Dear neighbors,
As Jews, we have a unique relationship to the genocide in Palestine. We watch as the Israeli military murders, starves and displaces Palestinians, all while speaking the language in which we pray.
We carry the trauma of genocide in our collective memory. We know from our ancestors what it feels like to lose entire generations. Because of this, we hold steady our moral obligation to do everything in our power to stop the genocide. As Somerville Jews, we demand that our taxpayer money be divested from companies that are complicit in such atrocities.
On Nov. 4, we have the chance to vote yes to divest. Many of us in Somerville have worked tirelessly to place this question on the ballot. The current Palestinian solidarity ballot question reads as follows:
“Shall the Mayor of Somerville and all Somerville elected leaders be instructed to end all current city business and prohibit future city investments and contracts with companies as long as such companies engage in business that sustains Israel’s apartheid, genocide, and illegal occupation of Palestine?”
It is undeniable that Israel is committing genocide, apartheid and illegal occupation in Palestine.
Genocide is the deliberate and systematic destruction of a group of people because of their ethnicity, nationality, religion or race. Using American taxpayer money, Israel has killed over 67,000 people and injured nearly 170,000 in the Gaza Strip — over 18,000 of the dead being children — and continues to bomb, starve and forcibly displace Palestinians with impunity. Many human rights groups, including the United Nations, Israeli organizations and many others, have declared this a genocide.
As of Oct. 9, Israel has agreed to a ceasefire. We celebrate as families are reunited, and we hope for a lasting and permanent peace. However, in the days since the ceasefire, atrocities have continued. Journalists and civilians are still being killed. Palestinians continue to starve due to Israel’s decision to only allow half of the promised aid in.
As we keep our eyes on Palestine, we recognize that the dehumanization and oppression of Palestinians will not end with a ceasefire. Rather, the apartheid legal system in Israel will need to be dismantled.
Apartheid is a crime against humanity under international criminal law. Under Israeli law, Palestinians have different rights depending on where they live, but Palestinians everywhere under Israel’s control have lesser rights than Jewish Israelis. For example, many cannot drive on Israeli streets or own, build or renovate homes in certain areas. Many in Israel’s Occupied Territories cannot vote, cannot dissent or protest, cannot gain residency or citizenship through marriage and are subject to many more practices of segregation and oppression. Even when these rights are available in theory, in practice, Palestinians are faced with immense challenges and discrimination that effectively invalidate those rights. These practices are clear examples of apartheid. In 2024, the International Court of Justice released an advisory opinion declaring that Israel’s laws in the OPT constitute “systemic discrimination.”
The government of Israel, the Israeli Defense Forces and Israeli settlers have, for decades, taken control of Palestinian-owned homes and livelihoods using armed vehicles and machinery, violent aggression by soldiers, settler-armed violence and verbal and physical intimidation, all in violation of international law. In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared the occupation of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to be illegal.
What companies are we talking about divesting from?
Somerville maintains contracts with the IT company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which is complicit in Israeli apartheid. HP provides servers for Israel’s Aviv System, which defines the rights of Palestinians through the ethnically-segregated ID card system, allowing for systematic violence and discrimination. HP also provides other services and technology to the IDF.
Somerville has awarded $1.7 million to HP in contracts within the last 10 years.
Lockheed Martin provides weapons, fighter jets and other equipment to Israel. Israel uses the company’s F-15 and F-35 fighter jets to drop bombs on Gazans, their homes and their land. Israel has made extensive use of Lockheed Martin's AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in the process of destroying more than 92% of residential buildings in Gaza.
Somerville’s municipal employees’ Pension Fund, as of a 2024 public records request, is invested in 1,222 shares of LM, amounting to $553,859.28 invested in this weapons manufacturer.
Somerville Jews demand a free Palestine.
As we have watched the deliberate starvation and bombing of men, women and children in Palestine in real time, it’s no wonder that a growing number of Americans want Israel to end its military actions. That number includes many thousands of Jewish-American refugees and descendants of refugees, who believe that “never again” means never again for anyone.
A Washington Post survey from September found 61% of American Jews say Israel has committed war crimes and almost 40% say Israel is guilty of genocide. Right here in Somerville, 170 Jewish Somerville residents have signed our Jewish solidarity letter condemning Israel's violence, and dozens attend our standouts every month.
As Somerville mayoral candidate and current City Councilor, Willie Burnley Jr. stated: “When we say speaking out against a genocide is antisemitism, we do a huge disservice — not only to the folks who have fought for freedom and dignity for all people who are Jewish — but also for people who said ‘never again.’”
How can I support Ballot Question 3?
Pledge to vote "yes" on Question 3. Volunteer to knock on doors with us to get out the vote. Donate to the campaign. Most of all, please vote YES to DIVEST!
As Jews, we have a unique responsibility to stand up against the starvation of the people of Gaza, because Israel is committing these atrocities in our name. As this genocide has been carried out using American weapons and tax dollars, all Americans have a responsibility to stand up against this horror.
We call on all our neighbors: Now is the time to vote to remove our tax dollars from the Israeli genocide and apartheid of Palestine.
In solidarity,
Members of the Somerville Jewish Community
Signed by 84 Jewish Somerville residents, linked here.
