by Toya Richards Hill, Presbyterian News Service   [posted here 6-22-06]

Also on the PC(USA) website >>

BIRMINGHAM, June 21 * The 217th General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the recommendation of the Peacemaking and International Issues committee regarding Middle East issues.

By a vote of 483 in favor, 28 opposed and 1 abstention today, the Assembly set as church policy that "financial investments of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as they pertain to Israel, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and the West Bank, be invested in only peaceful pursuits." The recommendation was an alternate resolution to an overture that sought to repeal and rescind the actions of the 2004 General Assembly relating to "phased selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel."

The Assembly also affirmed that the "customary corporate engagement process" of the Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) Committee be the vehicle for achieving that goal.

"This statement reflects our historic commitment to the peoples of the Middle East in all their struggles toward peace," said the Rev. Gretchen Graf, moderator of the committee. "It also affirms the slow and careful process of corporate engagement led by our elected committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment, which recommends divestment only as a last resort."

"We believe that this new statement clarifies the engagement process, which has not yet led to any recommendation for divestment," she told the GA. "The earliest any divestment could occur is in 2008, and only with the permission of the General Assembly."

During a press conference following the vote, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick, said today's action does not overturn the actions of the 216th General Assembly (2004), and newly elected moderator Joan Gray emphasized the church's longstanding focus on peacemaking.

This Assembly's actions also addressed the controversial action of the 216th GA on the matter of Israel/Palestine by acknowledging the "hurt and misunderstanding among many members of the Jewish community and within our Presbyterian communion" that resulted from the action in 2004.

"We are grieved by the pain that this has caused, accept responsibility for the flaws in our process, and ask for a new season of mutual understanding and dialogue," the approved recommendation says.

The Rev. J. Oscar McCloud, a commissioner from New York City Presbytery, introduced an amendment to replace the part of the recommendation accepting responsibility for the flawed process with: "We regret any reportage that has caused misunderstanding of the PC(USA)'s Commitment to Peace and Justice in Palestine and Israel." The amendment was defeated.

A wave of controversy ensued following the 2004 action that initiated a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations doing business that supports violence in Israel and Palestine. The Assembly in 2004 tasked MRTI with carrying out the process, which it is currently doing.

MRTI is now engaging five multinational corporations as part of the process * Caterpillar Inc., Citigroup, ITT Industries, Motorola and United Technologies.

The 217th GA's actions direct MRTI to make sure that its engagement practices related to Israel/Palestine:

The security wall currently being built by the Israeli government also was addressed by the GA action, indicating that the problem with it is "its location."

The GA "supports fair criticism of the security wall insofar as it illegally encroaches into the Palestinian territory and fails to follow the legally recognized borders of Israel since 1967 demarcated by the Green Line. To the extent that the security barrier violates Palestinian land that was not part of Israel prior to the 1967 war, the barrier should be dismantled and relocated."

Another key component of the GA action calls for the denomination to share its policies related to Israel/Palestine with the United States government, including the president and Congress; Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the Middle East; PC(USA) members; and Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith bodies and denominations in the U.S. and the Middle East with whom the church communicates.

Sharing, too, is mandated by the GA action between PC(USA) and American and Israeli Jewish, American and Palestinian Muslim and Palestinian Christian communities in order to:

Several additional items relating to Israel/Palestine were all answered by the action the Assembly took on this resolution.

We have received a number of comments on the GA action on divestment.  Here's the first one, from John Wimberly, pastor of Western Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C.   [6-22-06]

I applaud the action of the GA. We have never needed a "divestment policy" to sell the stock of companies that profit from the suffering of human beings. We have an excellent MRTI committee and guidelines for that purpose. MRTI can continue its work examining Motorola, Caterpillar and others. If they can make a case against them, we will hear and vote on it at future General Assemblies. By moving from divestment to investment, the 2006 GA insures that the PCUSA is no longer singling out Israel for human rights abuses that quite clearly exist in Palestine, China, Syria, Iran and, dare I say it, the USA. Finally, I wish the PCUSA would apply pressure on the US government, not Israel. We need for the US to be an even handed broker in the Middle East. The Bush tilt toward Israel has hurt, not helped, both Israel and the Palestinians, making peace far, far more difficult to realize.

