Somerville Votes To Divest From Businesses With Israel Connections

SOMERVILLE, MA — Voters expressed their desire to have the city divest from companies that engage in business that “that sustains Israel's apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine,” according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election.

The ballot question passed with 11,489 votes in favor against 7,920 votes opposed. Somerville for Palestine was the group who first proposed divesting earlier this year, and were asked to gather more than 5,000 signatures to demonstrate support. The group was able to collect approximately 8,000 in order for the Election Commission to approve the question. The question is non-binding, however it is meant to send a message to city leadership to show what the constituents want.

In the wake of the results, the American Jewish Committee spoke out against the existence of the ballot question in the first place.

“This resolution will do nothing to help Palestinians as its authors claim,” AJC New England Regional Director Rob Leikind said in a statement. “What it will do, and what it has already done, is sow division within the Somerville community, divert time and energy away from real local issues, and further isolate Jewish residents already struggling with a surge of antisemitism and anti-Israel activity.”

Somerville for Palestine said that the results further affirm a shift in public opinion against what they describe as Israel’s violent actions toward Palestine.

See Also:

Somerville 2025 Election: Jake Wilson Elected Next Mayor