From: World View <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Jun 13, 2006 7:03 PM
SHOWDOWN OVER DIVESTMENT RESOLUTION SET FOR UPCOMING PRESBYTERIAN PARLEY
REBECCA SPENCE, Forward
6/9/06
http://forward.com/articles/7938
A group of Presbyterian activists is ramping up efforts to reverse
their church's policy advocating divestment from Israel, setting the
stage for a showdown over the issue at next week's General Assembly of
the Presbyterian Church (USA).
When the more than 500 national delegates convene June 15-22 in
Birmingham, Ala., for the 217th General Assembly, they will be
presented with a trove of proposals — known as "overtures" — calling
on the church to rescind its current divestment policy. That policy,
enacted two years ago at the last General Assembly, called on the
church to begin "phased selective divestment in multinational
corporations in Israel."
A firestorm of debate has raged within the church's 173 presbyteries —
regional governing bodies that submit overtures to the General
Assembly — since the divestment measure first passed in July 2004. The
initial vote came as a surprise to many within the church itself and
shocked Jewish communal leaders, who feared that it would prompt other
mainline Protestant churches to follow suit. But Jewish leaders'
concerns were allayed the following year, when the Episcopal Church of
America rejected a similar divestment proposal.
A total of 29 overtures on the subject of peace in the Middle East
have been submitted in advance of this year's Presbyterian General
Assembly. Thirteen of the resolutions call for the boycott to be
rescinded wholesale, and a handful call to affirm the existing policy;
others occupy a middle ground.
"We would like to see a complete rejection of the negative policy of
divestment and replace that with a policy of engagement with both
Israelis and Palestinians who truly are looking for peace," said Gary
Green, a Presbyterian Church elder who sits on the board of directors
of the Committee To End Divestment Now, a grass-roots group of pastors
and elders that was formed in 2005 to reverse the divestment policy.
The hefty number of anti-divestment overtures follows two years of
work by Jewish communal leaders and Christian activists, including
Green, who have sought to educate the church laity about the issue.
Their efforts culminated in late May, when the National Christian
Leadership Conference for Israel, a multi-denominational organization
dedicated to fostering support for Israel in the North American
Christian community, sponsored a fact-finding trip to Israel, Gaza and
the West Bank for a group of 11 Presbyterian leaders.
On returning from the trip, which included meetings with a broad range
of Israeli and Palestinian leaders, the Presbyterian participants
issued a statement calling for the church to rescind its divestment
policy.
Some Jewish communal leaders contend that the Presbyterian Church has
been biased historically toward the Palestinian view. "The only
narrative people are exposed to is the Palestinian narrative," said
Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in
Los Angeles. Cooper accompanied the Presbyterians on their
fact-finding trip.
"The difference next week, win, lose or draw, is that for the first
time within the church, you have a group of leaders who went on their
own to the Holy Land, took a look and spent time with rabbis and
church leaders," Cooper said.
Victor Makari, a church official involved with Middle East issues,
countered that allegations of pro-Palestinian bias have no basis in
fact. "Indeed, all of our official statements begin by affirming
Israel's right to exist within secure and legitimate borders, and we
have had many statements calling for cessation of violence on both
sides," Makari said.
Since the passage of the divestment policy, interfaith relations
between Jews and Presbyterians have become increasingly strained. A
reversal in policy, some observers said, could help mend the fractured
relationship, and send a clear signal to the Jewish community that the
lay membership of the Presbyterian Church opposes the notion of
divestment.
But Rick Ufford-Chase, moderator of the 216th General Assembly, where
the divestment policy passed, said that the controversy may have
benefitted interfaith relations. In response to the initial divestment
vote, according to Ufford-Chase, dialogue groups involving Jews and
Presbyterians have sprung up in at least 50 American cities. "In that
way, it has certainly deepened our conversations with our Jewish
brothers and sisters."
Ufford-Chase noted that the original policy called for engagement with
corporations, with divestment as a last resort. The earliest that any
recommendations would be made to actually sell stock is 2008, he said.
Thus far, the church committee charged with investigating the issue
has held talks with Citigroup, Motorola and ITT Industries — and, in
fact, the talks with Citigroup centered on reports that the
multinational bank had transferred funds to an Arab bank from American
charities that were discovered to be funneling money to Palestinian
terrorist organizations.