John Wimberly

~~~~~~~~~~~

Prof. Mark Lewis Taylor of Princeton Seminary answers with analysis of the "rise of an imperial triumvirate."     [6-15-06]

One of the first events of the Presbyterian General Assembly on Wednesday, June14, was the gathering of Witherspooners and many others at First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham, to hear Dr. Mark Taylor discuss the trends and troubles that are shaping Americans’ lives today.

He explored what he sees as the three major elements controlling America today: the radical Christian Right, particularly the "theo-cons" who want to create a theocracy (or even a "Christocracy") in the US; the "neo-cons" who have been dominant in the development of American foreign policy during the Bush administration; and the high echelon of corporate power. These three, the "triumvirate," interact and cooperate with each other, especially since 9/11 shattered the "myth of American safety," and drove people to search for new narratives to restore their confidence and self-esteem as a nation. The triumvirate has met that need by romanticising the American past and the present American State, and thus harnessing "our peoples’ desire for belonging."

Taylor urged that progressives, if they are to have any influence at all in the US, must offer a similar narrative. And we must be aware of the danger of such narratives, blending religious and political nationalism, can only lead farther to the right – as we have seen in the rise of National Socialism in Germany, and more recently fascism in Latin America.

See the full text of Taylor’s talk in PDF format >>

Christian Israeli urges divestment

Before Taylor spoke, the group of some 80 people heard a short, powerful presentation from Angela Godfrey-Goldstein, a woman of Christian faith who describes herself as "half-Jewish," who is one of the leaders of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions. She spoke of the devastation being wrought among Palestinians, as Israel has demolished some 14,000 Palestinian homes in the last 40 years, in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. "If that isn’t causing the terror, I don’t know what is," she commented. "Israel is a militarized society, and change isn’t going to come from within Israel.

The Institute for Religion and Democracy, along with Presbyterian Action for Faith and Freedom, and The Committee to End Divestment Now, is sponsoring an address by R. James Woolsey, former director of the CIA, at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, June 16th, at the Medical Forum (third floor).

Sees "the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza" as the real issue
[6-10-06]

Doug:

I have been reading with interest, in the last few days, the letters to GA commissioners and advisory delegates from the organized Jewish groups. While there is much there that can be found constructive toward working for peace between Israel and Palestine, there is a blanket disregard when it comes to addressing the real issue: the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. While they are seeking Presbyterian "neutrality," because of the balance of power in the region what they are really asking for is our silence and complicity in Israeli hegemony over the Palestinian people. The Presbyterian Church's historic support for both peoples seems to be lost on the authors of these letters. These institutions do not speak for all of the Jewish community, as there are many other Jewish peace groups and individuals who are actively working to end the occupation.

Having just returned from the Steps Toward Peace Conference last month, arriving early and staying later to meet with additional Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers, I can only say that the current situation is much worse than I had read about in any media outlet. It is like the Palestinians are being squeezed into smaller and smaller guarded cantons, separating them not only from the Israelis, but also from each other, their agricultural lands, and their economic viability. The nightly incursions into the cantons, and the administrative detentions and torture of Palestinian prisoners by the Israeli Defense Forces is a form of state terrorism that has not been addressed by any of those encouraging the PC (USA) to cease our study of phased, selective divestment.

Corporate engagement, with the possibility of divesting from those corporations who are profiting from the occupation and the separation wall is the least we should be doing. To be true to our callings as Christians, we as Presbyterian must also seek out additional methods to urge both sides to stop the violence and restart meaningful negotiations.

Shalom, Peace, Salaam,

Both investment and divestment needed, says group

by Toya Richards Hill, Presbyterian News Service

Read this on the PC(USA) web site >>

[6-10-06]

LOUISVILLE -- June 9, 2006 – Both investment and divestment must happen in order to end hostilities in Israel and Palestine, the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian 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 Palestinians.

"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.

