NYC Comptroller Withdraws Pledge to Invest in Israeli Bonds
New York City Comptroller Mark Levine has announced his decision not to reinvest city pension funds in Israeli bonds, reversing a campaign promise. Levine, a Jewish Democrat, emphasized that the decision was based on financial analysis rather than political considerations.
Levine's decision marks a departure from his predecessor, Brad Lander, who chose not to renew approximately $39 million in Israeli bonds when they matured in early 2023. Levine had pledged during his 2025 campaign to resume these investments, which had been part of the city's portfolio since the 1970s.
Levine cited "technical challenges" and concerns about financial returns as the primary reasons for his decision. The city's pension system, which manages assets totaling around $325 billion, currently holds over $300 million in Israeli-related assets, accounting for roughly 0.1% of its total portfolio.
In a statement to The New York Times, Levine said, "As of now, we feel that because of some technical challenges, and because of financial considerations, that this is not an investment that we can make right now."