The University of California’s Policy Makes No Sense – Jewish Voice for Peace
Published by Jewish Voice for Peace, May 11, 2010
Jewish Voice for Peace is puzzled by University of California President Mark Yudof’s statement on the recent divestment efforts at UC Berkeley and UC San Diego.
President Yudof has either not read the text of the bills or is choosing to misinterpret them, as neither bill called on “divestment from companies that are doing business with Israel.” Rather, the bills called for divestment from companies that,
President Yudof further states that the UC Regents will only “divest from a foreign government or companies doing business with a foreign government only when the United States government declares that a foreign regime is committing acts of genocide.”
First, because we believe divestment should not wait until a situation has reached the point of genocide.
Second, because the very reason that divesting from the Israeli occupation is so urgent is because the United States government has failed so far to pressure Israel to end its occupation and bring its action in accordance to international human rights standards.
If one were to follow Mr. Yudof’s standard, the University of California would not have been able to divest from Nazi Germany before the outbreak of Second World War. This makes no sense.
For further reading:
The Yudof Doctrine: No divestment from Israel until genocide