New England Methodists urge members to divest from Israel
By Kristin Erekson
The Jewish Advocate
A regional Methodist coalition has now entered the discussion on the Middle East, urging its member churches to divest from specific companies in Israel.
In late June, the New England Conference of The United Methodist church issued its "Divestment Task Force" report, making recommendations for pulling funds from 20 companies that it identifies as supporting the Israeli army's presence in the West Bank and Gaza. Targeted companies include General Electric, Blockbuster, Boeing and General Dynamics.
The conference disseminated the report's findings to its churches across New England, which includes 550 United Methodist and federated congregations in Massachusetts, Eastern Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, according to William P. Aldrich, chairman of the Divestment Task Force.
"What we are doing is controversial, and there are two motivations," Aldrich told the Advocate during a telephone interview from Rhode Island. "First, if a person feels that the occupation is illegal, then this is a way to make sure that he/she is not profiting from it. And secondly, we want to educate people and draw attention to what is going on there."
The report received harsh criticism from the Anti-Defamation League, which in a statement described the Methodists' findings as bordering on anti-Semitism. Andrew H. Tarsy, the New England regional director of the ADL, said his organization would like to "create an appropriate dialogue about this."
"We view the report as incendiary and irresponsible, and it requires a prompt explanation," Tarsy added. "I think it flatly ignores the ongoing attacks on Israel and the Hamas takeover of Gaza. The Methodists just look selectively at facts that support a very simple, one-sided view."
The Divestment Task Force researched U.S. government statistics and information provided by Israeli, Palestinian and Jewish groups to arrive at a decision, Aldrich said.
"The urgency of the humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories cannot be overstated," the report said.
Alan Ronkin, deputy director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, said the New England Conference's report is "part of an ongoing campaign to vilify Israel." Despite his expressed disappointment about the Methodists' actions, Ronkin added that the JCRC will seek to "reopen conversation" about the issue. Two years ago, JCRC leadership tried to engage in dialogue with Bishop Peter D. Weaver of the New England Conference but "received no response," Ronkin said.
Weaver did not return calls from the Advocate for comment.
"It's really unfortunate - when denomination after denomination has pulled away from divestment as a way to achieve peace - that the Methodists have decided to turn in this direction," Ronkin added.
The New England Conference is one of many groups that have resorted to economic pressure as a means to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Advocate previously reported that the Presbyterian Church voted in 2004 to selectively divest from Israel, but retreated from the policy last year.
Jonathan D. Sarna, professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University, said he believes that the Methodists have jumped on the divestment bandwagon because they are woreied about the growing influence of Evangelicalism.
"My own sense has been that much of the liberal Christian attack on Israel has very little to do with Israel and Jews, and has everything to do with the rise of Evangelicalism," Sarna added. "These groups have seen their own status in American religion somewhat decline...If Evangelicals support Israel and are advocates of a robust [Jewish state], then these movements will oppose it."
Yet Susanne Hoder, a member of the Divestment Task Force, said the purpose of the report is to make sure that "we as churches are not making money off an activity that we believe is illegal."
"I hope [this report] will open the door to new discussions between religious groups," Hoder added.
But discussions, Sarna said, have not led the two sides to any conclusion.
"I think we should feel disappointed that after so many years of inter-religious conversation, our friends - at least those who we thought were our friends - could issue a report on Israel that doesn't mention [terrorism], and doesn't note that bombs are falling on Sderot," he added.
While Methodists claim that the recent information released is not biased, Consul of Israel to New England Rony Yedidia told the Advocate that the report "completely ignores the positive steps Israel has taken."
"Both Israelis and Palestinians want an end to the conflict," Yedidia said. "However, the way to peace is through peaceful dialogue and mutual compromise, not through hot-headed and one-sided resolutions. Divestment is not the way to go."
