[June 20, 2014. Detroit ] Jewish Voice for Peace applauds the decision made by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to divest from three American companies—Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola Solutions—which profit from the Israeli occupation by a vote of 310 to 310. The resolution also includes a commitment to investment in the region, as well as continued study and dialogue in the spirit of reconciliation.
A team of Jewish Voice for Peace members, including rabbis and members of Y-JVP, Jewish Voice for Peace’s youth wing, attended the General Assembly as part of an interfaith coalition to educate churchgoers about Israel’s occupation and advocate for divestment. Jewish Voice for Peace, one of the largest groups in the US working towards a just peace in Israel and Palestine, has long advocated for the use of targeted divestment to pressure Israel to end its 47 year occupation.
You can find a longer statement from Jewish Voice for Peace here.
Rabbi Alissa Wise, co-founder of the Jewish Voice for Peace Rabbinical Council:
“Kol HaKavod (Hebrew: all of the honor) to the hundreds of commissioners who voted to divest from American companies profiting from the Israeli occupation—alongside other recommendations for reaching a just peace. After 10 years of engagement with companies, task forces, study, prayer, and dialogue, they have taken the next step, reflecting a firm, bold commitment to realizing a just peace in Israel/Palestine.”
Stefanie Fox, Director of Organizing at Jewish Voice for Peace:
“I was honored to be a witness to the Presbyterian process here in Detroit. They welcomed me so warmly, even as other Jewish voices, quite openly, tried to scare them into acting from a place of fear. Nevertheless, the church passed a unique resolution that combines divestment from three companies that profit from the occupation, plus a full-throated commitment to other actions to bring about a truly just peace. ”
Cecilie Surasky, Deputy Director at Jewish Voice for Peace:
“We are grateful the church voted not to profit from the suffering of Palestinians under Israel’s 47-year-old occupation. Now that US-backed peace talks have proven to be ineffective, we hope that others, including Jewish institutions, will follow suit. Divestment has become one of our best hopes for change.”
Liza Behrendt, 24, Community Organizer of Jewish Voice for Peace-Boston:
“The Jewish community has a lot to learn from Presbyterians about intentional, deliberate, democratic process. I likely spoke to over a hundred commissioners over the week I was in Detroit—some for divestment, most uncertain how to vote, and some opposed. There wasn’t a single one who didn’t bring the best of intentions, a commitment to morality, justice and hopes for peace.”
Sandra Korn, a recent college graduate from Jewish Voice for Peace-Durham:
“It is noteworthy that this vote passed even in the face of an eleventh hour offer by Rabbi Rick Jacobs to barter a meeting between the PCUSA and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which seemed a last-ditch attempt to strongarm a no vote on divestment, disregarding the clear call to conscience from the Presbyterian delegates.”
Jesse Yurow, 26, from Jewish Voice for Peace-Bay Area said:
“I was honored to be a witness to the Presbyterian process here in Detroit; they welcomed our JVP delegation so incredibly warmly. I was struck that this interfaith effort put me in the room for the first time with many in the Jewish community who won’t speak to me in any other setting because of my commitment to ending the occupation and employing the non-violent tactic of divestment to get us there. I hope we soon can find ways to speak to each other in synagogue as well as church.”
