LAWRENCE, Massachusetts — The New England Conference of The United Methodist Church has issued its Divestment Task Force report, including recommendations for divestment from twenty companies identified as supporting the Israeli occupation in Palestine.
Based on the research and findings of the Conference’s Divestment Task Force, the report outlines the process and the recommendations for divestment. The company listing with details on each company and the reasons for the divestment recommendation can be found at www.neumc.org/divest. The Web site also includes the original resolution, a full copy of the report and recommendations of the Divestment Task Force, and additional supporting documentation and resources, including statements from Jewish organizations in support of divestment.
The Divestment Task Force was created to implement Resolution 204, which was passed during the 2005 New England Annual Conference session (RS-204: Resolution on Divesting from Companies that are Supporting in a Significant Way the Israeli Occupation of Palestinian Territories). This resolution followed on the heels of Resolution 312, which was passed at the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church.
‘Selective divestment is consistent with the United Methodist commitment to a just and sustainable peace for all the people of the Middle East,’ commented William P. Aldrich, chairperson of the Divestment Task Force. ‘Resolution 204 and the work of the Divestment Task Force in New England support the General Conference resolution, and offer a tangible way of working toward this goal.’
Aldrich explains that this action is not a ‘boycott of Israel’ nor is it an anti-Jewish stance. ‘On the contrary,’ he stated, ‘we have been working with many of our Jewish brothers and sisters from organizations that support divestment as a way to stand against violence and move for a peaceful and just resolution for all the people in the region.’
The divestment recommendations are selective and specific. Over the past two years, the task force has done extensive research and examined many companies to determine whether they support in a significant way the Israeli occupation. The findings include a list of twenty companies from which United Methodist individuals, churches and investment managers in the New England Conference are encouraged to voluntarily divest.
Aldrich does not expect the United Methodist divestment activity to significantly affect Israel’s economy or the bottom line of the companies listed. ‘This is not the goal,’ he stated. ‘The goal is to make all United Methodists and other Americans aware of their relationship to companies that benefit from the Israeli occupation, and to give them an opportunity to withdraw from such relationships so they are not participants in human rights violations that go against Christian principles and international law.’
‘Ending the Israeli occupation is a stated goal of The United Methodist Church,’ said Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the New England Conference. ‘This report provides concrete information that can be used by New England Methodists in working toward that goal.’
The New England Conference, with offices in Lawrence, Mass., includes 550 United Methodist and federated congregations
