Overture 06

On Pursuing Investment Strategies to Promote Peace Between the Israeli and Palestinian People, While Affirming the Importance of Maintaining Healthy Relationships Among Presbyterians, Jews, and Muslims in the U.S.A.—From the Presbytery of National Capital.

The Presbytery of National Capital overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to continue investment strategies that promote peace between the Israeli and Palestinian people and seek prosperity for peoples of both nations by doing the following:

1. Direct the Mission Responsibility Through Investment (MRTI) to ensure that its strategies for engaging corporations with regard to Israeli and Palestinian territories are consistent with the following principles:

a. They should reflect the application of fundamental principles of justice and peace common to Christianity, Islam, and Judaism that are appropriate to the practical realities of Israeli and Palestinian societies.

b. They should reflect commitment to positive outcomes.

c. They should reflect awareness of potential impact upon the stability, future viability, and prosperity of both the Israeli and Palestinian economies.

2. Urge the Board of Pensions and the Presbyterian Foundation, as changes are made in their investment portfolios pursuant to directives of the 216th General Assembly (2004), to consider the following opportunities for positive impact upon peace in the region:

a. Explore profitable investments that involve multinational companies working cooperatively in both the Palestinian and Israeli economies or that involve cooperation between Palestinian and Israeli companies.

b. Give special consideration to investment in companies (1) that create equitable employment for both Israelis and Palestinians, (2) whose business is to the mutual benefit of both Israeli and Palestinian societies, (3) whose business in the region builds capacity in the Palestinian and Israeli economies, and (4) that introduce joint ventures between Palestinians and Israelis or companies that supply and support them.

3. Urge governing bodies and individuals within the PC(USA) to express their commitment to peace and justice for Israelis and Palestinians by considering these principles when investing their own funds, while continuing to engage in dialogue with similarly committed Jewish, Christian, and Muslim partners.

4. Direct the Stated Clerk of the PC(USA) to work with our international ecumenical and interfaith partners in Europe and the United States to press countries that provide financial support to Palestinians and/or Israelis to use their assistance to encourage progress towards a long-term peace and to discourage acts of terrorism and violations of human rights. Transparent accounting of this support should be required of all recipients.

5. Direct the General Assembly Council to coordinate PC(USA) initiatives related to future investment in development in the region and to provide support for the task force assigned by the 216th General Assembly (2004) in Item 12-09 to create a Palestine Mission Network and to authorize a feasibility study for the future development of Palestine. In addition, direct the General Assembly Council to provide wide visibility for these efforts and for other accomplishments in the work of peace through development.

6. Direct the General Assembly Council to engage in active dialogue with other Christian denominations and faith traditions that have taken similar actions to end violent conflict and to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians.

Rationale

Continuing violent conflict between Israelis and Palestinians profoundly affects believers in three of the world’s major faith traditions—Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

The situation of hostilities between peoples with whom Presbyterians have established steadfast bonds compels us to respond.

Presbyterians have witnessed acts of aggression, terrorism, and threats of terrorism by Palestinians against innocent Israelis. At close range, Presbyterian have also witnessed the suffering of innocent Palestinians as the result of war, displacement, expansion of settlements by Israelis, and the recent introduction of a separation barrier onto Palestinian territory with far-reaching consequences for the future of the region.

Presbyterians abhor and condemn terrorism and violence carried out by individuals, groups, and governing bodies on both side of this conflict. Each incident inflicts injury upon a group with whom Presbyterians have special connection. Presbyterians also deplore expressions of anti-Semitism, both anti-Semitism directed against Jews and anti-Semitism directed against Arabs.

Presbyterians of the PC(USA) cherish our long and faithful commitment to our Jewish partners. We acknowledge God’s irrevocable covenant relationship with the people of Israel and affirm our unwavering support for the secure existence of a viable and prosperous state of Israel, a position that has been reiterated over the decades since 1948.

Similarly, Presbyterians have enduring connections with Palestinians, including longstanding bonds of faith with Palestinian Christians and committed relationships with Palestinian Muslims. These drive from continuous Presbyterian mission presence in the Middle East since 1823, including medical, educational, and religious programs. The concern of the PC(USA) for the plight of Palestinian Muslims flows from our commitment to Christian-Muslim interfaith relationships. The PC(USA) consistently has affirmed the hope for a viable, just, secure, and prosperous Palestine.

In response to God’s calling to believers, Presbyterians are compelled to discern where their actions might bring healing and resolution between Israelis and Palestinians.

Consequently, Presbyterians have struggled over how we might contribute to end hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians. Actions of the 216th General Assembly (2004) were designed to apply the good offices and resources available to the PC(USA) to halt violence. Now we are calling for active measures to promote peace.

The efforts of the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the PC(USA) to address the Palestinian-Israeli crisis resulted in great consternation and a sense of betrayal among our Jewish partners, drawing attention to the importance of sustaining and deepening the dialogue between Presbyterians and Jews. The actions also launched a moral discourse regarding the positive role of the church in critical situations, highlighting what actions are appropriate and might be effective in influencing the situation toward peace in the region.

Presbyterians living in the United States are called to communicate with partners who practice Christianity, Judaism, and Islam to express and experience the kind of mutual respect envisioned among all people of the Abrahmic faiths, i.e., deepening dialogue, growing tolerance of distinct practices in worshiping God, and a keen awareness of the vital links all believers share with co-religionists around the world.

We share with our Jewish and Muslim brothers and sisters a common vision for the future of the Middle East and a hope for peace and prosperity throughout the region. Specifically, we should pursue positive investment strategies in order to achieve the following:

· A reaffirmation of respect and affection for one another and respect for one another’s faith;

· An end to violence and conflict in the land that is precious to Jews, Muslims, and Christians; and

· A vision of two nations, Israel and Palestine, coexisting peacefully within mutually respected borders, both nations thriving and participating fully in the world economy and community.

Actions taken by the PC(USA) at the 216th General Assembly (2004) were crafted to help realize this vision. Strategies suggested here presume that continuing steps toward peace should be carried out in sustained dialogue with Jewish, Christian, and Muslim partners as events unfold and new opportunities arise.