We recently posted the text of a letter sent by Norman G. Finkelstein, who teaches political science at DePaul University in Chicago, to all GA commissioners.  In his letter, speaking as a Jew, he urges them to support the Presbyterian action on to consider "a phased, selective divestment from companies profiting from Israel's occupation."

We have received numerous critical notes from people who, also speaking as Jews, said that Finkelstein most definitely does not speak for them, or for the vast majority of Jewish people in America.  As a non-expert in this area, your WebWeaver will not pretend to judge between the very different points of view, but we present three anti-divestment opinions here.

Jewish groups cooperating to head off divestment

Here’s a report from The Jewish Week ("Serving the Jewish Community of Greater New York") giving their view on the current Presbyterian debate as it comes to the General Assembly.

The article quotes Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, inter-religious director for the Anti-Defamation League, as saying that the real issue should not be divestment, but "how to deal with the structural anti-Semitism that still exists in segments of the church that allows for divestment and for this de-legitimization of Israel." We’re not sure what that means, but it seems to be a pretty serious charge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another supporter of Israel directly criticizes Finkelstein.  She begins:

I was frankly surprised to find a letter from Norman Finkelstein featured with approval on the Witherspoon Society page.   Finkelstein is a sort of crackpot intellectual, the fact that some of his ideas are congenial is no excuse for mistaking describing him as a responsible scholar.

The rest of Ms. Appelbaum's note >>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Letter from 12 Jewish organizations urges commissioners to oppose divestment

Another letter has also been sent to commissioners, not by an individual, but by twelve large Jewish organizations. One friend tells us that this represents what the "real Jewish community" in the United States feels.

The organizations include the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith International, and more.  The text of the letter >>

We recently posted the text of a letter sent by Norman G. Finkelstein, who teaches political science at DePaul University in Chicago, to all GA commissioners.  In his letter, speaking as a Jew, he urges them to support the Presbyterian action on to consider "a phased, selective divestment from companies profiting from Israel's occupation."

We have received numerous critical notes from people who, also speaking as Jews, said that Finkelstein most definitely does not speak for them, or for the vast majority of Jewish people in America.  As a non-expert in this area, your WebWeaver will not pretend to judge between the very different points of view, but we present three anti-divestment opinions here.

Jewish groups cooperating to head off divestment

Here’s a report from The Jewish Week ("Serving the Jewish Community of Greater New York") giving their view on the current Presbyterian debate as it comes to the General Assembly.

The article quotes Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, inter-religious director for the Anti-Defamation League, as saying that the real issue should not be divestment, but "how to deal with the structural anti-Semitism that still exists in segments of the church that allows for divestment and for this de-legitimization of Israel." We’re not sure what that means, but it seems to be a pretty serious charge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another supporter of Israel directly criticizes Finkelstein.  She begins:

I was frankly surprised to find a letter from Norman Finkelstein featured with approval on the Witherspoon Society page.   Finkelstein is a sort of crackpot intellectual, the fact that some of his ideas are congenial is no excuse for mistaking describing him as a responsible scholar.

The rest of Ms. Appelbaum's note >>

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Letter from 12 Jewish organizations urges commissioners to oppose divestment

Another letter has also been sent to commissioners, not by an individual, but by twelve large Jewish organizations. One friend tells us that this represents what the "real Jewish community" in the United States feels.

The organizations include the American Jewish Committee, American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League, B’nai B’rith International, and more.  The text of the letter >>

Commissioners preparing for the coming General Assembly have received great heaps of letters and other communications from people and groups wanting them to hear their point of view. And there may be just a few among those commissioners who have not quite kept up with the paper flood.

But one letter in the flood is worth reading, whether you’re a commissioner or not.

Norman G. Finkelstein, who teaches political science at DePaul University in Chicago, has long paid attention to the Israel-Palestine conflict, and has worked for lasting peace between the two nations.

His letter reflects both his experience and his concerns, and explains why he supports the Presbyterian study of the possibility of what he rightly calls "a phased, selective divestment from companies profiting from Israel's occupation."

Divestment process moves slowly, but some want it stopped
[6-2-06]

