Pro-Israel Christians demonstrate outside the headquarters of Dutch pension giant PGGM, to protest the pension company's recent decision to divest from Israeli banks. Photo: Christians for Israel.

JNS.org – Hundreds of Dutch Christian activists demonstrated outside the headquarters of Dutch pension giant PGGM, to protest the pension company’s recent decision to divest from Israeli banks.

The protesters, members of the pro-Israel group Christians for Israel, held up Israeli flags and banners saying “Stop the Boycott of Israel.”

“We are against a boycott of Israel and want the decision to stop PGGM invests in five Israeli banks is reversed,” Christians for Israel Director Roger Oordt said.

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The pro-Israel group was joined by Binyomin Jacobs, chief rabbi of Holland, who denounced the divestment as singling out Israel.

PGGM, which manages more than 153 billion Euros in funds and has more than 100 million Euros invested in Israel, said that its decision was based on its concern over “involvement in financing Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories.”

PGGM became the latest Dutch company to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. Last month, the Dutch water company Vitens broke off relations with the Israeli water company Mekorot because of Israel’s policies.

Last week, Israel summoned the Dutch ambassador in Israel to explain the recent moves. Dutch Ambassador Caspar Veldkamp said PGGM’s decision “is unacceptable and relies on false pretense,” according to a statement by the Israeli foreign ministry.