[Peace-discuss] Howard University Votes to Divest from Companies Supporting Occupation of Palestine

[David Green]

from: Occupation End Notes March 15, 2007 Vol 4 #12
* Faculty of the College of Arts & Science of Howard University Votes 
to Divest:

The Faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Howard University 
voted to endorse a resolution for divestment of Howard University 
funds from companies supporting the Israeli Occupation. The 
Resolution passed is below.

The vote was 25 in favor, 2 opposed and 6 abstentions.

RESOLUTION ON DIVESTMENT FROM COMPANIES SUPPORTING ISRAELI OCCUPATION

WHEREAS, independent human rights organizations such as Amnesty 
International, Human Rights Watch, B'Tselem, Israeli Committee 
against House Demolitions, and Al-Haq; the United Nations Human 
Rights Commission, and numerous non-governmental organizations have 
documented serious and widespread violations of international law and 
the human rights of Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces operating 
in the West Bank and Gaza, and that these violations also contribute 
to suffering endured by the people of Israel;

WHEREAS, leading human rights advocates, such as Nelson Mandela, 
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Jimmy Carter have 
condemned the apartheid-like conditions that Palestinians must endure 
under Israeli Occupation;

WHEREAS the International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel's 
separation wall violates international law and the fundamental human 
rights of the Palestinians;

WHEREAS, there is evidence that U.S.-based companies provide material 
aid to the Israeli Army in the form of weapons, equipment, and 
supporting systems used to perpetrate human rights abuses against 
Palestinian civilians, and whereas knowingly continuing this support 
implies complicity with these companies in practices that violate 
international humanitarian law, and such firms as Boeing, 
Caterpillar, General Dynamics, General Electric, Lockheed Martin, 
Northrop-Grumman, and Raytheon have an active role in enabling 
Israeli forces to engage in practices that violate international law 
and the human rights of the Palestinian people;

WHEREAS, any effort to divest from these companies demonstrates a 
commitment to international law and the fundamental rights that 
belong to every human being, lays the groundwork for a just and 
enduring peace, and is therefore an expression of the hope for a free 
and secure future for every Israeli and Palestinian currently 
suffering under the burden of conflict;

WHEREAS, the U.S. Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, 22 USC sec. 2304, 
provides that "no security assistance may be provided to any country 
the government of which engages in a consistent pattern of gross 
violations of internationally recognized human rights";

WHEREAS, the COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES passed a resolution in 
December, 2006, endorsing an analogous action to call for divestment 
from Sudan on grounds of human rights violations;

BE IT RESOLVED that the COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES calls upon 
HOWARD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES to examine HOWARD UNIVERSITY'S 
retirement investment funds, endowment funds and short-term 
investment pool for its funds that are being invested in "offending" 
companies that are offering material support to Israeli Occupation;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if it is found that HOWARD UNIVERSITY'S 
funds are being invested in offending companies materially supporting 
Israeli Occupation, the HOWARD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES should 
divest public securities related to offending companies, excluding 
public securities held in actively managed, commingled/pooled 
accounts or securities where no financially equivalent alternative is 
available. Moreover, HOWARD UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES should 
declare that it, or its investment managers, will not make further 
investments in offending companies until the Israeli Occupation is 
ended, with a just resolution that includes self-determination for 
the Palestinian people and peace and security for both the Israeli 
and Palestinian people.

 
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