Divest from Israeli Apartheid - The University of Toronto & York University

Whereas on March 7th, 2011, Students Against Israeli Apartheid at the University of Toronto and York University published divestment reports entitled Holding the University of Toronto Accountable and Holding York University Accountable, respectively;

Whereas BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Hewlett Packard and Lockheed Martin provide military and/or information technologies that contribute in specific ways to violations of international law by the Israeli state;

Whereas the investments of the University of Toronto and York University in these four companies makes them complicit in the commission of crimes under international law;

Whereas the University of Toronto and York University also violate their own stated commitments to values of human rights and social justice by investing in these four companies;

Whereas all people and organizations, including the University of Toronto and York University, are bound by the principles of international law; and

Whereas public universities, including the University of Toronto and York University, have a special responsibility to work with students, faculty, and staff to undergo a democratic and transparent process to ensure accountability to principles of social and environmental justice;

Therefore we, the undersigned, demand that:

(1) The University of Toronto and York University divest from and refuse to reinvest in BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman, Hewlett Packard and Lockheed Martin;

(2) The University of Toronto and York University refrain from investing in all companies involved in violations of international law. With respect to Palestine, this entails following the guidelines put forth by Students for Justice in Palestine in the historic divestment by Hampshire College:

The University of Toronto and York University should refrain from investing in companies that:

a) Provide products or services that contribute to the maintenance of the Israeli military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as the Syrian Golan Heights;

b) Provide products or services that contribute to the maintenance and expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories;

c) Establish facilities or operations in Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories;

d) Provide products or services that contribute to the maintenance and construction of the Wall;

e) Provide products or services that contribute to violent acts that target either Israeli or Palestinian civilians.