International, Politics, Religion

Presbyterians To Divest In Israel

Presbyterian_Church_(U.S.A.)Emblem_of_Israel.svgWe previously discussed the growing boycott of Israel by various academic, political, and business groups. On Friday, another major organization joined the movement. The Presbyterian Church voted — by a razor thin margin of 310-303 — to join the boycott. The Church only has about $21 million in investment capital so this is not a significant financial hit for the Israeli government but the vote carried obviously considerable symbolic value for the boycott movement and could further damage tourism for Israel.

The American Jewish Committee in New York responded by denounced the Presbyterians for a vote “driven by hatred of Israel.” That is not what I would have recommended as a response, particularly in such a close vote. While there are valid arguments to be made against such boycotts, it is neither productive nor accurate to accuse the 1.8 million member church of simply being anti-Israel. They were obviously motivated by what they saw as a human rights issue due to the treatment of the Palestinians. Rather than attack the church as anti-Semitic or anti-Israel, it would have been better to address that concern and counter with countervailing arguments. Indeed, some opposing divestment took a more measured approach like Rabbi Rick Jacobs, head of the liberal Union for Reform Judaism, who objected that the Church vote was unfortunate because it would as a whole is no longer be “a partner for joint work on Israel-Palestine peace issues.”

The close vote reflected intense lobbying on both sides. Notably, this included Rabbis and other members of Jewish Voice for Peace, who advocated for divestment. Those Jewish advocates believe that only divestment will change government policies. Jewish advocates also lobbied against divestment.

Source: NPR

121 thoughts on “Presbyterians To Divest In Israel”

  1. Annie. . .lol. . .I must admit. . .I do have some sympathy for them. . .

    Their government-issued psych meds have probably run out. . .it’s the end of the month. . .a new supply is not expected until the beginning of next month. . .until then, it’s a whole bag of crazy goin’ on on here. . .lol!

  2. Nick,

    It’s unbelievable on the “the dog ate my homework” level.

    Paul Ryan should have screamed obscenities!

  3. Hey! What happened to all the concern over Isreal? Schif did you see that slight of hand? Israel has become the IRS. That was slick.

  4. I find this incredibly difficult to say, but I was in complete agreement with Paul Ryan when he said “I can’t believe you”

    Of all people to express what I was thinking; why did it have to be him?

  5. Bob, It really bothers you because there is NO govt. agency w/ more power over citizens than the IRS. If the IRS is political then we are a banana republic. IRS abuse was one of the articles of Impeachment for Nixon. I know you know all this. You are not a cultist. You can’t put little things like violating the Constitution and felonies aside for party. As stated previously, you are intellectually honest. We are an endangered species.

  6. Ohhhhhh the hypocrisy. Some folks were for something before they were against it, depending entirely on who said it, Oy Vey!

  7. Bob, You are preachin’ to the choir on the IRS. Did you see that smug a-hole IRS commish being grilled? But, our Prez assures us this is a phony scandal. He certainly would never lie to us.

  9. Presbyterian Church USA is absolutely antisemitic — this is just one manifestation, many hardcore white supremacist groups and individuals one degree separation; replacement theology (usurping promised blessings to ethnic Israel for “church” while leaving promised curses to Israel) much to blame, went downhill fr there, just satanic – Cindy

  12. In the Middle East, everyone is wrong.

    Israel constantly builds West Bank settlements, squeezing out the locals, often by stealing their land. The locals fire rockets into Israel and explode bombs there. It’s pretty clear that Israel intends to build-out the entire West Bank. Muslims often declare that Israel has no right to exist.

    Saudi Arabia refuses to allow churches to be built there. Saudi Arabia refuses to allow girls and women to live a life even remotely equal to men. Saudi Arabia refused to allow girls to escape a burning school because they were not properly dressed.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1874471.stm

    Christians are leaving Syria and Iraq in droves because they fear being slaughtered by Islamists. Assad is a ruthless dictator, but Christians prefer him to Islamists, as do lapsed Muslims. The situation with Armenians is especially poignant because they lived in Syria since being slaughtered by Turks and Kurds in the last part of the 1800s and early part of the 1900s, with almost two million of them dying horrible deaths.

    And then we have Iran, where women like Neda Agha-Soltan are killed in broad daylight for being too Western.

    If I was forced to live in the Middle East, I would choose Israel.

  13. Bob, I have been called “ists” by people here. They become dead to me and I never even acknowledge them. It takes some discipline, but it works. I would put shif on the shit list. But, that’s up to you. I will defend you on those attacks and you can ignore them.

  14. Bob, There are anti-Semites entwined w/ righteous people who have problems w/ Israel. It’s a case by case basis. Doglover fails that test.

    1. The offer goes for you, too, Nick. . .an all-expense paid ticket on that bus tour. . .enjoy! Lol!

  17. HELP PLEASE!! I have 2 comments eaten. Bob, one of those comments was to you. ABSOLUTELY NOT. You are a righteous person and one of the most intellectually honest people here. Doglover is the person I was calling out based on his 4:13p comment.

  18. shifrabryna,

    If daddy didn’t buy you a pony, did that mean he hated you?

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