United Methodists divest from Caterpillar to punish Israel
Representing United Methodism’s far-left New England Conference, Susanne Hoder joined with Sprecher in alleging to the audience of delegates that their church’s investments with Caterpillar help “sustain the occupation.” She alleged that the church is “deriving income from the persecution of Christians,” because a small minority of Palestinians is Christian. “We need to stand with Jews who stand against oppression,” she insisted, citing a very small number of Jewish groups that support divestment aimed against Israel. “This is a legitimate American response to injustice,” Hoder claimed, warning against “powerful Israeli lobby groups.” She also asserted that “money goes into the pockets of Israeli leaders” and that U.S. support for Israel fuels “income disparity” among Israelis, whose “wealthiest people are associated with the military.”