Somerville city council votes to divest from Israel as lone dissenter warns Jews feel targeted
The ordinance bars Somerville from contracting with companies that directly, knowingly, and consistently facilitate violations of humanitarian law, specifically those in "Israel and Palestine."
The city council in Somerville, a town north of Boston, voted 10-1 on Thursday night to prohibit the municipality from conducting business with companies involved in human rights abuses, specifically targeting those operating in "Israel and Palestine." Councilor Kristen Strezo voted against the ordinance, citing concerns that it would unfairly target Jewish and Israeli residents in the city.
The ban applies only to companies working with the municipality and does not affect privately owned businesses or sole proprietors. Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson stated that the ordinance, passed with a veto-proof majority, is now considered final. The measure was originally proposed in June by Councilors Ben Ewen-Campen and Ben Wheeler, following a November 2025 vote to implement ballot Question 3 on Israel divestment, which received 55.7% voter support.
During the campaign in 2025, Wilson did not endorse Question 3. Nine councilors provided comments before the vote, with Ewen-Campen emphasizing the importance of addressing global issues, even if the impact on Somerville is minimal. Strezo invoked the Holocaust to argue that the ban is antisemitic, stating that it makes the Jewish community feel targeted, unsafe, and unwelcome.
Despite the opposition, the ordinance received support from groups like Somerville for Palestine and Shalom Somerville, which argue that the measure aligns with the city's commitment to human rights and dignity.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
