<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div><p class="MsoNormal">A resolution endorsing divestment from three US companies
that participate in the Israeli government’s occupation of Palestine (Caterpillar,
Motorola Solutions, and Hewlett-Packard) has been passed by a vote of 45-20 by
the Middle East Issues Committee of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church. Action on the resolution by the full assembly is expected Thursday or
Friday.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Below, the IPMN press release and the JVP press release. You
can find more info on Twitter at #ChurchDivest. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">===</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is the press release of the Israel/Palestine Mission
Network of the Presbyterian Church USA:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=275" target="_blank">http://www.israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=275</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Middle East Issues Committee Endorses Selective Divestment
from Israeli Occupation at 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">June 17, 2014</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian
Church (USA) is pleased to announce that an overture endorsing selective
divestment from three US companies that profit from Israel's occupation of
Palestinian lands has been passed by a vote of 45-20 by the Middle East Issues
Committee of the 221st General Assembly. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Following a passionate discussion of divestment featuring
voices in support and opposed, a majority of committee members supported the
overture, calling for the church to divest its holdings from Caterpillar,
Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions for their involvement in sustaining
Israeli human rights abuses and non-peaceful pursuits. This decision was part
of a larger action crafted to express ongoing support to both the Israeli and
Palestinian people and the ongoing conversation for peace, security, and
justice.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We hope that the overture will be allowed a vote in the
plenary session later in the week. Two years ago, the committee voted 36 to 11
for a both/and approach, where the assembly could adopt investment and
divestment together. However, through parliamentary maneuvers, a minority
report replaced the will of the committee and the assembly never voted on
divestment. We hope that after 10 years of unsuccessful corporate engagement
and the endorsement of the Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI)
committee and Middle East Issues Committee, the plenary of the general assembly
will finally be allowed to vote on divestment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Press Contact:cmt_4</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rev. Dr. Jeffrey DeYoe, IPMN Advocacy Chair</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:info@theIPMN.org" target="_blank">info@theIPMN.org</a><br>
<a href="http://israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/main/" target="_blank">http://israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/main/</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">===</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is the Jewish Voice for Peace press release:</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/blog/presbyterian-middle-east-committee-votes-strongly-in-favor-of-divestme" target="_blank">http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/blog/presbyterian-middle-east-committee-votes-strongly-in-favor-of-divestme</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Presbyterian Middle East Committee Votes Strongly in Favor
of Divestment</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Submitted by Liz Ingenthron on Tue, 06/17/2014 - 1:06pm</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jesse Yurow, <a href="mailto:jesseyurow@jvp.org" target="_blank">jesseyurow@jvp.org</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.JewishVoiceforPeace.org" target="_blank">www.JewishVoiceforPeace.org</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jewish Voice for Peace Applauds Middle East Committee
Recommendation</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">[June 17, 2014. Detroit] Jewish Voice for Peace applauds
today’s vote of the Middle East Committee at the 221st Presbyterian General
Assembly to bring the question of divestment from three American corporations
to the floor of the convention later this week.
The vote was 45 for, 20 against.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Rabbi Alissa Wise, Director of Organizing at Jewish Voice
for Peace said: “I am so impressed by the deliberate and heartfelt process
Presbyterians use to make urgent decisions of conscience. As we head into the
larger plenary vote to affirm the committee's recommendation for divestment, I
pray for the commissioners to have clarity of conscience as they seek to align
Presbyterian values with their investments.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Carolyn Klaasen, 27, from New York City chapter of Jewish
Voice for Peace said: “Voting for divestment is a powerful statement of
conscience. It speaks to the Presbyterian heartfelt witness and desire to
realize an end to the Israeli occupation and for peace, justice and equality
for Israelis and Palestinians. ”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Moriah Ella Mason, 27, from Pittsburgh who is a member of
Jewish Voice for Peace said: “This vote comes after a full ten years of
dialogue, study, corporate engagement, shareholder activism and more by the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with the three American corporations–
Hewlett-Packard, Caterpillar, and Motorola Solutions --who have all refused to
modify their practices. By all accounts
Presbyterians have done their due diligence.“</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information: <a href="http://www.jvp.org/GApress" target="_blank">www.jvp.org/GApress</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">About Jewish Voice for Peace <a href="http://www.jvp.org" target="_blank">www.jvp.org</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jewish Voice for Peace has over 130,000 online supporters,
40 chapters, a youth wing, a Rabbinic Cabinet, and an Advisory Board made up of
leading U.S. intellectuals and artists. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">===</p><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">
</font></span></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br clear="all"><div><div dir="ltr">Robert Naiman<br>Policy Director<br>Just Foreign Policy<br><a href="http://www.justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">www.justforeignpolicy.org</a><br>
<a href="mailto:naiman@justforeignpolicy.org" target="_blank">naiman@justforeignpolicy.org</a><br>
<div><span style="text-align:left"><a href="tel:%28202%29%20448-2898%20x1" value="+12024482898" target="_blank">(202) 448-2898 x1</a></span><br></div><div><span style="text-align:left"><br></span></div></div></div>
</font></span></div>
</div><br></div>