Post by Moses on Nov 19, 2004 15:58:04 GMT -5
There has been a flurry of activity on the divestment front since the Presbyterian Church (USA) decided on July 2nd to begin investigating selective divestment from companies that benefit from Israel's occupation of the West bank and Gaza Strip. The following is a summary of recent developments.
Presbyterian Church Develops Six Criteria for Divestment
After meeting on November 4th through the 6th, the Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Responsibility Through Investment committee compiled a list with six criteria to identify companies that promote Israel's occupation of the West Bank. If a company meets any of the church's six criteria, the General Assembly will vote to begin divesting from that company. The first four criteria address the occupation itself and single out those companies that (1) provide the Israeli police or military with support to remain an occupying power, (2) manufacture products or technology or services that maintain occupation, (3) produce goods or services that either expand or maintain the settlements, or (4) have established their own facilities on occupied land. The Church is also targeting corporations that facilitate violence, whether Palestinian or Israeli, and companies that aid in the construction of the separation wall.
See: www.christianpost.com/dbase/church/1601/section/1.htm
Presbyterian Church Threatened with Violence
The Presbyterian Church (USA)'s move toward divestment has provoked numerous charges of anti-Semitism and even a threat of physical violence. An anonymous letter, postmarked from Queens, NY, was sent to the Church headquarters on November 12th threatening to set churches on fire while members were attending services. The writer stated in the letter that his/her threat was in response to the Church's "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes." The PC (USA) Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Clifton Kirkpatrick assured the Church that threats like these are rarely carried out.
See: www.christianpost.com/dbase/church/1610/section/1.htm
Episcopal Church Backs Down
After consulting with a coalition of Jewish groups, the Episcopal Church has decided to not divest, but rather to address obstacles to peace on both the Palestinian and Israeli side in a way that promotes "dialogue." In recent statements, the director of the Episcopal Church's Peace and Justice Ministries, Brian J. Grieves, has stressed the importance of a continued dialogue with those companies that further the occupation of the West Bank, arguing that "shareholder activism" is more effective than divesting. "There's no dialogue or likely change if you divest. Once you sell the stock, you have no leverage" Grieves wrote in an e-mail to The Forward ("Feeling Heat, Episcopal Church Backs Away From Divestment," Nov. 12) .The Church has also stated that they will not take any further action without first speaking with domestic and international Jewish groups.
See: www.jewishtimes.com/scripts/edition.pl?now=11/10/2004&SubSectionID=31&ID=4313
Presbyterian Church Develops Six Criteria for Divestment
After meeting on November 4th through the 6th, the Presbyterian Church (USA) Mission Responsibility Through Investment committee compiled a list with six criteria to identify companies that promote Israel's occupation of the West Bank. If a company meets any of the church's six criteria, the General Assembly will vote to begin divesting from that company. The first four criteria address the occupation itself and single out those companies that (1) provide the Israeli police or military with support to remain an occupying power, (2) manufacture products or technology or services that maintain occupation, (3) produce goods or services that either expand or maintain the settlements, or (4) have established their own facilities on occupied land. The Church is also targeting corporations that facilitate violence, whether Palestinian or Israeli, and companies that aid in the construction of the separation wall.
See: www.christianpost.com/dbase/church/1601/section/1.htm
Presbyterian Church Threatened with Violence
The Presbyterian Church (USA)'s move toward divestment has provoked numerous charges of anti-Semitism and even a threat of physical violence. An anonymous letter, postmarked from Queens, NY, was sent to the Church headquarters on November 12th threatening to set churches on fire while members were attending services. The writer stated in the letter that his/her threat was in response to the Church's "anti-Israel and anti-Jewish attitudes." The PC (USA) Stated Clerk of the General Assembly Clifton Kirkpatrick assured the Church that threats like these are rarely carried out.
See: www.christianpost.com/dbase/church/1610/section/1.htm
Episcopal Church Backs Down
After consulting with a coalition of Jewish groups, the Episcopal Church has decided to not divest, but rather to address obstacles to peace on both the Palestinian and Israeli side in a way that promotes "dialogue." In recent statements, the director of the Episcopal Church's Peace and Justice Ministries, Brian J. Grieves, has stressed the importance of a continued dialogue with those companies that further the occupation of the West Bank, arguing that "shareholder activism" is more effective than divesting. "There's no dialogue or likely change if you divest. Once you sell the stock, you have no leverage" Grieves wrote in an e-mail to The Forward ("Feeling Heat, Episcopal Church Backs Away From Divestment," Nov. 12) .The Church has also stated that they will not take any further action without first speaking with domestic and international Jewish groups.
See: www.jewishtimes.com/scripts/edition.pl?now=11/10/2004&SubSectionID=31&ID=4313