Friends Of Israel: Your Help is Needed!
PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY!
What is I-97?
Don’t Hold Seattle City Pensions Hostage to Foreign Policy Agendas
A group of activists is trying to get signatures Initiative 97 on the basis of understandable outrage about the Iraq War. But I-97 is about so much more:
I-97 would:
* Prohibit Seattle from investing city retirement funds in corporations that support Israeli government activities in the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights or East Jerusalem or do business in Israeli settlements in the territories;
* Prohibit such investment in corporations that directly profit from the U.S. occupation of Iraq;
* Require withdrawal of retirement funds from Israeli government bonds should Israel attack Iran.
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The Stakes: A Bad Precedent and a Destructive Measure
We are opposed to I-97 because:
* While proponents emphasize the Iraq occupation, the measure’s major thrust is focused squarely on Israel, affecting almost any company that does business in that country.
* It puts Seattle city government in the position of defining and enforcing international law and determining what companies “materially support Israeli government activities” in the territories. For example, does it require divestment from Boeing, Microsoft and PACCAR if they sell products to the Israeli government?
* It puts one of America’s major (and most tolerant) cities on record as opposing Israeli government policy, including its defense operations.
* Whether it is passed or not, it provokes a divisive and negative debate about foreign policy in the Middle East and Seattle’s stance on it.
I-97 is a dishonest measure, using our City’s pension funds in an attempt to manipulate our country’s international relations.
You can read the full text of Initiative 97 here.
Please say No on I-97 by clicking here.
What is I-97?
Don’t Hold Seattle City Pensions Hostage to Foreign Policy Agendas
A group of activists is trying to get signatures Initiative 97 on the basis of understandable outrage about the Iraq War. But I-97 is about so much more:
I-97 would:
* Prohibit Seattle from investing city retirement funds in corporations that support Israeli government activities in the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights or East Jerusalem or do business in Israeli settlements in the territories;
* Prohibit such investment in corporations that directly profit from the U.S. occupation of Iraq;
* Require withdrawal of retirement funds from Israeli government bonds should Israel attack Iran.
~~~~~~~~
The Stakes: A Bad Precedent and a Destructive Measure
We are opposed to I-97 because:
* While proponents emphasize the Iraq occupation, the measure’s major thrust is focused squarely on Israel, affecting almost any company that does business in that country.
* It puts Seattle city government in the position of defining and enforcing international law and determining what companies “materially support Israeli government activities” in the territories. For example, does it require divestment from Boeing, Microsoft and PACCAR if they sell products to the Israeli government?
* It puts one of America’s major (and most tolerant) cities on record as opposing Israeli government policy, including its defense operations.
* Whether it is passed or not, it provokes a divisive and negative debate about foreign policy in the Middle East and Seattle’s stance on it.
I-97 is a dishonest measure, using our City’s pension funds in an attempt to manipulate our country’s international relations.
You can read the full text of Initiative 97 here.
Please say No on I-97 by clicking here.
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