The fracas within the Presbyterian Church mirrors a larger debate
being played out in Europe and North America, as two major labor
unions — one in Britain and one in Canada — recently voted to
recommend a boycott of Israeli academics and divestment from Israel,
respectively.
Rabbi Eugene Korn, director of Jewish affairs for the American Jewish
Congress, who was among the handful of Jewish leaders who went on the
recent trip sponsored by the National Christian Leadership Conference
for Israel, said that it is "no accident" that these boycott and
divestment issues are coming to the fore. "I view it as a larger
attempt to demonize and ultimately delegitimize Israel," Korn said.
===
South African union joins boycott of Israel
Ronen Bodoni
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3260201,00.html#n
Workers union representing 1.2 million extols CUPE Ontario's boycott
of Israel, which it calls `an apartheid nation.' Union President
Madisha: Atrocities committed against the Palestinians pale in
comparison to those committed by the erstwhile apartheid regime in
South Africa
Call to boycott Israel spreading. In additional to the boycott of
Israel declared by British academics and public workers in Canada last
month, now a large workers' union in South Africa is shunning the
Jewish state in protest of its policies towards the Palestinians.
The Congress of South African Trade Unions, representing 1.2 million
workers in the African country, published a letter expressing
enthusiastic support for the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
boycott of Israel. In CUPE's boycott declaration, the organization
calls Israel's separation fence an "apartheid wall" and condemns its
continued construction as in violation of international law. They
further called for divestment from Israel and demanded the imposition
of sanctions.
In his letter, COSAFU president Willie Madisha hailed the Canadian
group's initiative: "With great pride, I congratulate CUPE Ontario for
their historic resolution on May 27th in support of the Palestinian
people - those living under occupation and those millions of
Palestinian refugees living in the Diaspora. We fully support your
resolution.
"As someone who lived in apartheid South Africa and who has visited
Palestine I say with confidence that Israel is an apartheid state. In
fact, I believe that some of the atrocities committed against the
Palestinians pale in comparison to those committed by the erstwhile
apartheid regime in South Africa," Madisha wrote.
`Israel criticism silenced as anti-Semitic'
According to the letter, "The latest outrage by the apartheid Israeli
regime-the construction of the hideous Apartheid Wall-condemned by the
International Court of Justice- extends the occupation of Palestinian
lands, disrupts the already precarious economic, social, health and
education well being of an entire people."
Medisha further accuses world powers are turning a blind eye from such
injustices because they "are seduced by apartheid Israel's
justification of brutality through the pretext of 'security'." He
claims that the West silences any criticism of Israel citing
anti-Semitism. "It is time for the global workers movement to stand
firm and principled against hypocrisy and double standards. We cannot
remain silent any longer. There will be no peace in this region and in
the world, without justice," the letter proclaims.
`Boycott is peaceful option'
He recalls how workers around the world support the struggle against
South African apartheid through boycotts, divestments and sanctions
which "hastened our
march to democracy."
"In the face of an intransigent, arrogant, racist and brutal Israeli
state, this strategy of isolation should be applied to Israel as well.
It is a peaceful option," the letter asserts.
In the letter, Madisha recalls Israel's support for the South African
apartheid regime, noting that his organization calls on Israel to
respect international law, the right of return for refugees, and the
elected Palestinian government.
He lauds the "courage and vision" of CUPE Ontario. "Your unwavering
resolve inspires us, we who lived through decades of apartheid
oppression, as it will undoubtedly inspire and endear you to millions
of Palestinian and other freedom loving people throughout the world,"
he says.
COSATU spokesman defends boycott
COSATU spokesperson Patrick Craven confirmed to Ynet that the letter
was in fact sent from the organization to its Canadian counterpart. He
said the union's policy is to support the Palestinian struggle for
freedom because his own people in South Africa were also forced to
fight a war of independence using similar tactics against harsh
oppression. In response to Ynet's query where they had to deal with
suicide attacks against innocents, Craven said the apartheid regime's
military wing exercised terrorist tactics against South Africa's black
population.
It is impossible to claim here that both sides are violent, Craven
said. One can't compare the violence from the oppressors to the
actions of the oppressed, he said, but hastened to note that he does
not support every step taken by the Palestinians. Craven clarified
that his organization has condemned Israel and its "colonialist"
actions in the past, but could not answer whether they had condemned
Palestinian violence in parallel.
When asked the hypothetical question, would his organization condemn a
Palestinian terror attack were one to happen today, Craven answered
that they would have to consider it.
