Unless the SJP admits that it went to the board and asked them to investigate these companies due to "social irresponsibility" and nothing else, then this clearly is a case of the board giving in to pressure.

Obviously, the SJP, a group specifically committed to publicizing Israel's illegal occupation of Palestine and helping the Palestinians, went to the board because these companies are complicit in Israel's illegal actions, not because they are generally "socially irresponsible."

By all appearances, the board agreed with SJP's assertion regarding Israel and acted on it. The inevitable barrage of complaints came from Israel's advocates (those who support an illegal occupation and Israeli barbarity), and the board backed down. Typical. And unacceptable.

Not until the complaints the came in. As Ed said, spineless. Absolutely spineless.

A "sub-committee of the investment committee" is who addressed the SJP's petition? Could they have distanced themselves any further from the humanitarian group, while getting right back into bed with the wealthy Zionists and their supporters? Ridiculous.

Next it will be "a sub-committee of the sub-committee of the investment committee."

Hampshire College also puts its frats on "double secret probation."

It is disheartening that calls for boycotts of Starbucks stores and products, which are based on blatant untruths, have had direct impacts on local economies and residents, and have also led to violent situations involving our stores, partners (employees) and customers.

Our more than 160,000 partners and business associates around the globe have diverse views about a wide range of topics. Regardless of that spectrum of belief, Starbucks Coffee Company remains a non-political organization. We do not support any political or religious cause. Further, allegations that Starbucks provides financial support to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army in any way are unequivocally false. Unfortunately, these rumors persist despite our best efforts to refute them…

Myths
Is it true that Starbucks provides financial support to Israel?

No. This is absolutely untrue. Rumors that Starbucks Coffee Company provides financial support to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army are unequivocally false. Starbucks is a publicly held company and as such, is required to disclose any corporate giving each year through a proxy statement. In addition, articles in the London Telegraph (U.K.), New Straits Times (Malaysia), and Spiked (online) provide an outside perspective on these false rumors.

Has Starbucks ever sent any of its profits to the Israeli government and/or Israeli army?

No. This is absolutely untrue.

Is it true that Starbucks is teaming with other American corporations to send their last several weeks of profits to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army?

No. This is absolutely untrue.

Is it true that Starbucks closed its stores in Israel for political reasons?

No. We do not make business decisions based on political issues. We decided to dissolve our partnership in Israel in 2003 due to the on-going operational challenges that we experienced in that market. After many months of discussion with our partner we came to this amicable decision. While this was a difficult decision for both companies, we believe it remains the right decision for our businesses.

what a bunch of wimps.

Wow, Phil, you really are a pathological liar, aren't you? You are willing to lie and put up proof that you are lying all on the same page.

The college said nothing at all about the social responsibility of investing in Israel. They said nothing about the social responsibility of the six companies that the anti-Semites, terrorist supporters, and useful idiots asked them to divest from.

What they said was that the big fund that they had their money in had money invested in 100 companies (not identified), that have various violations of their investment policies. None of the examples they gave of violations of their investment policies have anything to do with Israel.

This story is equivalent to a crazy cat lady telling the cops that her next door neighbor has been murdered. The police show up, no murder, but they do find a huge pot farm. Think they won't arrest the pot farmers just because the initial reason they investigated was bogus?

The college humored these whiny idiots who called for a divestment enough to look into their investment fund. When they looked, they found violations that had nothing to do with whether investing in companies that do business with Israel is socially responsible.

Of course, they are morons for A) not realizing how it was going to look if they moved the money after the complaint, B) making it clear from the outset that it had nothing to do with Israel, and C) not finding a new place for their money before announcing it. Now whether they invest in a fund that has no companies connected to Israel, or a fund that has companies connected to Israel, they are going to look like they are pandering to somebody.

And yes, I agree…they look like they are pandering.

I sent them an email to that effect. I told them the anti-Semitic nutballs are suggesting they were pressured by JOOOOS. (In case they don't have a clue how offensive their mamby pamby milktoast behavior is)