Churches’ divesting funds for Israeli businesses will hurt Palestinians
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Version 0 of 1. You report that US churches intend joining the United Church of Christ in divesting funds for Israeli businesses “in protest at treatment of Palestinians” (theguardian.com, 1 July). It seems to me that this exercise in self-delusion would be comical if it weren’t so serious. The whole debacle is based on entirely erroneous beliefs. Just as in the recent case of SodaStream, when all its 600 Palestinian workers were laid off, the livelihoods of thousands of Palestinian workers would be put at risk. Indeed those very “fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel” that the churches bray about will be destroyed willy-nilly. Fourteen business owners in Israel sent a letter to the Israeli parliament, in which they point out that: “In dozens of factories in Judea-Samaria, there are more than 20,000 Palestinian workers who make a living with dignity.” Those Palestinians work for higher wages than any in the Palestinian Authority areas. They are “the engine powering the Palestinian economy”. Do the churches not understand that those workers are likely to be sacked because of the churches’ ill-considered divestment policy? In what way would that “help” the Palestinians? It is time for well-meaning, but deluded, churches to do some serious, relevant research.Flora SelwynSt Andrews, Fife Gaza needs rebuilding, but its people also need to be able to move and trade, and to have jobs in a functioning economy • One year ago, the conflict in Gaza erupted and would go on to claim more than 2,000 lives and completely destroy 12,600 homes (Letters, 8 July). Not one of those homes has been rebuilt, and at current rates the reconstruction will take more than 70 years. An entire generation of young people faces an increasingly bleak future. Gaza has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world, with two-thirds of young working-age people out of work. The economy has collapsed as a result of a blockade, which restricts people and goods from leaving and essential construction material from entering. With little hope of finding a job and starting a family, growing numbers of young people are risking their lives attempting to leave Gaza. Gaza needs urgent rebuilding, but its people also need to be able to move and trade, and to have jobs in a functioning economy, which will not come about without an end to the blockade.Penny LawrenceDeputy chief executive, Oxfam GB • One can be a critic of the Netanyahu government but still be appalled by the one-sided attack on Israel by your letter writers. They write of Israel’s assault on Gaza but omit that this was in response to Hamas rocket attacks on Israel. They refer to findings that Israel committed war crimes in Gaza but omit to mention that Hamas was similarly charged. Today the greatest threat in the Middle East is Islamic State, which threatens not only Israel but also its allies Jordan and Egypt. It is all too possible that in the near future Israel will be called upon to defend not only itself but its allies from the aggression of Isis, and the policy advocated by your correspondents – for the UK to stop arming Israel – can only aid Isis.PM MillerLondon |