In discussing the work of its Peacemaking Committee, the Assembly considered measures relating to hotspots from around the world — hoping that if the top legislative body of the 2.4 million-member denomination speaks, national and international leaders might listen. Here’s some of what the Assembly had to say.
ISRAEL
The Assembly again called for the end of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, and said that construction should stop on the security wall that Israel is building — a concrete and barbed wire wall that stretches through the West Bank and cuts off Palestinians from Israel. And the PC(USA) should begin a process of “selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel,” the Assembly determined.
Mitri Raheb, pastor of the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, said acting on divestment would be significant, because so many groups issue statements on Palestine, but there’s “not much action.”
For example, Raheb said, Caterpillar bulldozers have been used by Israel to destroy homes of Palestinians — so many have been bulldozed that, if stacked on top of each other, they would be as tall as the World Trade Center, he said. Through divestiture, Presbyterians could encourage that sales of those bulldozers for use in Israel stop, Raheb said. “A moment of truth has come, like 20 years ago in South Africa,” he said. “It was divestment that brought an end to the apartheid system there.”
IRAQ
The Assembly urged that more be done to “internationalize” the reconstruction efforts in Iraq “and to help the people of Iraq to take charge of their own political destiny.” And it calls on the PC(USA) to give “sacrificially” to help the people of Iraq.
The Assembly also recognized there are differing views in the United States about the war and called on Presbyterians to treat those with whom they disagree with respect.
COLOMBIA
The Assembly called for immediately closing the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, formerly known as the School of the Americas. It also asked the United States to demilitarize its anti-drug policies in Colombia, to speak out against human rights violations there, and to provide humanitarian aid and national debt relief.
Tim Maxa, a minister from Des Moines Presbytery, asked if the PC(USA) plans to provide people to “accompany” Presbyterians from Colombia who feel they are in danger, as some Colombians have requested, citing threats.
Alice Winters, a mission co-worker in Colombia, said no decision has been made yet on that. But Winters said in the meantime, Presbyterians from the United States can go to Colombia on their own — their presence can be “another form of accompaniment … The Colombians will look out for your safety,” Winters said. “You needn’t be scared.” 
