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Call from within PCUSA to Reconsider Israel Divestiture Move

by Jim Brown and Jody Brown
December 16, 2004

(AgapePress) - A group within the Presbyterian Church (USA) is calling on the denomination to rethink its hostility towards the nation of Israel.

In June, the PCUSA General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to divest from companies that do business with Israel. Now a group called "Presbyterians Concerned for Jewish and Christian Relations" is asking the General Assembly Council when it meets in March to impose a moratorium on all action pursuant to that vote. The group also wants all Presbyterians to work toward reversing the controversial decision.

In a statement released last week, a member of the PCJCR's steering committee described the reaction within the denomination to the vote. "It is well known that the General Assembly's action created a great deal of anger in the Jewish community," stated Washington, DC, pastor John Wimberly. "What is not as well known is the anger the action created within the PCUSA."

Valerie Munson, spokeswoman for the PCJCR, believes the vote in June was not even-handed. "It was an inappropriate action taken against Israel so that it was one-sided in that respect," she offers. "It was not an appropriate use of an economic sanction like divestment. Sometimes economic sanctions can be useful, social justice tools -- but in this particular instance, we don't think that it's helpful."

Instead, the group calling for reconsideration of the vote proposes what it describes as "proactive engagement and selective investment of time, talent, and financial resources in companies, non-for-profits, NGOs [non-governmental organizations], and diplomatic efforts that are likely to promote a just and lasting peace in the region."

Even though that June vote was overwhelmingly in favor of divestiture, Munson is optimistic her group's anti-divestment campaign will be successful.

"[G]iven the number of people who have expressed concern about this action within the Presbyterian community, [I expect] there will be a fair degree of openness to reconsideration and reversal," she says.

The group also wants their denomination to advocate the creation of a so-called "Palestinian state." While it believes in the Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism and its right to exist, the PCJCR also believes Palestinians "have a right to freedom, security, and self-governance within their own state."

The next General Assembly of the PCUSA will convene in Summer 2006.

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