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November 09, 2004
CURTATONE OPPOSES ISRAEL DIVESTMENT RESOLUTION TO BE CONSIDERED TONIGHT
SOMERVILLE – Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone today sent a letter to the
Board of Aldermen opposing a resolution that would recommend the city
divest in Israeli bonds and in certain American defense and construction
companies doing business with Israel. The resolution, which is supported by
a local activist group that opposes Israel’s treatment of Palestinians living in
the West Bank and Gaza Strip, will be considered at tonight’s meeting of the
Board’s Subcommittee on Legislative Matters.
“Fair and just treatment of the Palestinian people is essential to building
peace in the region,” Curtatone wrote in his letter. “However, I also support
Israel’s right to defend itself and safeguard its people.”
The resolution, which was submitted by eight of the Board’s 11 members,
would recommend the city divest in Israeli bonds and any stock it holds in
six companies: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General
Electric, United Technologies, and Caterpillar. The resolution notes that all of
the companies supply military equipment to Israel, with the exception of
Caterpillar, which, it says, “profits from bulldozers that are used by Israel to
illegally demolish homes.”
In his letter, Curtatone said he opposed the resolution because Israel
remains “an important democratic ally trying to survive in an often hostile
environment” and he urged the board not to “take any actions that undermine
the safety and security of the Israeli people.”
“[Israel] continues to be the target of ruthless and deadly terrorist attacks,”
he said. “Many of its neighbors refuse to recognize its very right to exist and
Al Qaeda has made Israel’s destruction one of its primary objectives.”
Curtatone said he supports efforts to ensure basic civil rights and liberties for
the Palestinians living on the West Bank and in Gaza and he welcomes “the
divergent views and robust debate we enjoy here in Somerville.”
“Somerville residents should speak out not only on local but also national and
international issues,” he added. “But the complexity of the Middle East
situation argues for extreme caution.”
Curtatone said the city’s retirement board is the only city agency that holds
investments and he said the board’s chief responsibility is to secure the
highest rate or return possible for the fund.
“In rare exceptions, the moral imperative is so clear and unambiguous as to
warrant divestment,” said Curtatone. “In this case, the complexity of the
situation makes granting an exception unwise.”
The Legislative Matters Subcommittee will consider the resolution tonight at
7 p.m. in the Aldermanic Chambers at Somerville City Hall, 93 Highland
Street.
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