The other day we reported on a huge victory for the boycott and divestment movement, the delisting of Caterpillar by a leading Wall Street socially-responsible investment index because of Israel’s use of Caterpillar equipment in the occupied territories.
Well, the Associated Press is on the story, and Blake Sobczak’s lead is very good:
A U.S. investment firm has removed Caterpillar Inc. from three of its popular indexes that track socially responsible investments, citing concerns about the Israeli military’s use of company bulldozers in the Palestinian territories…
And there’s this. Americans who love human rights and freedom will be proud to see Rachel Corrie’s killing so prominently featured in a wire service piece nine years after this beautiful young idealist and writer died:
Caterpillar equipment gained notoriety in March 2003 when an armored bulldozer crushed an American activist, Rachel Corrie, in the southern Gaza Strip while she tried to prevent it from toppling a home. A subsequent military investigation ruled Corrie’s death an accident, though Corrie’s family has filed a civil suit against Israel.
And some good context:
MSCI’s decision comes amid a budding movement by pro-Palestinian activists to join a Palestinian campaign against companies doing business in the West Bank.
Pension funds in Norway and Sweden have divested themselves of holdings in some firms involved in building in settlements or helping to erect Israel’s contentious West Bank separation barrier. Earlier this month, Norway’s government pension fund said it had dumped roughly $1.3 million of stock in Israeli construction company Shikun & Binui Ltd. because of its involvement in building settlements.
While the economic impact is still negligible, both Israel and Jewish groups have begun to push back, accusing the boycott advocates of trying to delegitimize the Jewish state. They also argue that plenty of companies with ties to states with poor human rights records, such as China, are not similarly targeted.
Let’s have that debate, about delegitimization and singling out Israel. Fair questions. And pro-divestment people have very good answers.
yes. awesome. i was so excited to read this in wapo yesterday.
How long before the owners and managers of the NY Times and NPR will allow that to be reported?
Eight years ago, at a march and protest that brought people together from Madison, Chicago, Iowa City and elsewhere, surrounded by riot police in full apparel and holding their rifles, Rachel’s parents stood in front of the Peoria Caterpillar headquarters and requested to speak to the CAT CEO. They were refused. Now I read CAT is refusing visits from the faith communities. They have thrown up their collective hands saying they so desire peace in the mideast but this is a political question and they have no part in its answer.
But when a dozer with MADE IN AMERICA shows up to push over somebody’s home it is no longer just political. It is now personal. Personal to the family who watch their home turned into rubble, personal in the feelings of anger and frustration it creates and personal to those of us who know that this is not how we want ourselves represented. CAT has a lot to do with that.
As I wrote in an earlier post, prior to Rachel’s death these machines were sold as construction equipment and did not require a license. People at CAT knew what the end use of these dozers was and people in the U.S. government knew what the end use of these dozers was. Take a look at the U.S. State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights…….Read how long the good nuns and others were trying to get CATs ear.
The march moves on.
Jeffrey Goldberg:
“She came too close to one and she was plowed under”
(book, pp. 300-1).
Phil, there is no use in ‘pushing back’ anymore for Israel and its defenders: they have a train coming toward them that’s already over the hill and picking up speed.
I’m sure the Israeli’s would love to start a lengthy debate about their being delegitimized — but hey, I have a train to catch.
This is the latest: the delegitimization-virus has reached Malta.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201206/20120628ATT47842/20120628ATT47842EN.pdf
http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Greens-want-ban-on-incorrect-labelling-of-West-Bank-products-20120523