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Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire Calls for Divestment from Israel

December 4, 2008
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire has recently passed a resolution to support the call for divestment from corporations that allow and profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The resolution intends to increase awareness of the companies that actively participate in the oppression of Palestine, and to divest from these companies.

The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire has recently passed a resolution to support the call for divestment from corporations that allow and profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestine. The resolution intends to increase awareness of the companies that actively participate in the oppression of Palestine, and to divest from these companies.

The following is the full text of the declaration:

 

I. TITLE: Divest from companies that profit from Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories


II. AUTHOR: The Rev. Jennie R. Gould


III. INTENT: As a strategy for morally responsible investing, begin a process of divestment from corporations that allow and profit from the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. This resolution intends to increase our awareness of multinational companies that participate in the continued oppression of the Palestinian territories, and divest from these companies.

 

Whereas the lives of Palestinian and Israeli Christians and their neighbors have been severely diminished by living under 40 years of occupation; and whereas this has affected their spiritual,
physical, psychological and economic well-being;


BE IT RESOLVED that the 206th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire heed the call of the Diocese of Jerusalem to pursue peace, and support the World Council of Churches' 2005 economic measure regarding morally responsible investing of funds in corporations doing business in the region to confine their business activity solely to peaceful pursuits;


And be it further resolved, that this Convention urge the Trustees of the diocese: 1) to research which corporations permit and provide their products or services to  support or facilitate violent acts by Israelis or Palestinians against innocent civilians, construction and maintenance of unlawful Israeli settlements or Israeli-only roads in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Israeli military occupation of the Palestinian territory and construction of the Separation Barrier as it extends beyond the 1967 "Green Line" into Palestinian territories; 2) to work with the Outreach Commission to examine current investments; and 3) to consider a process of strategically divesting from these companies.


IV. RATIONALE: We are all members of the body of Christ; therefore, "if one member suffers, all suffer together with it." (1Cor12:26). The Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem has asked that we heed the call to pursue peace. Corporations that profit from oppression are roadblocks to peace. In support of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem the people of Diocese of New Hampshire cannot ignore these actions nor be complicit with them by investing in corporations whose products or services are being used as obstacles to a just peace and perpetuating an occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem that is illegal under international law. In February 2005 the World Council of Churches urged its 340 member churches to consider selective divestment from international companies that profit from and perpetuate human rights violations and the illegal occupation of the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem.


V. PLAN OF ACTION: Increase awareness of corporations such as Caterpillar, Citigroup, ITT Industries, Motorola and United Technologies that profit from their products or services being used to support or facilitate obstacles to a just peace in the land of our Lord's resurrection. Take progressive steps to begin divestment from these corporations.


VI. PROJECTED COST: The financial cost of action is zero as we already have in place the Trustees of the Diocese to act on this resolution should they be directed to by this convention.


VIII. SUPPORTERS: Jonathan Daniels Chapter of EPF NHRESOLUTION

December 4, 2008
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