Was Harvard's Decision to Divest Its Israel Investments Politically-Based?
SodaHead News
2010/08/16 20:00:00
|
|
|||||
|
47 votes
|
|
60% | |||
|
13 votes
|
|
17% | |||
|
18 votes
|
|
23% | |||
Was this a political move or purely an economical one?
That is the question that has surfaced this weekend with the news that Harvard divested itself of holdings in Israel, according to the Globes, a business website that covers Israel. The Harvard Management Company, which manages the university's endowment, notified the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday that it had sold all its holdings in Israeli companies during the second quarter of 2010.
Groups opposed to Israel's "occupation" of the Palestinian territories have long advocated, along with boycotts, disinvestment of Israel companies to put press on the government.
“We welcome Harvard’s decision, and encourage all academic institutions in the U.S. and elsewhere to follow its lead, to invest in socially responsible investments, and divest from Israeli war crimes,” Hind Awwad, Coordinator of the BDS National Committee in Palestine told The Media Line. “After Israel’s war of aggression on Gaza in 2008/2009, and its recent attack on the Freedom Flotilla, the Global BDS campaign has gained great momentum.”
But maybe, according to others, the selling of its Israel holdings has a simpler, banal reason: it makes good economic sense.
"This is pure economics and I don’t think it was because of the Arab boycott,” Dr. Gil Feiler, founder of Info-Prod Research and director of the Middle East Business and Economic Research Institute at Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya told The Media Line. “They didn’t eliminate their investments in Israeli stocks. They still have tens of millions of dollars invested, and if you are going to boycott Israel you sell all your stocks.”
Was Harvard's Decision to Divest Its Israel Investments Politically-Based?
That is the question that has surfaced this weekend with the news that Harvard divested itself of holdings in Israel, according to the Globes, a business website that covers Israel. The Harvard Management Company, which manages the university's endowment, notified the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday that it had sold all its holdings in Israeli companies during the second quarter of 2010.
Groups opposed to Israel's "occupation" of the Palestinian territories have long advocated, along with boycotts, disinvestment of Israel companies to put press on the government.
“We welcome Harvard’s decision, and encourage all academic institutions in the U.S. and elsewhere to follow its lead, to invest in socially responsible investments, and divest from Israeli war crimes,” Hind Awwad, Coordinator of the BDS National Committee in Palestine told The Media Line. “After Israel’s war of aggression on Gaza in 2008/2009, and its recent attack on the Freedom Flotilla, the Global BDS campaign has gained great momentum.”
But maybe, according to others, the selling of its Israel holdings has a simpler, banal reason: it makes good economic sense.
"This is pure economics and I don’t think it was because of the Arab boycott,” Dr. Gil Feiler, founder of Info-Prod Research and director of the Middle East Business and Economic Research Institute at Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya told The Media Line. “They didn’t eliminate their investments in Israeli stocks. They still have tens of millions of dollars invested, and if you are going to boycott Israel you sell all your stocks.”
Was Harvard's Decision to Divest Its Israel Investments Politically-Based?
Read More: http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/docview.asp...
Top Opinion
-
Red Branch 2010/08/16 21:21:42Yes, Harvard clearly doesn't support Israel
+8Why would Harvard or the bulk of the rest of the universitite support Israel? They don't even support the USA.
If you guys on the right say it was just economics next week, the same people this week attacking you for saying it was political will attack you for saying it... their opinions are based on being the opposite of what you think, nothing more nothing less.
I sincerely hope the J D L announces a Boycott of Harvard ! ! !
I think that covers it. Move along, people.
This reminds me of the year the talking heads at Faux News were raging about the 'war on Christmas' while their golden boy, GW Bush, sent out cards saying 'Happy Holidays'.
This isn't even a story.
Just say NO to colonialism/Zionism. PS gawd is imaginary, so he won't be rewarding those who support douchebags.
I am sure that you would be much happier in the University of the Sudan or University of Saudia Arabia.
It is very telling when you don't say no to jihad or a world dominated by Islam.
Ah.....you'll be a Student in England NOT a Citizen!
Communism is far left while Sharia is far, far right.
The Saudis have more money than the Commies. Guess who'll win?
I know the Church will be raptured, I just sincerely hope it is long before sharia law takes over America.
Another reason is that we, the world benefit so much from that tiny nation in terms of agriculture, science, medicine and technology.
http://llphfreedom.blogspot.c...
After all, when it comes to the realm of international business, reputation - and who you associate yourself with - is everything.