by Jerry L. Van Marter and Toya Richards Hill, Presbyterian News Service
On the PC(USA) website >>

LOUISVILLE -- Since the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has consistently advocated a non-violent solution in the Middle East that guarantees Israel's security while providing an autonomous Palestinian state as well.

In 2004, with the Israel/Palestine situation deteriorating and violence escalating, the 216th General Assembly -- at the pleading of Palestinian Christian leaders -- voted to "initiate the process of selective, phased divestment" from multinational corporations the PC(USA) believes are impeding peace in the Middle East by profiting from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and the construction of the security barrier around and sometimes through occupied Palestinian territory.

Jewish groups and some Presbyterians launched immediate and vociferous protests, accusing the PC(USA) of being anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, pro-terrorism and worse. Interfaith relations nationally and locally have been strained.

Supporters of the decision praised the denomination for putting its money where its mouth is, after 50 years of issuing seemingly ineffectual statements in support of peaceful and secure coexistence between Israel and Palestine.

The denomination's Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) Committee has followed its deliberate procedure for selective, phased divestment: establishing criteria for identifying companies with which to engage, researching companies to determine which to engage and seeking dialogue with those companies so identified.

Five companies have been selected for "constructive engagement" -- Caterpillar Inc., Citigroup, ITT Industries, Motorola and United Technologies. Initial dialogues have taken place with some of them.

Earlier this year MRTI announced that it is not nearly ready to recommend divestment of any company's stock -- the last possible stage of the "selective, phased divestment" process. Only the General Assembly can authorize the divestment of stock so the earliest that could happen is the 2008 General Assembly.

In the meantime, no fewer than 22 overtures have been submitted on the subject. Some, including those from Mississippi, Sheppards and Lapsley, the James, New Covenant, Sierra Blanca, Tampa Bay, Baltimore, the Twin Cities Area and Eastern Virginia presbyteries, call for rescinding the 2004 divestment decision.

The Presbytery of Great Rivers in Illinois is calling for the divestment action to the rescinded only as it relates to Caterpillar Inc., headquartered in Peoria, IL. It also asks that the Assembly "recognize Caterpillar for its responsible actions as a global corporate citizen."

At the other end of the spectrum, the Presbytery of San Francisco is asking the GA to "reaffirm" the 216th Assembly's decision regarding divestment. "The occupation of the West Bank continues unabated, taking more land and isolating Palestinians from one another and their livelihood, undercutting the possibility of a viable economy," the presbytery says in its rationale.

That overture also asks this year's GA to direct MRTI "to recommend opportunities for investment in joint Palestinian-Israeli ventures," and proposes that the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program offer study tours for PC(USA) members and congregations and interfaith groups "that incorporate visits and interaction with both Israelis and Palestinians."

Other overtures call for a strategy of positive investment in the region to "promote peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people," as National Capital puts it. Presbyteries offering similar overtures include Transylvania, Chicago and Sheppards and Lapsley (included in its overture to rescind the divestment process).

Related overtures call for a task force to draft a new statement of the PC(USA)'s Middle East policy (Eastern Virginia Presbytery) and for an affirmation of "a common Abrahamic heritage" shared by Christians, Jews and Muslims as a step towards peace (Newton Presbytery).

"SO THEY WHO RUN MAY READ . . ."
"Write the vision; make it plain upon tablets, so he may run who reads it." (Hab. 2:2)

What Presbyterians Need To Know About the 2004 GA Divestment Action
[Doug King - 5-26-06]

Some members of the Presbytery of Philadelphia set out (in the words of one of them) to "present, as dispassionately as possible, the plain historic facts about Palestine/Israel -- and Presbyterian involvement in the Middle East --  which lay behind the PCUSA action to divest."    Read it here >>

GAC approves suggestion of task force on Israel/Palestine
Group would ‘develop guidance’ on church policy in embattled region

Some background:

Moderator urges GAC to seek task force on Middle East issues
Ufford-Chase proposes ‘effort to listen to one another and seek a solid consensus’

A document proposing that the 217th General Assembly create a task force to listen to Jews, Christians and Muslims and to monitor the politics of the Middle East for the next two years is under consideration by the General Assembly Council (GAC).

The task force, proposed by Rick Ufford-Chase, the moderator of the 216th GA, would "develop guidance" to honor each group’s concerns while the denomination "considers how to move forward on these issues," Ufford-Chase said.   More >>