===
Canadian Union Supports Campaign Against Israel
Globe and Mail
27th of May 2006
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/05/29/globe-and-mail-canadian-union-supports-campaign-against-israel/
OTTAWA — [The CUPE,] Ontario's largest public sector union has voted
to support an international campaign of boycott, divestment and
sanctions against Israel.
Delegates to the Canadian Union of Public Employees convention in
voted overwhelmingly Saturday to support the campaign until Israel
recognizes the Palestinian right to self-determination.
The global campaign started last July and has been supported by many
North American churches, 20 Quebec organizations, and others.
The Israeli "apartheid wall" has been condemned and determined illegal
under international law, CUPE said in a release.
Under the resolution approved by delegates, CUPE Ontario will develop
an education campaign about the issue, including Canada's political
and economic support for Israeli policies, similar to the campaign
developed by CUPE British Columbia.
Canada has a free trade agreement with Israel, the only such agreement
this country has outside of the western hemisphere, the union noted.
In Ontario, the liquor control board carried more than 30 Israeli
wines, many produced in the occupied Golan Heights, CUPE said.
"Boycott, divestment and sanction worked to end apartheid in South
Africa," said Katherine Nastovski, chairwoman of the CUPE Ontario
international solidarity committee. "We believe the same strategy will
work to enforce the rights of Palestinian people, including the right
of refugees to return to their homes and properties."
The full text of the CUPE resolution:
CUPE ONTARIO WILL:
1. With Palestine solidarity and human rights organizations, develop
an education campaign about the apartheid nature of the Israeli state
and the political and economic support of Canada for these practices.
2. Support the international campaign of boycott, divestment and
sanctions until Israel meets its obligation to recognize the
Palestinian people's inalienable right to self-determination and fully
complies with the precepts of international law including the right of
Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as
stipulated in UN resolution194.
3. Call on CUPE National to commit to research into Canadian
involvement in the occupation and call on the CLC to join us in
lobbying against the apartheid-like practices of the Israeli state and
call for the immediate dismantling of the wall.
BECAUSE:
The Israeli Apartheid Wall has been condemned and determined illegal
under international law.
Over 170 Palestinian political parties, unions and other organizations
including the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions issued a
call in July 2005 for a global campaign of boycotts and divestment
against Israel similar to those imposed against South African Apartheid;
CUPE BC has firmly and vocally condemned the occupation of Palestine
and have initiated an education campaign about the apartheid-like
practices of the Israeli state.
===
CUPE in Ontario votes to boycott Israel
Sat, 27 May 2006
CBC News, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/05/27/cupe-sat.html?print
The Ontario division of Canada's largest union has
voted to support an international campaign that is
boycotting Israel over its treatment of Palestinians.
Delegates to the Canadian Union of Public Employees
Ontario convention in Ottawa voted overwhelmingly
Saturday to support the campaign until it sees Israel
recognizing the Palestinians' right to
self-determination. The Ontario group represents more
than 200,000 workers.
The global campaign started last July and has been
supported by many North American churches, 20 Quebec
organizations, and others, Canadian Press said.
CUPE also condemned what they called Israel's
"apartheid wall," saying it is illegal under
international law.
"Boycott, divestment and sanction worked to end
apartheid in South Africa," said Katherine Nastovski,
chairwoman of the CUPE Ontario international
solidarity committee.
"We believe the same strategy will work to enforce the
rights of Palestinian people, including the right of
refugees to return to their homes and properties."
===
Letter From: President, Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
To: President, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), Ontario
June 6, 2006
Brother Sid Ryan
http://www.palsolidarity.org/main/2006/06/07/the-congress-of-south-african-trade-unions-issues-statement/
On behalf over 1.2 million South African workers organized under the
banner of COSATU I greet you in the name of worker internationalism.
It is this solidarity, since the formation of the very first union and
across space and time, often in the face of harsh repression, that
provided vital moral succour and allowed workers to strengthen their
resolve against oppression and exploitation.
In this spirit and with great pride, I congratulate CUPE Ontario for
their historic resolution on May 27th in support of the Palestinian
people - those living under occupation and those millions of
Palestinian refugees living in the Diaspora. We fully support your
resolution.
As someone who lived in apartheid South Africa and who has visited
Palestine I say with confidence that Israel is an apartheid state. In
fact, I believe that some of the atrocities committed against the
South Africans by the erstwhile apartheid regime in South Africa pale
in comparison to those committed against the Palestinians.
