Presbyterians Closer to Divestment?

The Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly in Detroit likely will vote this Friday on anti-Israel divestment aimed at three companies. Yesterday, its Middle East Issues legislative committee there voted 45-20 in favor of divestment, after what I’m told was a confusing legislative process, compounded by the “ceaseless intervention” of denominational staff and “outside speakers urging them to divest.”

By comparison, the committee at General Assembly 2012 in Pittsburgh voted by 36-11 for divestment. That year the final General Assembly vote was AGAINST divestment but by just two votes. Undoubtedly, the General Assembly vote this year will also be much closer than what happened in committee, where clearly anti-Israel activists flocked. I’m also told that there were some earlier votes in yesterday’s committee, one by 29-30, indicating a much closer division before the final vote, by which time everybody was exhausted.