Tuesday, March 7, 2006
The Ethical Investment Advisory Group [EIAG] voted unanimously on March 7 not to divest from Caterpillar, and said it would review the issue "if there are new sales of Caterpillar equipment to the Israeli Defense Forces for use in the demolition of Palestinian houses".
The recommendation repudiates a February 6 vote by the General Synod, the Church's parliament, to divest from Caterpillar and other companies whose products are used by the Israeli government in the territories. The vote sparked widespread opprobrium from Jewish and Christian leaders led by the Chief Rabbi of Britain, Jonathan Sacks, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, who denounced the divestment vote as feckless and ill-considered...
So they'll still consider it if Cat sells anything new to Israel? Sounds like a dodge.
They haven't said they'll review the issue if new equipment's sold; they've said they'll reconsider if new equipment _for the demolition of Palestinian houses_ is sold. No equipment is sold expressly for that purpose, so if they were to stick to the letter of what they've said, that'd mean no review ever.
Of course, there's no particular reason to expect that they will stick to the letter of what they've said.