Note #8984 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:
 

05572 Oct. 24, 2005

Pro-Israel evangelical groups say divestment efforts are anti-Semitic

by Michele Green Ecumenical News International

JERUSALEM - Pro-Israeli evangelical Christians have denounced as anti-Semitic efforts by some U.S. Protestant groups to divest from companies associated with Israel.

The groups also have vowed to counter the effort by increasing investment in such firms.

The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), which runs an annual weeklong conference here in support of Israel, said it will set up a trade office to encourage Christian investment in the Jewish state. The move is a response to recent decisions by U.S.-based Protestant groups to re-examine investments in companies connected to Israel and its occupation of Palestinian territories.

"With a worldwide constituency, we are in a position to make a difference against worldwide divestment," Malcolm Hedding, ICEJ's executive director, said on Oct. 20 during the Israeli Feast of the Tabernacles conference.

The conference, which drew about 5,000 evangelical Christians from around, is held to coincide with the Jewish harvest festival of Succoth. One of its highlights is a march through the streets of Jerusalem by Christians waving Israeli flags.

Hedding said his organization will take a "proactive approach" to stemming the divestment tide by helping Christians invest in Israel and Israeli companies.

Several U.S. Protestant churches, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the U.S. Episcopal (Anglican) Church and the United Church of Christ, recently have voted to re-examine their investments in companies seen as profiting from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the construction of the so-called "security wall."

Jewish groups have asserted that the divestment trend is being encouraged by pro-Palestinian lobby groups working in the United States. Some churches backing the economic measures say they are meant to pressure companies whose products are used for aggression or violent suppression of people.

Hedding said the ICEJ will team with the International Christian Chamber of Commerce to establish a trade office in Israel to introduce Christian businessmen to Israeli business opportunities.

"It needs to be easier for small investors to get that money into the nation and the economy," said Dale Neill, president of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce.

The ICEJ said it also will try to bring more Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land to boost the Israeli tourism economy.