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Palestine
Methodists vote overwhelmingly to keep divestment from the occupation as an option
By Jewish Voices For Peace
May 2, 2008, 01:15
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Delegates did not get to directly consider a range of selective divestment proposals at the United Methodist Church`s General Conference in Fort Worth TX this week. Nonetheless, in a stunning rebuke to anti-divestment groups, Methodist delegates voted by 763-38 to keep divestment from Israel`s occupation on the table as an option. (As of press time, a JVP-supported resolution put forth by the Methodist Federation for Social Action may still reach the floor before the conference ends tomorrow.)
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Further, a proposal to divest from Caterpillar was shelved prior to the conference in favor of open talks with the company, marking the first time since JVP started our Caterpillar campaign that the company has agreed to talk directly with groups about their role in human rights abuses in the Occupied Territories.
Finally, the Methodists voted to create a socially responsible investment committee that will focus on Darfur, China and the Middle East, linking church investments and human rights abuses. It is expected that the committee will seriously examine further selective divestment initiatives as a way to bring about an end to the occupation.
The Institute for Religion and Democracy (IRD), a conservative group critics charge with trying to split the church, created further controversy when they gave international delegates free cell phones which included directions for voting against a range of politically progressive proposals. It was their anti-divestment resolution called `Oppose Divestment from Israel` which was soundly defeated, thus illustrating how groups lobbying against selective divestment have won few hearts and minds.
`This is an important step forward for a major US church that has a longstanding history of opposition to the Israeli occupation, and is now moving towards one of the only nonviolent actions that can lead to real peace in the region. Each day Israel`s occupation and settlement expansion continues unabated, the divestment and sanctions movement will grow,` said Sydney Levy, Director of Campaigns for Jewish Voice for Peace, who has been leading JVP`s church outreach.
`As a United Methodist, and as a person directly affected by the violence of the Occupation, I am so grateful for the support that Jewish Voice for Peace has given us as we have worked on divestment resolutions,` said Elizabeth Corrie, cousin of Rachel Corrie and member of the United Methodist Church. `It cannot be overstated how important it is to have the supportive presence of our Jewish brothers and sisters. It strengthens us and empowers us to act. To me, this is the inter-faith work that needs to grow.`
http://www.kibush.co.il/show_file.asp?num=26651
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