The Jewish Light, along with other Jewish publications and organizations was extremely critical of the Presbyterian Church USA last June, after its General Assembly members voted 310-303 to approve divestment from the stock of three U.S. companies that do business with Israel security services in the West Bank: Caterpillar, Motorola Solutions and Hewlett-Packard. The anti-Israel, pro-BDS vote was just one example of a growing list of “progressive” organizations which have embraced the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. Because we were so strongly critical of that decision, I would like to strongly praise a full-page advertisement that appeared in the Nov. 20 edition of the New York Times headlined, “Presbyterians: We can do better than divestment.”

The New York Times advertisement, taken out by Presbyterians for a Just and Peaceful Future in the Middle East, makes it clear that a substantial portion of the leadership and general membership of the Presbyterian Church USA were and are opposed to the narrowly-approved resolution. The text of the ad includes:

“Last June, the General Assembly of our church voted very narrowly to approve the divestment of stock in three companies deemed as complicit in the occupation of the Palestinian territories. We are among the many Presbyterians all over the country who have worked against this action, believing that divestment would strengthen the extreme positions on both sides of this conflict without alleviating the suffering of the Palestinians — and further divide and discourage the vast center of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that longs for justice with love for both peoples. We continue to dissent strongly from this divestment action, and many of the Presbyterians who fill our pews on Sunday mornings share this conviction.”

The anti-boycott faction’s advertisement adds, “Yet we are more convinced than ever that those who are concerned for justice and peace in the region must reject polarization, silence, despair, or inaction — starting with ourselves.  Only by working together — Muslims, Jews and Christians, Americans, Palestinians and Israelis — can we hope to find the true path to a just and lasting peace for both peoples.”  

The ad includes a lengthly list of Presbyterians from all over the nation who had the courage to put their names to this very welcome statement.

The action taken by the Presbyterians for a Just and Peaceful Future in the Middle East was a timely reminder that there continue to be strong supporters of Israel and a two-state solution among the “progressive” elements of American society.  In recent months, many left and far-left organizations have engaged in highly irresponsible and one-sided blaming of Israel in the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians which came to a head during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza over the summer. We are grateful to the sponsors of the Anti-BDS ad.