For Palestinian residents of Beit Sahour, living in church-owned houses, the return of the Israeli trucks signals the beginning of more trouble and further house demolitions, it is feared.

The decision by the Church of England to disinvest from Caterpillar has been welcomed by the charity War on Want. Institutional investors are now being urged to follow the Church's lead.

The Church of England announced yesterday it had withdrawn its investments in a controversial company as theologians and priests intended to publish a letter denouncing the Church's investment.

United Methodists from Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States will gather this week and consider corporate divestment from companies profiting from the occupation of Palestine

The United Methodist General Board of Church and Society in the US will unveil proposals to divest holdings in Caterpillar Inc tomorrow (Friday). The 7.9 million member United Methodist Church's pension agency reportedly has $5 million in Caterpillar shares out of $15 billion in assets.

The chief of the United Methodist Church's public affairs unit in the US will meet today with Jim Owens, President and CEO of Caterpillar in order to convey his opposition to Caterpillar's equipment sales to Israel.

Parishes are being urged to withdraw their money from the Church of England after a decision to continue its current investment in US company Caterpillar inc.

In a move that will be seen by campaigners as a snub to the Church of England's 'Parliament', the Churchís Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG) has said it will not recommend disinvestment from the controversial US company Caterpillar

Christian peace campaigners are this morning welcoming the vote last night by the Church of England's general synod - including the Archbishop of Canterbury - to disinvest church funds from companies profiting from Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.