Presbyterian divestment passes!

The plenary of the 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA has voted 310 to 303 to divest from three US companies that profit from Israel's military occupation of Palestinian lands on Friday, June 20, 2014, by a vote of 310-303. After a long afternoon of respectful debate -- and 10 years' worth of effort on this issue -- commissioners passed a resolution to divest from Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard and Motorola Solutions. Two years ago, the divestment resolution was defeated by two votes. 

"We at the American Muslims for Palestine were so honored to be a part of the interfaith coalition supporting the Presbyterian Israel Palestine Mission Network's divestment efforts," said Krsistin Szremski, AMP national director of media and communications. "Members of AMP Detroit helped flyer, attended the interfaith vigil in the rain, submitted presonal stories and also gave videotaped testimony as part of a large coalition that supported the divestment effort."

AMP also submitted a position paper to the IPMN to offer a Palestinian perspective on the facts on the ground in Palestine and on BDS. Jewish Voice for Peace, Friends of Sabeel North Amerrica, IPMN and Talat Othman also submitted papers. The large coalition included AMP, IPMN, Friends of Sabeel North America, Jewish Voice for Peace, the US Palestine Community Network and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. 

"After a decade of corporate engagement with Caterpillar, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola Solutions, these companies have failed to modify their behavior and continue to profit from Israeli human rights abuses and non-peaceful pursuits," said IPMN member Rev. Dr. Walt Davis, Professor Emeritus, San Francisco Theological Seminary. “This is a historic vote and the culmination of a long and deliberate internal process within the church."

Read the full IPMN press release.