New York, NY, February 8, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called the Church of England's decision to disinvest in certain companies doing business with Israel "a moral outrage," especially in light of the recent election victory of Hamas, a terrorist organization that calls for Israel's destruction.

On February 6, the Anglican Church's General Synod overwhelmingly voted to divest from companies whose products are used by Israel in the Palestinian territories.  The Synod backed a call by the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem to divest from "companies profiting from the illegal occupation," such as Caterpillar, which makes the bulldozers that Israel is using to build the West Bank security fence.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, and Rabbi Gary Bretton-Granatoor, ADL Director of Interfaith Affairs issued the following statement:

It is a sad day for the Church of England.  At a time when Israel's existence is once again under threat with the victory of the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in parliamentary elections, it is a moral outrage that the Church of England under current Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams would vote for divestment.

As we have said in the past, divestment is unfair and counterproductive, a failed one-sided strategy pursued by those with an agenda against Israel.  By focusing on companies that they claim aid Israel in oppressing Palestinians, the Anglican Church distorts historical facts and impugns the intentions of the State of Israel, whose ultimate goal is to protect and defend its citizens from terrorism.

At a time when Palestinians have voted overwhelmingly in favor of governance by Hamas, a violent terrorist organization whose goal is the destruction of Israel, it is morally reprehensible for the Anglican Church Synod to single out Israel for criticism while failing to condemn Palestinian terrorism.

After the vote, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey said he was "ashamed to be an Anglican. Carey called the decision "a most regrettable and one-sided statement" that "ignores the trauma of ordinary Jewish people" in Israel subjected to terrorist attacks."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.