Jane Carnall · @EyeEdinburgh
23rd Aug 2015 from TwitLonger
Divestment from Caterpillar
Church's share sale is not anti-Semitic
Sir: As someone in part responsible for the General Synod motion to divest from Caterpillar, I find myself wondering why there has been such vitriolic language in response ("Chief Rabbi attacks Church of England for Israel protest", 17 February). At last, Synod has had the courage to stand up for Palestine and refuse to be intimidated by those who like Chicken Little cry "anti-Semitism" whenever Israeli human rights abuses in the occupied territories are mentioned.
The Israeli military is committing war crimes on a daily basis with Caterpillar D9 bulldozers, which are the size of a double decker bus, weigh 53 tons and are fortified with bulletproof glass, machine-gun turrets and grenade launchers. These bulldozers are being used to destroy homes, olive groves, farms, orchards and utilities so that Israel can annexe the land for its exclusive settlements and apartheid roads. They are an integral weapon in Israel's strategy to destroy the international roadmap and erase any possibility of a viable, independent, sovereign Palestinian state. If Caterpillar is genuinely repentant, then let us see some of its profits used to rebuild Palestinian homes.
What arrogance from those who would lecture Anglicans of conscience for voting to withdraw their own funds from companies exploiting the occupation. The Central Board of Finance is on notice. If they do not sell our Caterpillar shares as expected by Synod within a short period of time, individual parishes will begin unilaterally doing it for them and find other more ethically acceptable investment options than the CBF. Why has the Archbishop faced a torrent of criticism over this vote? Simple: the people in the shadows know that Caterpillar is only the first. "Let justice roll" (Amos 5:24).
THE REV DR STEPHEN SIZER
CHRIST CHURCH VICARAGE, VIRGINIA WATER, SURREY
http://www.engageonline.org.uk/blog/article.php?id=259
The divestment from Caterpillar which is said to be anti-Semitic is based on this:
"2003; The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) and partnering law firms today filed a federal lawsuit against Illinois-based Caterpillar, Inc. on behalf of the parents of Rachel Corrie, the 23-year-old American peace activist and student who was run over and killed by a Caterpillar D9 bulldozer on March 16, 2003.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western Federal District of Washington, alleges that Caterpillar, Inc. violated international and state law by providing specially designed bulldozers to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) that it knew would be used to demolish homes and endanger civilians."
https://electronicintifada.net/content/family-rachel-corrie-files-suit-against-caterpillar-inc/446