National Desk
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

NORTHEAST
CITY CONSIDERS RESOLUTION URGING DIVESTMENT FROM ISRAEL BONDS
The Massachusetts city of Somerville is to consider a resolution tonight urging residents to divest from Israel Bonds and American companies that do business in Israel, including Caterpillar, General Electric, and United Technologies.
According to allegations in the resolution before the Board of Aldermen, Israeli actions in the West Bank and Gaza violate the Fourth Geneva Convention on Rules of War by blocking humanitarian aid, engaging in collective punishment, and using excessive force on protesters. The resolution also criticizes Israel for detaining individuals without charge and ill-treating prisoners.
Several city aldermen were prepared to vote on the resolution last Thursday but were persuaded by some of their colleagues to give the resolution time before voting on it so residents could have their say. Alderman Bill White told The New York Sun that said the city itself had no investments in the companies mentioned in the resolution, although the city government’s pension funds might – “but we have no control over them …This is purely a symbolic resolution,” he said.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church recently called for the economic isolation of Israel, and delegates voted to start a process that could lead the church to divest itself from Israel and American companies that work with the Israeli military. The church’s action led to uproar from Jewish leaders, and B’nai B’rith described the decision as “hostile and aggressive.” Palestinian groups are also pushing a divestment campaign on American university campuses.
According to the resolution in Somerville, General Electric produces spare parts for Apache helicopters that are “used in illegal attacks involving civilian populations.” Boeing, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Lockheed Martin are also listed as investments that residents should avoid.
– Special to the Sun
HAWAII
GULF WAR VETERAN SUES ARMY OVER NEW CALL-UP HONOLULU – A veteran of the first Persian Gulf War is suing the Army after it ordered him to report for duty 13 years after he was honorably discharged from active duty and eight years after he left the reserves.
Kauai resident David Miyasato received word of his reactivation in September but says he believes he completed his eight-year obligation to the Army long ago.
“I was shocked,” Mr. Miyasato said. “I never expected to see something like that after being out of the service for 13 years.”
His federal lawsuit, filed Friday in Honolulu, seeks a judgment declaring that he has fulfilled his military obligations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Harry Yee said his office would defend the Army. He declined to comment further. An Army spokeswoman at the Pentagon declined to comment to the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
Mr. Miyasato, 34, was scheduled to report to a military facility in South Carolina tomorrow. Within hours of filing the lawsuit, however, Mr. Miyasato received a faxed letter from the Army’s Human Resources Command saying his “exemption from active duty had not been finalized at this time” and that he has been given an administrative delay for up to 30 days, said his attorney, Eric Seitz.
– Associated Press
MIDWEST
WISCONSIN CITY ALLOWS TEACHING CREATIONISM
GRANTSBURG, Wis. – The city’s school board has revised its science curriculum to allow the teaching of creationism, prompting an outcry from more than 300 educators who urged that the decision be reversed.
School board members believed that a state law governing the teaching of evolution was too restrictive. The science curriculum “should not be totally inclusive of just one scientific theory,” said Joni Burgin, superintendent of the district of 1,000 students in northwest Wisconsin.
Last month, when the board examined its science curriculum, language was added calling for “various models/theories” of origin to be incorporated.
The decision provoked more than 300 biology and religious studies faculty members to write a letter last week urging the Grantsburg board to reverse the policy. It follows a letter sent previously by 43 deans at Wisconsin public universities.
Wisconsin law mandates that evolution be taught, but school districts are free to create their own curricular standards, said Joe Donovan, a spokesman for the state Department of Public Instruction.
– Associated Press