Divestment in America

Since the outbreak of Palestinian violence in September 2000, organized campaigns have promoted the "divestment" of university, municipal, church and other investment portfolios from Israeli companies and from companies that do business with Israel, as a punitive measure against Israel for its policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The divestment campaign aims to emulate the 1980s campaigns against South African apartheid. Its advocates claim that the political situation in Israel, Gaza Strip and the West Bank is comparable to that which existed in South Africa. They argue that just as the anti-apartheid campaign helped to bring down not only the South African regime but also the ideology and political morals that governed it, divestment from Israel will further the struggle against what they call an inherently racist system that needs to be abolished.

Yet, despite the best efforts of activists, and some gains among church groups, the divestment campaign in the U.S. has been largely unsuccessful. To date, it has failed to bring its primary targeted institutions to divest from Israel or from U.S. companies doing business with Israel.