July 6, 2012 -- New York -- AJC commends the Presbyterian Church (USA) decision to reject divestment from three companies doing business with Israel. The divestment resolution was narrowly defeated by two votes (333-331) last night in a divisive debate at the PCUSA's biennial General Assembly in Pittsburgh. An amended resolution which called for "positive investment" and urged interfaith collaboration supporting development that could lead to a future Palestinian state, was accepted by a healthy majority.

"The PCUSA rebuff of divestment is a recognition that punitive measures aimed at Israel do not advance the cause of peace,” said Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC’s director of Interreligious and Intergroup Relations, who attended the church's General Assembly and criticized the proposed resolution during a public comment opportunity. “The only true path to peace and security for both Palestinians and Israelis is a return without preconditions to direct negotiations for a two-state solution."

"We hope Presbyterians and Jews can move beyond this debate and work together for positive approaches that will bring about the peace we all desire for Palestinians and Israelis," added Marans.

Notwithstanding the defeat of the divestment initiative, AJC expressed disappointment that PCUSA approved a separate resolution endorsing a blanket boycott of Israeli products produced in the West Bank, calling that resolution "problematic." A resolution labeling Israel an apartheid state was rejected overwhelmingly.

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