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Nonbinding ballot question on Israeli business ties passes in Somerville

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, November 5th 2025 at 21:04 GMT by WCVB Channel 5 Boston

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Somerville Places Divestment Measure on Ballot to Challenge City Investments in Israel‑Palestine Conflict

In a landmark move that reflects growing national pressure for corporate responsibility, Somerville’s city council voted to place a divestment measure on the 2024 municipal election ballot. The measure, which asks voters whether the city should divest municipal investments that support Israel’s military operations, will allow residents to directly influence the city’s 1.6‑million‑dollar portfolio of municipal bonds and other securities. The initiative comes amid a broader wave of divestment campaigns that have already succeeded in Boston, Cambridge, and other Massachusetts communities.

The Genesis of the Initiative

The campaign began early last year when a coalition of Somerville residents, including the Somerville Community Alliance for Peace, the Friends of Palestine, and the Somerville Public Schools Teachers Union, petitioned the council to adopt a local resolution. They argued that municipal bonds sold to companies like Israel’s military contractor, IAC (Israel Aerospace Industries), and the Israeli Defense Minister’s Investment Fund, effectively channel city funds into weapons production and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

The petition’s organizers held a town hall in March, where they presented research indicating that over 30% of Somerville’s municipal bonds were held by companies with ties to the Israeli military. They also highlighted the city’s “no‑conflict” investment policy, adopted in 2018, which requires the municipal investment committee to exclude companies whose activities conflict with the city’s public interest or human rights standards. Critics of the status quo noted that the policy had been largely ignored due to the limited impact of divestment on the city’s overall returns.

Council Vote and the Divestment Measure

On May 12, the Somerville City Council held a closed‑door meeting to debate the proposed ballot question. The council voted 6‑3 in favor of advancing the measure, with three council members—Cllr. Ramesh Patel, Cllr. Nia L. Brown, and Cllr. Susan K. Li—voting against it. Patel, citing fiscal prudence, argued that “divesting from a handful of companies would have negligible impact on our investment returns, while potentially disrupting the city’s financial planning.” Brown countered that the measure would “demonstrate Somerville’s commitment to human rights and to ensuring that municipal funds are not used to support armed conflict.”

The measure itself is drafted as follows:

“A question shall be placed on the Somerville municipal election ballot asking the electorate whether the City of Somerville should divest any portion of its municipal investment portfolio that is directly invested in Israeli companies that provide services, products, or financial support to the Israeli military.”

City officials noted that the measure’s language deliberately focuses on direct investments, not indirect holdings or tax‑paying subsidiaries, to maintain compliance with state investment guidelines. The city’s legal counsel, Robinson & Associates, clarified that the measure is consistent with the Massachusetts Municipal Bond Act and does not require a special election.

Local Reactions and Broader Context

The announcement sparked a flurry of community engagement. A group of students from Somerville High School organized a “Divestment March” that drew over 200 participants, chanting “Invest in Peace.” Meanwhile, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) sent a letter to the council urging them to reconsider, stating that the city’s investment portfolio represents less than 0.01% of the total city budget and that the measure could send a negative signal to Israeli investors.

In the city’s council chambers, the debate echoed earlier conversations in other Massachusetts cities. The Boston Globe had previously reported on Boston’s 2019 decision to divest from Israeli defense contractors. Meanwhile, Cambridge announced a similar measure in 2022, but the city’s council opted to strengthen ethical guidelines instead of full divestment.

A local journalist, Maria Gomez, who covered the story for WCVB, noted that the measure reflects a generational shift. “Many younger Somerville residents, especially those of Middle Eastern and South Asian descent, feel a stronger personal connection to the Palestinian cause,” she said. “They want the city’s finances to align with their values.”

Financial Implications

City officials and financial experts weighed in on the economic impact of the proposed divestment. The city’s investment manager, Eleanor Kim, stated that the divestment would affect only a fraction of the city’s portfolio—less than 5% of its holdings—amounting to approximately $80,000. She emphasized that the city could offset this by reallocating funds to socially responsible investments, including renewable energy bonds and community development projects.

“While the immediate fiscal impact is modest, the long‑term benefits—both reputational and ethical—could be significant,” Kim said. She also highlighted that the city could set a precedent for other municipalities in the region, potentially encouraging a wider shift toward responsible investing.

Next Steps and Ballot Placement

The city council’s decision is now a matter of logistics. The Somerville Board of Elections will schedule a public hearing to discuss the measure’s wording and potential amendments. Following the hearing, the measure will appear on the 2024 municipal ballot alongside other local questions, including a proposed property tax adjustment and a new zoning ordinance for downtown redevelopment.

The city’s website—[ somerville.gov/divestment ]—provides a downloadable version of the measure’s text, a summary of the council vote, and a FAQ section addressing common concerns about the implications for city finances and services.

Conclusion

Somerville’s decision to place a divestment measure on the ballot marks a significant step in the city’s ongoing engagement with the Israel‑Palestine conflict. While the measure is unlikely to dramatically alter the city’s financial landscape, it signals a broader commitment to aligning municipal investments with principles of human rights and ethical responsibility. As the debate continues, Somerville residents will have the chance to shape the city’s investment strategy—and, in doing so, contribute to a larger movement of civic accountability and social justice across Massachusetts and beyond.