Anglican Parish Disinvests from the
Central Board of Finance over Caterpillar Shares

On the 6th February 2006, the General Synod meeting in London backed a motion calling for a divestment of shares held by the Church of England in companies such as Caterpillar who are profiting from Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territories. Since this motion has yet to be implemented, an Anglican parish has decided to withdraw £140,000 from the Church of England's Central Board of Finance investment account. 

The vicar, the Rev. Dr Stephen Sizer, insisted, "This is not an attack on Israel or the Jewish people but a non-violent response to an unjust and intolerable situation. We are now looking for an investment fund with a more ethically sound policy. We cannot turn our backs on our sisters and brothers in Palestine any longer. We cannot close our ears to their pleas for help. How can we profit from policies which we believe to be both threatening the viability of a Palestinian state and also damaging prospects for peace and security for the Israeli people?" 
  
More information is available from US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation PO Box 21539 Washington, DC 20009 202-332-0994 http://www.endtheoccupation.org. The Rev. Dr Stephen Sizer is available for telephone interviews on  00 44 7970 789549