New York, NY, October 11, 2005…. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today said it is heartened by the Episcopal Church's decision to reject divestment from Israel as a legitimate means to promote peace and security in the region and instead adopt a policy of "positive investment" in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

ADL hopes that the October 8 action by Episcopal Church leaders will persuade other mainline Protestant churches to turn away from considering or supporting ill-conceived and unfair divestment from certain companies doing business in Israel, and instead embrace positive policies and programs to promote peace, justice and reconciliation so that Israelis and Palestinians can achieve a better future.

Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs, issued the following statement:

We are heartened by the decision of the Episcopal Church USA's Executive Council to adopt the recommendations of its Social Responsibility in Investment Committee (SRI) which rejects divestment from Israel in favor of a program of corporate engagement and positive investment.

It is our hope that other Protestant denominations will follow the example that the Episcopal Church has set by turning from divestment in addressing the legitimate concerns of Palestinians and Israelis.

We are distressed that the committee did not take notice of the positive, and risky, steps Israel has taken in the recent successful disengagement from Gaza, and the many cases before the Israeli courts on the issue of determining an appropriate route of the security barrier.  Resorting to the rule of law is always preferable to violence when exposing grievances.
 
The decision comes after a year of intense dialogue with Episcopal leaders, which began after the release of a report by a committee of the worldwide Anglican Church – of which Episcopal Church USA is a member – recommending divestment from Israel and placing the blame solely upon Israel for the Palestinian-Israeli crisis. Since then, ADL and other Jewish agencies have engaged in dialogue aimed at ending the use of economic sanctions against Israel and encouraging a more balanced view of an extremely complex situation.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.