 action.
Though the divestment action "evoked some negative responses, the Church should not be apprehensive or made reluctant," the caucus' statement said. "The Church should not fail to speak out and act on behalf of the victims * for fear of upsetting those who do not share our perspective and values."
It's about being "active rather than being passive to social issues," said Khajehpour, a PC(USA) elder. "To talk on behalf of the voiceless."
The caucus's statement also was careful to point out that no violence or injustice in the region is acceptable, either by Israelis or Palestinian s.
"We condemn all forms of violence, be they terrorist activities or state-sponsored," the caucus said. "We especially condemn attacks against civilians, Palestinians and Israelis, be they suicide bombings or indiscriminate military strikes."
According to the Palestine Red Crescent Society, more than 33,000 deaths and injuries have occurred in the West Bank and Gaza between Sept. 30, 2000 and June 7.
"My real deep, deep hope is to see that divestment will continue and basically the message will be transferred to the Israeli (government) and also the companies to act more fairly toward humanity," Khajehpour said.
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