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U.K.: Israeli bulldozer boycott denounced

LONDON, Feb. 17 (UPI) -- Britain's chief rabbi condemned the Church of England Friday for withdrawing investment in a company that profits from the destruction of Palestinian homes.

Sir Johnathan Sacks delivered a scathing attack against General Synod's decision last week to disinvest in Caterpillar, a U.S. company that manufactures bulldozers used by the Israeli army in demolitions of Palestinian homes.

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Writing in the Jewish Chronicle newspaper, he said the vote was "ill-judged" and "inappropriate."

"For years, I have called on religious groups in Britain to send a message of friendship and co-existence to conflict zones throughout the world, instead of importing those conflicts into Britain itself," Sacks wrote. "The effect of the Synod vote will be the opposite. The Church has chosen to take a stand on the politics of the Middle East over which it has no influence, knowing that it will have the most adverse repercussions on a situation over which it has enormous influence, namely Jewish-Christian relations in Britain."

The policy, he continues, will "reduce the Church's ability to act as a force for peace between Israel and the Palestinians."

The Church could have chosen to invest in the Palestinian economy rather than penalizing Israel, he suggested.

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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, who supported the motion, wrote to Sacks late last week in an attempt to defuse the row.

He said the Synod had not intended to create a policy of disinvestment in companies profiting from the Israeli occupation, but merely to express "disquiet." He added: "It is unfortunate that this has arisen at a time when anti-Semitism is a growing menace and when the state of Israel faces challenges."

Under international law, Israel is forbidden to destroy Palestinian property unless for strictly military purposes. It has been repeatedly rebuked by the United Nations for conducting demolitions in violation of the law.

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