NYC Mayor Bans Israel Divestment, Cites 'Antisemitism'
Mayor Adams's move, just weeks before a new progressive council member takes office, effectively uses 'antisemitism' as a cudgel to shield Israeli government policies from financial protest. This isn't groundbreaking: similar tactics have been employed nationwide, often fueled by groups like AIPAC. According to OpenSecrets.org, pro-Israel lobbying groups spent over $19 million in 2022, influencing
politicians to conflate criticism of the Israeli government with anti-Jewish sentiment, thereby silencing dissent and protecting specific foreign policy interests. Such executive orders conveniently forget a robust American tradition of divestment—from apartheid South Africa to fossil fuels—as a bedrock of ethical protest. One might wonder if the real 'threat' isn't antisemitism, but rather New
Yorkers' inconvenient habit of demanding moral consistency from their investments. It appears some definitions of 'freedom' extend only to those investments deemed politically palatable.