Invest In Peace

Please vote for selective divestment from companies that benefit form the occupation. It is the most powerful, nonviolent way we to pressure the Israeli government to end its occupation. Only through ending the occupation will we have a chance for a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

–
Linda Mead-Commitment for Life Programme Co-ordinator
United Reformed Church

Commitment for Life is here to help United Reformed Churches work for a
fairer world and for peace with justice, recognising that change and
response starts with each one of us.

Occupation. Oppression. Enough already. Selective divestment.

Michael Levin
Chicago, IL

Invest in Peace!

I strongly request you vote to selectively divest from companies that benefit from the occupation. This is a powerful, nonviolent way to pressure the Israeli government to end its occupation. Only through ending it will we have a chance for a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. And let us press for a balanced US policy between them.

Dale Mohr
Naperville, IL

As I will tell my daughter, a true friend respects your moral choices. You have every right to decide that the wealth of your denomination is spent in a way that reflects your values. Anyone who tells you differently is not respecting your moral agency. In this case I believe your actions are a very positive example of the faith traditions we share. What’s more, you will help make the international law that is the best hope of our peaceful come alive. Please pursue selective divestment from the Israeli Occupation.

Jesse Bacon

I am asking you to vote for selective divestment from companies that benefit from the occupation. In this powerful, yet nonviolent way, we can pressure the Israeli government to end its occupation. Only by ending the occupation and engaging in meaningful dialogue will there be a chance for lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Peace starts in everyone’s heart.

Sequichie

Please vote for selective divestment from companies that benefit form the occupation. It is the most powerful, nonviolent way we, as Americans, have to pressure the Israeli government to end its occupation. Only through ending the occupation will we have a chance for a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

–Rick Potthoff
Bering United Methodist
Houston Texas

This is a plea to support efforts to avoid investments in companies that profit from the continued occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Creating disincentives for continuing the violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories will Americans play a positive role in reducing the violence. As an American Jew who believes that there is no conflict between supporting the existence of Israel and opposing the military policies of the Israeli government, I plead with you to support selective divestment from companies that benefit form the occupation.

Stephen Auerbach
Ashland, OR

“Power abdicates only under the stress of counter-power.” -Martin Buber

–
James L. Sparks Jr.
Richmond, VA

How unfair that Christians acting for reasons of conscience to divest from companies profiting from an illegal and immoral military occupation should face charges of anti-semitism! As a Jewish activist committed to campaigning for recognition of Palestinian rights, I believe it is self-evident that standing up for the human rights of everyone in the Middle East is the best antidote to all forms of racism in the region.

I sincerely hope Methodists will make a brave, historic decision at the General Conference to divest from companies which benefit from the occupation. Such a move, originating from many sections of Palestinian civil society and supported by a number of Israeli human rights organisations, would send a strong message to the Israeli government that illegality, militarism and refusal to acknowledge wrongs done to the Palestinians are obstacles to peace, creating enmity and standing in the way of the two communities ever being able to live side by side.

Naomi Wimborne-Idrissi
London, UK

I’m writing as an Israeli Jew and a Canadian citizen who is very concerned about what is happening in the Middle East to express my support for United Methodist proposals to divest from companies that support Israel’s occupation.

I was raised up on a kibbutz and since my childhood I have always heard talk about peace. Over 50 years have passed and talk about peace continues among Israelis and Jews but I have grown very apprehensive about it. When I look at the actions of the Israeli Government and many of its citizens, I see these actions pushing away any possibility of peace and reconciliation.

I am in a constant search for peaceful ways to end this tragedy. United Methodist divestment from companies supporting the occupation is a nonviolent way to bring hope to the region. I hope that this divestment action will help open the eyes of the Israeli people and their government. It is true that the Palestinians and the neighboring countries are the main population to suffer from this situation, but also Israel is suffering and is creating a dangerous society that is lacking many basic humanistic policies.

It is true that in the past the church has done wrong to the Jewish people. Now it is your chance to do right. Don’t let the mistakes of the past create more mistakes. Your church has the opportunity NOW to act and pass a motion that can become an important stepping stone in stopping the blood bath and injustice and bring a just peace to a troubled land.

Greetings,

Smadar Carmon