Presbyterian Church USA and Selective Divestment

Moral choice

The Presbyterian Church USA is NOT considering divesting from companies doing business in Israel. The Church is considering corporate engagement (up to divestment) with companies that profit from the obstacles to a just peace in Israel and Palestine mentioned in the section in bold below. The church is currently looking at Caterpillar, ITT Industries, Motorola and United Technologies.

(For more info, go to http://www.presbyteriandivestment.org)

In 2004, the Presbyterian Church USA's General Assembly, its largest policy-making body, representing the church's 2.3 million members, instructed the church's Committee on Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to "investigate phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel."

Following the General Assembly resolution, MRTI focused its work on corporations that may be profiting from involvement in any of the obstacles to a just peace in Israel and Palestine as determined by the General Assembly.

Obstacles to a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine

the ongoing violence perpetrated by Israelis and Palestinians against innocent people;
the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and United Nations resolutions;
the presence of Israeli settlements in the occupied territories;
the construction of the separation barrier;
and the need for a viable Palestinian economy to enhance the possibility of a successful Palestinian state.

MRTI also adopted a clear statement on the process of progressive corporate engagement with any such companies, including dialogue, shareholder resolutions, and proxy voting before MRTI would be in any position to consider recommending possible divestment action to the General Assembly.

In 2006, the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly voted to continue its policy of economic engagement to end the Israeli occupation. The new resolution urged that the church’s investments as they pertain to Israel/Palestine "be invested in only peaceful pursuits." The overture, overwhelmingly adopted, states that "the proper vehicle for achieving this goal" is through the church's "Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI)." MRTI aims to persuade corporations to change their practices through correspondence, direct talks, proxy voting, shareholder resolutions, and, if need be, through a recommendation for divestment.

For a detailed summary of the church's MRTI work, see the final report of the MRTI Committee to the 2008 General Assembly.

This year, the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly will meet in San Jose, California, between June 21-28. For more information, click here. It will vote on the following overtures related to Israel and Palestine (see below for full texts).

A number of the overtures call for the continuation of the MRTI process; or for divestment from Caterpillar and Motorola; or for supporting Israel’s right to exist, while calling for a temporary suspension of military aid to the State of Israel until the Israeli government complies with the requirements of the U.S. Arms Export Control Act (which prohibits using U.S. weapons against civilians or civilian infrastructure) and the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act (which prohibits giving assistance to the government of any country which engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.)

See the letter sent from the Steering Committee of the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church USA for an excellent analysis of all the relevant overtures.

Read JVP's Response to the Presbyterian note on Vigilance Against Anti-Jewish Ideas and Bias. Also Jewish Voice for Peace expresses outrage over Jewish groups' condemnation of Presbyterian Church USA

We have also sent two letters two the Presbyterian Commissioners. Read our letters here: first letter and second letter.