JVP Response to Presbyterian note on Vigilance Against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   

Contact:
Sydney Levy cell: 415-994-4854, office 510-465-1777, sydney@jvp.org
www.JewishVoiceforPeace.org

[San Francisco, June 5, 2008] Jewish Voice for Peace welcomes the efforts of the Presbyterian Church USA to keep a vigilant eye against anti-Semitism while wrestling with the moral implications of investing in companies that profit from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip.  

The ongoing commitment made by the church to root out anti-Jewish bias is to be applauded.

The Presbyterian Church should also be applauded for its role in the movement calling for material pressure on Israel to end its 40-year occupation, which is widely considered the primary obstacle to peace between Israelis and Palestinians. That movement is growing, with others joining in the effort to resist funding the occupation while maintaining a positive relationship with the Israeli people.

JVP rejects the accusation that divesting from the occupation is equivalent to anti-Semitism. The Israeli government is a government like any other, and condemning its abuse of state power, as many of its own citizens do quite vigorously, is in no way the same as attacking the Jewish people.

Further, it is crucial not only to criticize the illegal acts of the Israeli government, but to back up that criticism with action. Socially responsible investing and divestment campaigns have proven to be effective tools for both individuals and institutions working to make governments accountable to international human rights standards.
The Presbyterian Church USA, meeting June 21 in San Jose, CA at their bi-annual General Assembly, will consider how to continue its process of corporate engagement-- leading up to divestment--with corporations that profit from the occupation.

These corporations--such as Caterpillar and Motorola--also profit from the presence of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, and from the construction of the separation wall. In other ways, these corporations are profiting from war and injustice. The Presbyterian Church USA will also consider whether to call for a temporary suspension of military aid to Israel.

Jewish Voice for Peace is encouraged by the seriousness of the discussions this year. We believe that the church will be able to carry out its deliberations showing no tolerance towards anti-Semitism while encouraging an honest discussion on the moral implications of supporting the military occupation of the Palestinian people.

We salute the Presbyterian Church for their courage in taking on this critical human rights issue, and  if anyone is alarmed,we remind them that the Presbyterian Church's actions that the best way to stop the growing divestment movement is to eliminate its root cause -- Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian land.

We call on all Americans of conscience to join the Presbyterian Church, as well as countless other faith-based groups, in taking tangible steps to create a better future for Israelis and Palestinians together.

About Jewish Voice for Peace
Founded in 1996, Jewish Voice for Peace is a national grassroots peace organization dedicated to promoting a US foreign policy in the Middle East based on peace, democracy, human rights and respect for international law. With over 20,000 supporters, JVP's board of Jewish American and Israeli advisors includes Pulitzer and Tony award winner Tony Kushner, actor Ed Asner, poet Adrienne Rich as well as other respected rabbis, artists, scholars and activists. For experts on peace between Israel and Palestine, contact us directly at cecilie@jvp.org.