The Presbyterian Divestiture Vote and the Jewish Response

Abstract

In 2004 the Presbyterian General Assembly debated a resolution (Overture) to sell shares in companies that profited from the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. This was consistent with a long-standing policy not to invest in military or war stocks. The Jewish response to this was furious. The debate, at times rancorous, went on for months. This article is a briefing document, attempting to summarize the deliberations and the issues, and to record the actual proposals. The deliberation continued for two additional General Assemblies and was not resolved until 2014. Articles on each of those three occasions were published in MIddle East Policy and are posted on Deep Blue.