Advocates for Israel: Talking Points
Damaging the Already Fragile Prospects for Peace
- Divestment from companies doing business in Israel will further depress Israel's struggling economy; economic stability is a key to sustaining popular support for the peace process.
- Israel already feels isolated and hated by the international community. A movement for divestment would foster that feeling of alienation and could lead to Israel's complete retreat from international involvement with the peace process.
- The divestment movement is misguided. Since 1993, and reaffirmed during the Camp David/Taba talks, Israeli governments – backed by strong public opinion among both Israelis and American Jews – have been ready to accept a Palestinian State.
Setting a Double Standard- Calls for divestment from Israel, even when they condemn Palestinian suicide bombings, nonetheless target only Israel and not the Palestinians for economic and political sanctions.
- There is no effort among the mainline Protestant churches considering divestment to urge the Palestinian leadership to crack down and disarm militant and terrorist groups that openly deny and attempt to derail the current cease-fire through shooting at Israeli soldiers and civilians.
- Israel is singled out for sanctions, not only before the Palestinians, but before nations such as Iran, North Korea, or China, widely known for committing gross human rights violations far greater than any found, even in accusations made against Israel.
- Israel is the only democracy in the region. Not withstanding her faults and missteps as she wrestles to deal with legitimate security concerns, Israel has been and remains a far more open, tolerant, and democratic nation than any other in the Middle East.
- True friends of the Palestinian people should support reform efforts rather than taking actions, like the divestment initiative, that reinforce the illusion among Palestinians that Israel can be pressured into making far-reaching concessions without the promise of true peace.
Threatening Israel's Security- An Israeli economy weakened by divestment, if shaped to include military contractors, could weaken Israel's ability to defend against terrorism.
Discrediting Legitimate Criticisms of Israeli Policies- We believe that legitimate criticism of Israeli policies comes from a love for the Jewish State and a deep concern for her peace and security. One-sided initiatives that threaten Israel's very existence – such as divestment – discredit what may be important and well-considered criticisms of specific Israeli actions.
- Numerous Jewish organizations in the United States and various political parties in Israel have not refrained from being critical of Israel when specific policies and circumstances merit it. Israel, similar to the United States, is a pluralist society, allowing for all voices to organize and be heard.This includes, of course, the Israeli Arabs who comprise 20% of Israel’s population – with equal rights as all citizens, which means they have political representation in the government as well as in the judicial branch.
Ignoring Other Avenues for Supporting Peace- Rather than divest from companies doing business in Israel, why not invest in organizations promoting coexistence and reconciliation work between Arabs and Israelis in the Middle East? These groups are laying the groundwork for peace by building bridges between divided peoples and are desperately in need of increased funding.
Endangering Jewish-Christian Relations- The safety and security of Israel is an essential concern for the American-Jewish community. The repercussions of divestment could damage long-established ties between Jewish synagogues and mainline Protestant churches and could weaken important alliances between national Jewish and Presbyterian organizations.
Wrong Timing- Israel took a great risk for peace by withdrawing from the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank. Israel, for the first time in the absence of a peace agreement, uprooted literally tens of thousands of its own citizens to roll back the occupation and took another step toward peace. As such, the Israeli government continues to face steep political obstacles, as large sections of its people remain angry, threatening to use violence to thwart further withdrawal.
- As the Israeli government is fighting these tough political battles at home, convincing its people that this time the Arabs truly desire peace, it makes no sense to punish (financially or otherwise) the Israeli government as the only party to blame for the violence in the region. Those who want peace should work to support the Israeli government’s efforts to implement this historic territorial withdrawal.
- Disengagement from the Gaza Strip and relocation of settler communities cost the Israeli government millions of dollars. The last thing those who want peace should do is withhold funds from Israel and punish Israel financially.
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