Israel: Historic "Divestment Resolution Passed" at University of Michigan student government, in Dearborn

Interesting development at the University of Michigan. Its student government has passed a resolution calling for a committee to be set up to investigate divesting from corporations that operate in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The resolution is very well written.

Ed Corrigan

Divestment Resolution Passed

On the Web at: http://info.umdunderground.org/

University of Michigan - Dearborn Student Government

General Assembly Resolution # 2010-003

Whereas, this wise body has been known to be one of strong moral and social
conscience and has in the past supported justice and international law, and

Whereas, U.N General Assembly Resolution 194 resolves that the Holy Places -
including Nazareth - religious buildings and sites in Palestine should be
protected and free access to them assured, in accordance with existing
rights and historical practice, and

Whereas, U.N. General Assembly Resolution 194 further resolves that all
refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their
neighbors should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and
that compensation should be provided for the destroyed properties of those
choosing not to return and for loss of, or damage to property that under
principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the
Governments or authorities responsible, and

Whereas, the aforementioned situations prove that Israel clearly and
inexcusably is in continued violation of U.N. General Assembly Resolution
194, and

Whereas, Israel is further in violation of many related U.N. resolutions,
including Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, and 446, and

Whereas, Israel is further in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention,
which calls on all occupying powers to protect the rights and well-being of
the occupied population, and

Whereas, the U.N.’s own assessment, the Goldstone Report, found evidence of
potential war crimes and crimes against humanity, and

Whereas, University of Michigan Regent policy, as expressed in their meeting
of March 16, 1978, states:

“If the Regents shall determine that a particular issue involves serious
moral or ethical questions which are of concern to many members of the
University community, an advisory committee consisting of members of the
University Senate, students, administration and alumni will be appointed to
gather information and formulate recommendations for the Regents’
consideration.”; and

Whereas, there are serious moral and ethical questions concerning the
conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and

Whereas, the University is known to have several million dollars of
investment in corporations that sell weapons, goods, and services to
Israel—including BAE, Raytheon, Boeing, General Electric, United
Technologies, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman, among
others–whom in turn uses the weapons, goods, and services inhumanely and

Whereas, any University investments in entities contributing to human rights
violations by either Israelis or Palestinians is inappropriate,

THEREFORE be it Resolved, (1) that the University of Michigan-Dearborn
Student Government will lead a movement to collect petition signatures
calling on the Board of Regents to form such an advisory committee, and

Be it further Resolved, (2) that the University of Michigan-Dearborn Student
Government calls on the Board of Regents to create an advisory committee to
determine if any University investments are questionable and in need of
appropriate corrective actions, and

Be it further Resolved, (3) that on behalf of the students at the University
of Michigan-Dearborn, we will urge this committee to recommend immediate
divestment from companies that are directly involved in the ongoing illegal
occupation, because we deem these investments to be profoundly unethical and
in direct conflict with the mission of this University