Presbyterians Vote for Israel Divestment

After a decade of heated debate, backtracking, and suspenseful votes, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has once again voted for divestment from three companies that do business with Israel. The controversial vote is sure to inspire debate between proponents of divestment, who argue that it is necessary in light of Israel’s actions in the Palestinian territories, and opponents, who argue that divestment is one-sided, unhelpful, and driven by anti-Semitism.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) has a long history of flirtation with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement designed to place economic restrictions on the State of Israel. Back in 2004, the denomination voted in favor of divestment, but reversed itself two years later after an intense backlash. Since then, the PCUSA has considered divestment in every successive General Assembly. At the 2012 General Assembly held in Pittsburgh, divestment passed committee 36-11, but failed in the General Assembly by only two votes.