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To: Clifton Kirkpatrick
From: James Marc Leas Subject: Divestment As an American Jew active in several Jewish and American peace organizations I strongly support your decision to consider divestment of Church holdings from companies that are doing business in Israel/Palestine. The bulldozers shipped by one of those companies, Caterpillar, Inc., are being used to grab land, build the wall on occupied territory, demolish homes, and uproot trees. One of those bulldozers killed a young American woman, Rachel Corrie, seeking to protect a Palestinian home. The bulldozers are the symbol of the occupation. They are used to flatten and destroy the land, homes, communities, and the very spirit of Palestinian civilians. I hope that after your period for consideration you will at least decide to call for an end to Caterpillar, Inc. sales of its bulldozers to Israel. What is needed here is what Israeli refusing pilot Yonatan Shapira called "tough love" during his talk at our synagogue in Burlington, Vermont where I live. We must clearly tell the Israeli government that bulldozing trees, houses, and farm land is wrong and must stop. I hope that the storm of protest you may have experienced from some Jewish organizations will not dissuade you. I would be willing to bet that not one of the letters from opponents specifically mentioned the word "bulldozer." I know that some of organizations writing to you put forth the statement that they are strong advocates for peace and a two state solution. But by calling for a policy that advocates continued shipments of Caterpillar, Inc. bulldozers to Israel they are actively working against their own supposed advocacy. Thank you very much for taking this stand. You are on to good work to help Israel end its illegal, immoral, and unjust occupation of Palestine. James Marc Leas
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