The Search for Peace in Times of Chaos—Volume Presbyterians and the iddle East “In June of 2004, the PCUSA General Assembly met in Richmond, Virginia and adopted by a vote of 431-62 a resolution that called on the church’s committee on (MRTI) to initiate a process of selective divestment in corporations operating in Israel.” The resolution also said “the occupation…has proven to be at the root of evil acts committed against innocent people on both sides of the conflict.” The church statement at the time noted that “divestment is one of the strategies that US churches used in the 1970s and ‘80s in a successful campaign to end apartheid in South Africa.” They hoped that a similar strategy would work in the Middle East A second resolution, calling for an end to the construction of a wall by the state of Israel, passed The resolution opposed the construction of the West Bank barrier, regardless of its location, and opposed government contribution to the construction The General Assembly also adopted policies rejecting Christian Zionism and rejected allowing the continued funding of conversionary activities aimed at Jews Together, the resolutions caused tremendous dissent within the church and a sharp disconnect with the Jewish community Leaders of several American Jewish groups communicated to the church their concerns about the use of economic leverages that apply specifically to companies operating in Israel Some critics of the divestment policy accused church leaders of anti-Semitism In June 2006, after the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly in Alabama changed the policy, both pro-Israel and proPalestinian groups praised the new resolution Pro-Israel groups, who had written General Assembly commissioners to express their concerns about a corporate engagement/divestment strategy focused on Israel, praised the new resolution, saying that it reflected the church stepping back from a policy that singled out companies Pro-Palestinian groups said that the church maintained the opportunity to engage and potentially divest from companies that support the Israeli occupation.21 ~ 19 ~ ... barrier, regardless of its location, and opposed government contribution to the construction The General Assembly also adopted policies rejecting Christian Zionism and rejected allowing the continued... accused church leaders of anti-Semitism In June 200 6, after the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly in Alabama changed the policy, both pro-Israel and proPalestinian groups praised the new resolution... activities aimed at Jews Together, the resolutions caused tremendous dissent within the church and a sharp disconnect with the Jewish community Leaders of several American Jewish groups communicated