The latest outrage by the apartheid Israeli regime-the construction of
the hideous Apartheid Wall-condemned by the International Court of
Justice- extends the occupation of Palestinian lands, disrupts the
already precarious economic, social, health and education well being
of an entire people and entrenches the Bantustanisation of Palestine.
When the governments of the world turn a blind eye to these
injustices; when they are seduced by apartheid Israel's justification
of brutality through the pretext of `security'; when they silence
criticism of state terror through the canard of `anti-semitism'-then
it is time for the global workers movement to stand firm and
principled against hypocrisy and double standards. We cannot remain
silent any longer. It is time to stand in word and in deed with the
peoples of the Middle East and heed their call to support the struggle
against occupation. There will be no peace in this region and in the
world, without justice.
Despite the action of some Western governments and big business,
workers and democrats of the world including the citizens of Canada,
heeded our call when we struggled against apartheid. Boycotts,
disinvestments and sanctions against the apartheid regime in South
Africa hastened our march to democracy. Why should it be different for
Palestinians? In the face of an intransigent, arrogant, racist
and brutal Israeli state, this strategy of isolation-particularly
since the vast majority of Palestinians support it-should be applied
to Israel as well. It is a peaceful option.
South African workers will never forget the support given by the
Israeli state to the apartheid South African regime. In the same way
we will never forget the thousands of acts of solidarity of ordinary
citizens around the world who sustained our struggle through the
boycott weapon.
COSATU supports the demand that Apartheid Israel must respect and
implement all resolutions passed by the United Nations; that the right
of return of Palestinian refugees must not be compromised; that Israel
respects the democratically elected government of Palestine; and that
Palestinian taxes collected by Israel must be returned to the elected
representatives of Palestine unconditionally.
Those supporting the ideology of Zionism and the pro-Israeli lobby
will muster their substantial resources against you. Despite these
pressures, we ask you not to doubt for a single moment the correctness
of your just stand. We salute the courage and vision of CUPE Ontario's
leadership and members in unanimously passing resolution 50. Your
unwavering resolve inspires us, we who lived through decades of
apartheid oppression, as it will undoubtedly inspire and endear you
to millions of Palestinian and other freedom loving people throughout
the world.
In Solidarity
Willie Madisha
President
Congress of South African Trade Unions
www.cosatu.org.za/
===
Canada: Union Votes to Boycott Israel
June 1, 2006
ISLAMIC CONGRESS PRAISES CUPE LEADERSHIP
FOR RESOLUTION AGAINST ISRAEL'S OPPRESSION OF PALESTINIANS
The Canadian Islamic Congress issued a strong endorsement today in
support of the boycott resolution against Israel's apartheid policies,
approved Saturday by Ontario members of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public
Employees).
During the largest provincial convention in CUPE history, held May
24-27 in Ottawa, an overwhelming majority of the 900 delegates,
representing some 200,000 public sector workers, voted to support a
growing international campaign of boycott, divestment and sanctions
until Israel meets its obligations: to recognize the Palestinian
people's inalienable right to self-determination; and to fully comply
with international law, including UN Resolution 194 calling for the
right of return of Palestinian refugees.
A CIC letter sent to CUPE's national and provincial executive and
membership said in part: "We realize that CUPE's decision was not
taken lightly and that your organization is bound to draw vehement
protest from various pro-Israel interests in this country. But we have
seen through recent history that the days of 'Israel can do no wrong'
are numbered and that Israelis can never fully mature as a state until
they accept the fact of Palestine and Palestinians ... Thank you for
doing the right thing - we sincerely hope many other social activist
organizations in Canada will follow your example. Together we will
build a strong and loud voice for peace through justice."
In July 2005, more than 170 Palestinian organizations, including the
Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions voted to launch a
global economic movement against Israel. Many North American churches
and social justice organizations have also pledged their support,
which has grown significantly since Israel began building its infamous
Apartheid Wall on Palestinian land.
CUPE's resolution has been condemned by pro-Israel groups, including
the National Post, which tried to smear the union by saying its agenda
is "bigoted" and called for Canadian government reprisals.
CONTACTS:
Dr. Mohamed Elmasry
(519) 746-4107 (O)
(519) 498-1350 (Cell)
E-mail: np @ canadianislamiccongress.com
*********************************************************************
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