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An alternative to Israeli divestment

Claude S. Fischer
Monday October 07, 2002

To the Editor: 

 

The UC professors who wrote in (Forum, Oct. 3) to defend the divest-from-Israel campaign display a shocking level of illogic. They say “Israel receives billions of dollars each year [in government aid] from the United States,” so “this is why our call for economic divestment is entirely appropriate.” 

Huh? The logical conclusion from the first point is to attack the foreign aid program, not UC investments in companies that do business in Israel. And, even that wouldn’t answer the charge, because the U.S. gives aid to many countries, including Arab ones, that are as or more guilty of abuses than Israel. The question remains: Why are they singling out Israel for divestment? 

 

Claude S. Fischer 

Berkeley