Talking Points on the UC Berkeley Student Government Divestment Resolution
- Divesting from corporations profiting from Israeli
occupation and apartheid practices is not anti-Israel. Divestment from these corporations is one
way to push for more sustainable Israeli policies that will benefit
everyone in the long-run.As the
Obama administration is currently learning, sometimes being a friend to Israel means tough love.
- The ASUC have already voted overwhelmingly to support
SB 118, please remember your motivation for the original vote and don’t be
bullied by political interest groups.
- United Technologies and General Electric provide
military equipment that Israel
uses in gross patterns of human rights abuses and violations of
international law. These violations
have been documented by the United Nations and numerous reputable human
rights organizations.
- While the ASUC and the University Board of Regents cannot
adjudicate international law, they can use responsible investment to
preclude complicity in violations like war crimes, collective punishment
of civilians, and illegal settlement activities.
- Socially responsible investment is an important tool
for nonviolent conflict resolution and community development– divesting
from war profiteers and reinvesting in communities in California is an important way for the
UC to improve local life and be a leader in improving our global community.
- United Technologies and General Electric's military equipment isn't just used by Israel; it's used to bring death and destruction around the world and the UC shouldn't be profiting from these products no matter where they are used.