US Jews denounce Presbyterian divestment plans

American Jewish organizations have asked Protestant leaders in the United States to reject divestment from Israel. Five Jewish groups have released a joint statement asking church leaders to focus on alternative ways to promote a two-state settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The statement came in response to an October meeting with Presbyterian and other Protestant church leaders, who asked for an explanation as to why Jews oppose divestment. “Far too often, our Christian brothers and sisters, most particularly the mainline Protestant denominations, have remained too silent in the face of this persistent hatred, rejection, and violence aimed at Israel,” the Jewish leaders wrote in a letter Monday. “Divestment efforts that are not universally applied but rather focused uniquely on Israel, no matter how nuanced and explained, smack of discrimination,” the letter states, adding that the move “provokes extremism from all sides.”