Sep 8, 2010

#BDS: CARE Board Member Takes Leave of Absence over Employer’s Support for Israeli Settlements


A member of the board of directors of the leading international

humanitarian aid organization CARE USA has taken a voluntary

leave of absence from CARE's board due to the involvement of his

employer, Africa Israel, in Israeli settlement activities. The move

last week came after a July 12 letter to the Atlanta-based non-profit

by the rights group Adalah-NY: The New York Campaign for the Boycott

of Israel that outlined Africa Israel's settlement ties, followed by letters

from Jews Say No, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and CODEPINK, and

meetings and discussions between representatives from CARE and

Adalah-NY and JVP.

Riham Barghouti from Adalah-NY explained, "We thank CARE USA for

acting swiftly to appropriately address this issue once it was brought

to their attention. Representatives from CARE USA told us that they

have approved the Board member's request for an indefinite leave of

absence while he remains in any way affiliated with Africa Israel. While

on leave, we have been assured that the member in question will not

attend or vote at Board meetings, receive Board information, or play any

other role on the CARE USA Board."

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