Cambridge Council Votes to Divest from Companies Supplying Arms to IDF

The Cambridge City Council, home to Harvard University and MIT, voted on Thursday, October 29, to divest from companies supplying weapons and technology to the Israeli military (IDF). The decision, passed by a narrow margin, urges the city's employee pension funds to cease investments in firms involved in "genocide, apartheid, and the occupation of Palestinians." Among the named companies are Elbit Systems, Palantir, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and GE Aerospace.

The vote followed a contentious meeting where residents voiced strong opinions, with some shouting "You are all complicit in genocide" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free" at a previous session. The council's resolution requests the city administration to compile its own list of targeted companies for the pension funds to review.

An initial proposal to boycott these companies in city procurement, not just investments, was also narrowly rejected. Vice Mayor Burhan Azeem, who supported the divestment, argued that a procurement ban could harm essential services and equipment acquisition, citing concerns about purchasing body cameras for police.

Council member the council member, a Harvard graduate, introduced the initial motion, stating, "These are the harshest atrocities we have seen, and we are investing in them." She criticized the U.S. for sanctioning other nations while giving Israel "carte blanche." The proposal was initially based on a list from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and supported by BDS activists.

Azeem's compromise proposal, to create a city-specific list without officially adopting the BDS platform, was ultimately approved. The initiative was promoted by the Cambridge for Palestine activist group. According to their data, the city's pension funds held approximately $24 million in the initially listed companies in fiscal year 2025. They also claim the city paid about $4 million in contracts to companies supplying the IDF and Israeli police.

The list also included Israeli banks Hapoalim, Leumi, and Discount, with an estimated $660,000 invested in them, which activists claim fund the settlement movement. Elbit Systems, previously a tenant in the area, vacated its offices in 2024 after protests, which boycotters claimed as a victory, though Elbit cited business reasons. Palantir and major U.S. weapons manufacturers were also named.

The decision has divided the local Jewish community, with opponents warning of increased antisemitism and Israel being singled out. Jewish residents reported fear of displaying religious affiliation and bullying of children. Council members Denise Simmons and Patty Nolan highlighted an incident of antisemitic graffiti on an Israeli-owned business, suggesting a broader policy against companies involved in global war crimes rather than isolating one country.

The debate also reached the Harvard Crimson, with an editorial supporting divestment countered by three dissenting editors who argued the council should focus on residents' needs. Harvard and MIT remain independent and are not affected by the council's decision.