Send Page to a Friend Jewish Community Commends Presbyterian Church USA in its Departure from Divestment (Boston, June 22, 2006) Jewish community leaders from JCRC, the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League applaud the decision by the Presbyterian Church USA to distance itself from its 2004 policy to divest from companies doing business with Israel. At its General Assembly in Birmingham, the church voted 483-28, with one abstention, to replace the resolution of its last national gathering that called for a "phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel." The Jewish community leaders also thanked local Presbyterian Ministers, led by Reverend Hurmon E. Hamilton of Roxbury Presbyterian Church, for their public opposition to divestment from Israel in a letter released days before the General Assembly. "This reversing of position…is a wonderful step," Reverend Hamilton said. "We have a calling to push both parties to the table of peace...Divestment was one of the most ill-conceived actions in the recent history of our denomination." PC USA General Assembly voted for "corporate engagement" which would restrict investments in Israel, the Gaza Strip and West Bank to peaceful pursuits and alter church policy on Israel's security barrier. The 2004 resolution called for the barrier's removal, but the version approved Wednesday notes that the Church should not "tell a sovereign nation whether it can protect its borders or handle matters of national defense."  "JCRC worked tirelessly with our partners in the field, including JCPA (Jewish Council for Public Affairs), as well as ADL and AJC locally, in a concerted effort to inform the Presbyterian Church of the strong anti-divestment sentiment of the full spectrum of the Jewish community," said JCRC Executive Director, Nancy K. Kaufman. "This is a proud moment for the Jewish community where an injustice has been corrected."