Cambridge City Council narrowly votes to divest from Israel

Another Massachusetts community is showing its opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza as Cambridge City Council passed a proposal to divest its money from the country.

Wednesday night’s 5-4 vote means the city will pull public investments from companies they believe are “complicit” with Israel’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.

“You show your values through these sorts of votes. And once those values are expressed and shaped, they do take shape, they do become influential,” said Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, the executive director of CAIR Massachusetts.

Cambridge’s action will impact funds and pensions the city invests in. The councilors voted down a boycott bill, so city contracts will not be effected at all.

“Our retirement funds should not be invested in companies that profit off of killing people,” said Cambridge City Councilor Ayah Al-Zubi, who voted to divest.

She said the move does not have anything to do with if the companies are run by Jewish people or feelings towards the Jewish community.

“In no way is it addressing the people. It’s addressing the actions of complicit companies and the state of Israel,” she explained.

But critics argue the action makes Jewish residents feel unsafe and unwelcome in Cambridge. The Anti-Defamation League points to recent antisemitic incidents in the community.

“When we see city councils debating these kinds of anti-Israel measures, it totally correlates to a bad climate for Jews and Israelis in the community,” says Samantha Joesph, the regional director of ADL New England.

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City Councilor Patricia Nolan, who is not Jewish, voted against the measure. She told NBC10 Boston she had a petition with thousands of signatures asking her to oppose the action.

“I think this sends the message to Israelis and Jews that you’re not welcome here, that we are standing up, we’re singling out just one country of all the places in the world,” Nolan argued.

Others wonder how a local municipality’s actions really impact foreign policy. But Cambridge is not alone in making this move — Medford, Northampton and Easthampton in Massachusetts have passed similar proposals, and Somerville is scheduled to discuss it.

Some consider these actions illegal and are opposing them in court. Joseph said city solicitors have spoken up about it: “These ordinances are against state procurement laws and state laws that forbid any municipality from discriminating against a group based on their national origin.”