---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Rabbi Alissa Wise, Jewish Voice for Peace"
<alissa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2016 15:48:03 -0500 (EST)
Subject: BIG NEWS: UMC divests from banks funding occupation
To: carjar82@xxxxxxxxx
Dear Carl,
We learned this morning that the United Methodist Church's Board of
Pensions declared the five largest Israeli banks off limits for
investment and has divested from the two that it held in its
portfolios, due to their deep involvement with financing illegal
settlement building in the occupied Palestinian territories.
This is a huge advance for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions
movement, especially because it acknowledges the deep connections
between Israeli banks and the settlement enterprise. In effect, it is
an acknowledgment that responsibility for ongoing abuses of
Palestinian rights does not stop at the Green Line.
The Church is sure to face intense backlash for this decision -
especially given that in just 5 months, the Church will consider
divestment from Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions, and Hewlett Packard
at their General Assembly. Take Action [
http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18896
]
*So please, join me in signing an Open Letter to Barbara Boigegrain,
General Secretary and CEO the United Methodist General Board of
Pension and Health Benefit congratulating them on their principled
courageous decision.* [
http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18896
]
This decision is momentous on at least two other levels. First, it was
made by the Church's Pension and Health Benefits Fund (the body
responsible for managing the Church's investments) using their
existing criteria for ensuring that the Church's investments meet
their own ethical threshold. And that's huge because it shows that
moving toward justice for all Palestinians and Israelis, while
difficult, isn't complicated: it's about applying our political and
spiritual values to Israeli policies just as we do to any other
situation where human rights abuses occur.
And second, the United Methodist Church is a global institution,
representing over 12 million people all over the world. So this
decision also shows again that standing together for justice in
Palestine and Israel builds unity across all kinds of differences, and
offers people in every community an opportunity to stand together for
justice.
I can also guarantee you that the backlash will be fierce. And in all
likelihood, the pushback that comes behind closed doors will be the
more forceful and dangerous. So let's make our voices heard, and show
that we support this historic decision of our friends in the UMC.
*Sign our thank you card to the United Methodist Church -- thank them
for standing for justice.* [
http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18896
]
*And i**f we get 10,000 signatures, our Chicago chapter will
hand-deliver our letter to their offices.*
I want this decision to be just the beginning of the growth and change
2016 brings to our movement for justice. Through actions like this
one, and similar actions in city councils, student governments, and
academic associations nationwide, we will together bring Israeli
human rights violations to an end. So as we roll up our sleeves as we
head into 2016, let's pause to celebrate and appreciate the victories
along the way, which bring us one step closer to the equality, dignity
and justice we are all working so tirelessly for.
The UMC has taken a brave step forward for justice, and we need to
have their back. *They need to know we're standing with them -- please
sign our card! [
http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18896
]*
Onward,
Alissa
Rabbi Alissa Wise
Deputy Director Take Action [
http://org.salsalabs.com/o/301/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=18896
]
* Footnote one explains things
* Footnote two explains more things
* Footnote three is a crowd
* Footnote four is starting to push it
* Footnote five is really too much unless this is going out to the AAC
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