Anglicans Call for Sanction on Investment in Israel to Uphold Justice

At the Anglican Consultative Council Friday meeting in Nottingham, England, church leaders unanimously voted on the first resolution regarding the Palestine-Israeli conflict, which suggests boycotting investments that support Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories or violence against innocent Israelis.

The decision follows moves by the USA Presbyterian Church to consider selling holdings in companies that profit from the occupation and a statement by the World Council of Churches (WCC), a global ecumenical body, who back divestment.

The Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group, on which the three main investment and Trustee bodies of the Church of England, the General Synod, the Archbishops’ Council, and the Council for Mission and Public Affairs are represented, has been carrying out ethical investment research and management in keeping with its Christian witness and values.

The proposal to stop investing in firms that sponsor Israel’s occupation has been carefully considered by the group as well over the last few months.

On ACC’s Friday meeting, the discussion was put forward by the Anglican Peace and Justice Network (APJN) and an additional session was allocated to facilitate maximum participation from the floor of the ACC.

The Council, including the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, voted unanimously for the motion, which commended "the resolve of the Episcopal Church (USA) to take appropriate action where it finds that its corporate investments support the occupation of Palestinian lands or violence against innocent Israelis."

The Council also suggested the 38 Anglican Provinces across the world have such investments, "to be considered in line with their adopted ethical investment strategies".

The Council expressed solidarity with Palestinian Christians and encouraged investment strategies that support the infrastructure of a future Palestinian State.

The last statement of the resolution requested the Office of the Anglican Observer to the United Nations "to support and advocate the implementation of UN Resolutions 242 and 338 directed towards peace, justice and co-existence in the Holy Land."