Introduction

From February 1-17, our group of ministers, elders, and lay members traveled widely in Israel and in Palestine and met with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim representatives of over twenty organizations representing Israeli and Palestinian human rights and peace groups.  We also visited Israeli settlements in the West Bank and heard there a biblical justification for forcing Palestinians off their land.  In a very personal way, we experienced the “facts on the ground” and witnessed the suffering caused by this 60 year-old battle for the land, endured by both Palestinians and Israelis.  Such “facts” are more easily visualized by examining the loss of land depicted by these maps:

Most striking was the testimony we heard.  Some told us that our denomination’s call for “phased, selective divestment” from American corporations supporting and profiting from Israel’s military occupation of Palestinian lands gave them their first, tangible ray of hope after decades of oppression.  We feel morally bound to help keep that hope alive by reinforcing the courageous process initiated by the 2004 GA and reaffirmed by the 2006 GA.

For this reason, we initiated Overture 11-23:  “On Divestment from Caterpillar, Inc. and Motorola, Inc. for Profiting from Israel’s Military Occupation of Palestinian Lands.”  It seeks to do the following:

  • “Call the Question” on divestment:  we believe the time has come to evaluate the results of nearly four years of corporate engagement and determine whether any meaningful progress has been achieved. 
  • Strengthen the hand of the Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) and the General Assembly Council (GAC):  without the possibility of a final consequence for inaction, the engagement process could be endless and ultimately meaningless.
  • Shift the burden of proof: withdraw Presbyterian investments from the corporations in question until they clearly demonstrate that they are no longer contributing to and/or making a profit from the ongoing Israeli military occupation of Palestine, contrary to established investment criteria of our denomination.
  • Protect the integrity of Presbyterian investments:  the many thousands of Presbyterian pensioners must know beyond any doubt that their retirement checks are not tainted by profits gained from the suffering of others.

Actions speak louder than words. Since 1967 our denomination has passed twenty-two resolutions calling for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians.  We have consistently supported the right of Israel to exist within secure borders, and the right of Palestinians to have a viable state of their own.  We have condemned violence on the part of both parties and called for respect for international law and human rights.  These words generated little or no response until the possibility of divestment was raised.

Meanwhile, the conquest of Palestine continues.  Land confiscation, settlement expansion, ongoing construction of the Separation Barrier and Jewish settler-only by-pass roads, and the imposition of over 600 road closures and military checkpoints continue unabated.  These practices violate the 4th Geneva Convention signed by both Israel and the U.S. and have been condemned by the PC(USA) as fundamental “obstacles to peace.”  The situation is dire and deteriorating daily.  As you hear the inevitable cries for “balance” and “fairness,” please consider how these words apply to the lives of those affected by the loss of land and livelihood.  Please hear their cry for justice.

We know that you will be hearing from those who oppose our overture.  We ask that you read the overture thoughtfully and prayerfully, and give it a fair hearing. 

This overture is about peacemaking—peacemaking that we believe is profoundly pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian.  We pray that God will give you the wisdom and the courage to Keep Hope Alive in the Holy Land.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Elder Carl Basore, Elder Joan Basore, Elder Beverly Brewster, Elder Libby Davis    

Rev. Dr. Walt Davis, Elder David Jones, Marita Mayer, Philip Kazan,

Mary McAfee, Elder Thomas McAfee, Elder Jean Mudge, Elder Joan Runyeon   

Elder Phyllis Schlobohm,  Elder Dr. Richard Schlobohm, Rev. John Shriver,

Elder Dr. Royce Truex, Elder Sandy Truex, Rev. Margaret Veneman

Rev. Dr. Herman Waetjen, Elder Mary Waetjen