New York City to Fund Israel's War Effort Despite Human Rights Concerns
In a move that has left human rights advocates stunned, New York City Comptroller-elect Mark Levine has announced plans to reinvest in Israeli sovereign debt bonds. This decision comes despite growing public opposition and warnings from organizations such as DAWN (Dawn of the Black and Gold), which have expressed concerns about the financial risks and moral implications of holding such investments.
The comptroller's pledge to buy war bonds was met with dismay by Zohran Mamdani, a longtime critic of Israel who has called for the city to divest from Israeli sovereign debt. "You appear to be asking that the City’s pension funds treat Israel better than all other countries," Mamdani said in an interview earlier this month.
The decision by Levine comes as a reversal of the stance taken by his predecessor, Brad Lander, who allowed the city's investments in Israeli bonds to lapse. Lander had cited concerns about treating Israel differently from other nations and fulfilling fiduciary duty.
Critics argue that the comptroller's move will only perpetuate the use of taxpayer money to finance what many describe as a genocidal campaign in Gaza and an ongoing displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at DAWN, stated, "New York is using taxpayer money to finance a military the entire world has watched commit war crimes."
Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, director for Israel and Palestine at DAWN, added that "where you put your money — that means something." He noted that public opinion on Israel's policies has shifted significantly in recent years, with support for Palestinians growing and disapproval of Israel's actions reaching an all-time high.
As the debate over Levine's plan continues to unfold, concerns are being raised about the comptroller's intentions. Critics point out that his decision will likely benefit a government responsible for numerous human rights abuses, potentially undermining the moral authority of New York City as a global leader in promoting democracy and human rights.
The standoff between Mamdani and Levine highlights the ongoing tension within New York City over its stance on Israel. The city has long been a vocal supporter of Israel, but there is growing sentiment among elected officials and residents to reevaluate this relationship.
In a move that has left human rights advocates stunned, New York City Comptroller-elect Mark Levine has announced plans to reinvest in Israeli sovereign debt bonds. This decision comes despite growing public opposition and warnings from organizations such as DAWN (Dawn of the Black and Gold), which have expressed concerns about the financial risks and moral implications of holding such investments.
The comptroller's pledge to buy war bonds was met with dismay by Zohran Mamdani, a longtime critic of Israel who has called for the city to divest from Israeli sovereign debt. "You appear to be asking that the City’s pension funds treat Israel better than all other countries," Mamdani said in an interview earlier this month.
The decision by Levine comes as a reversal of the stance taken by his predecessor, Brad Lander, who allowed the city's investments in Israeli bonds to lapse. Lander had cited concerns about treating Israel differently from other nations and fulfilling fiduciary duty.
Critics argue that the comptroller's move will only perpetuate the use of taxpayer money to finance what many describe as a genocidal campaign in Gaza and an ongoing displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at DAWN, stated, "New York is using taxpayer money to finance a military the entire world has watched commit war crimes."
Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, director for Israel and Palestine at DAWN, added that "where you put your money — that means something." He noted that public opinion on Israel's policies has shifted significantly in recent years, with support for Palestinians growing and disapproval of Israel's actions reaching an all-time high.
As the debate over Levine's plan continues to unfold, concerns are being raised about the comptroller's intentions. Critics point out that his decision will likely benefit a government responsible for numerous human rights abuses, potentially undermining the moral authority of New York City as a global leader in promoting democracy and human rights.
The standoff between Mamdani and Levine highlights the ongoing tension within New York City over its stance on Israel. The city has long been a vocal supporter of Israel, but there is growing sentiment among elected officials and residents to reevaluate this relationship.
. I mean, what's the big deal? It's just a few billion bucks for a country that's being super reasonable about its conflicts. Human rights concerns are overrated, and I think it's awesome that NY Comptroller-elect Mark Levine is taking a stand against those armchair activists who always know better 
. I'm not buying into the whole "taxpayer money" thing either - if someone wants to invest in Israel, they should be able to do so without feeling guilty about it 
. And let's be real, what's the harm in supporting a country that's just trying to protect itself from all those pesky terrorists? It's not like NY City is going to get its hands dirty or anything 
.
how can NYC do this?! it's like they're ignoring all the human rights concerns and just going straight into supporting Israel without even thinking about the consequences... i mean, isn't that what being a global leader is supposed to be? 
promoting democracy and human rights not funding war efforts?! 
we're supposed to be promoting democracy and human rights, not financing a gov't accused of war crimes 
and it's so disappointing that others are gonna just roll over on this one 
. Public opinion on Israel's policies has shifted, but it looks like some folks are still caught up in a cycle of support that's not serving anyone 
. Can't they just take a step back and consider the bigger picture? 
. It feels like they're going to be supporting Israel's actions in Gaza and it's just heartbreaking 
. I know we can't control everything, but as a city that's supposed to stand up for human rights, it's hard to see them investing in something that could be seen as perpetuating harm. I'm trying not to think about the families who are living through this suffering... 