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Anglican Council To Weigh Divestment
Washington Post
BRIEF
6/5/2005
Leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion are scheduled to consider a proposal to follow the Presbyterian Church (USA) in divesting from companies doing business with Israelis who "support the occupation of Palestinian lands."
The Anglican Consultative Council, a policy steering committee for the 77 million-member Anglican Communion, will consider the proposal when it meets June 19-28 in Nottingham, England.
It is not clear, however, what impact such a policy would have on the Anglican Communion's 38 autonomous provinces, which include the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Anglican Church of Canada.
The divestment plan could meet resistance within the Church of England, where the church commissioners, who are responsible for administering the church's inherited wealth, historically have shown an independent streak.
In September, after a weeklong visit to the Middle East, the committee issued a statement sharply critical of Israeli occupation, and several church leaders indicated that they supported economic pressure against Israel, including divestment.
Jewish groups have said divestment is unfair because it does not apply equal pressure against Palestinian terrorists.
In the United States, the United Church of Christ will consider a divestment proposal when it meets July 1-5 in Atlanta.
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