Divestment Debate Heats Up With Addition of Proactive Christian Investors
Thousands of pro-Israeli Christians denounced efforts by some U.S. Protestant groups to divest from companies associated with Israel as being anti-Semitic, and announced that they will set up a trade office to encourage Christian investment in the Je
Thousands of pro-Israeli Christians denounced efforts by some U.S. Protestant groups to divest from companies associated with Israel as being anti-Semitic, and announced that they will set up a trade office to encourage Christian investment in the Jewish state.
“With a worldwide constituency, we are in a position to make a difference against worldwide divestment,” said Malcolm Hedding, executive director of the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem (ICEJ), which hosts an annual weeklong conference in support of Israel.
This year’s Feast of the Tabernacles conference, which ran through Oct. 23, drew over 5,000 Christians from all over the world. The conference is held to coincide with the Jewish harvest festival of Succoth, and features a march through the streets of Jerusalem.
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According to Ecumenical News International, Hedding said the ICEJ will take a “proactive approach” to stopping the divestment efforts of some denominations by helping Christians invest in Israel and Israeli companies.
The action came even as the Episcopal Church USA – one of a few denominations that vowed to re-examine their investments in companies they view as profiting from the Israeli occupation of the West Bank – decided against divestment as a means to Middle East peace. Other church groups, including the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the World Council of Churches, have cautiously moved forward in the road to possible divestment.
Most Jewish groups have denounced divestment as unfairly targeting Israel in what remains a two-party conflict. The ICEJ’s move adds yet another voice to the mix.
According to ENI, Hedding said the ICEJ will team with the International Christian Chamber of Commerce to establish a trade office in Israel to introduce Christian businessmen to Israeli business opportunities, including tourism.
“It needs to be easier for small investors to get that money into the nation and the economy,” said Dale Neill, president of the International Christian Chamber of Commerce.
