Somerville City Council Approves Israel Boycott Measure Amid Jewish Community Concerns

The Somerville City Council in Massachusetts has approved a measure prohibiting the city from contracting with companies involved in humanitarian law violations, with an explicit mention of Israel. The decision passed with a ten-to-one vote, overriding a potential veto by Mayor Jake Wilson. The new regulation targets companies seeking to provide services or products to the city, excluding private businesses and individual sole proprietors. Companies will be required to declare their involvement in or assistance to humanitarian law violations when submitting bids for municipal tenders. The measure, introduced by Council Members Ben Yanke-Kampen and Ben Wheeler, stems from a local referendum in November 2025 where a majority supported divesting from companies aiding what the referendum termed Israel's "apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine."

Opponents, led by Council Member Kristen Strezo, the sole dissenter, warned that the ordinance could lead to a boycott of Israel and negatively impact the Jewish community's sense of security and belonging. Strezo drew parallels to Nazi Germany's boycotts of Jewish businesses prior to Kristallnacht, stating that the measure makes Jewish residents feel targeted and unsafe. She argued that the regulation would not resolve the conflict in the Middle East but would make Jews and Israelis feel unwelcome in urban spaces.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the ordinance's legality. Angela Allen, head of municipal procurement, previously expressed doubts about the city's legal authority to impose such restrictions on vendors, warning that the regulation might not withstand legal challenges. She noted that the city lacks the legal standing to disqualify bidders in the proposed manner and questioned who would be authorized to determine if a company meets the criteria.