Presbyterian panel backs Israel divestment measure

American Christian organization to vote on proposal to drop stocks in companies investing in Israel

A proposal to divest stock in protest of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians is moving forward at a national Presbyterian meeting.

A committee at the Presbyterian General Assembly approved a resolution Tuesday that would direct the church to liquidate its holdings in three companies whose products are used by the Israeli government in the occupied territories. The full General Assembly will vote on the proposal later this week.

The General Assembly is the top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Delegates are meeting through Saturday in Detroit.

The targeted companies are Caterpillar, Motorola and Hewlett-Packard. Presbyterian holdings in the companies are valued at about $21 million. But divestment would hold greater symbolic value. It would be the broadest endorsement of divestment to date by an American religious group protesting Israel.