US Church considers divesting from corporations tied to violence against Palestinians
Palestine-USA, Politics, 8/6/2005

A committee of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has chosen five multinational corporations -- Caterpillar, Citigroup, ITT Industries, Motorola and United Technologies -- for "progressive engagement" about business practices believed to contribute to violence in Israel and Palestine, the church said.

These companies provide equipment that Israelis use to demolish Palestinian homes, uproot their olive trees, and provide military equipment used against the Palestinians, as well as provide economic harm to the Palestinian economy through their engagements.

The church report said: After several hours of discussion on Aug. 5, the denomination's Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) committee unanimously selected the five companies and agreed to begin discussions with them about their involvement in the conflict. "I think that we are going to have to be persistent and follow the instructions that we have from the General Assembly... and pray that the corporations will be responsive," said Carol Hylkema, the MRTI committee chair.

She said the group's goal is "to make changes that will work toward peace and justice in Israel and Palestine." The committee is charged by the 216th General Assembly to begin a process of phased selective divestment. MRTI established a set of criteria for evaluating the corporations' support and maintenance of the Israeli occupation; establishment, expansion or maintenance of Israeli settlements; support or facilitation of violent acts by either Israelis or Palestinians against innocent civilians; and support or facilitation of the construction of the so-called "separation barrier," the report said yesterday.

Other U.S. churches have taken similar steps, including the Episcopal Church, the United Church of Christ and two conferences within the United Methodist Church--assessing their investments in firms that profit from involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Internationally, the World Council of Churches (WCC) affirmed the action of the PC(USA) and commended it to its 340 member communions. The worldwide Anglican Consultative Council blessed the action of the U.S. Episcopal Church to assess its corporate investments, and urged its member churches to do likewise, the report said.

Worth noting that Israel has been an occupier of the Palestinians for years in defiance of United Nations and international resolutions, the last of which was most recent decision by the International Court Of Justice against the barrier Israel is constructing on Palestinian lands, and confiscates and harms Palestinian property.

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