The battle over Israel bonds in Palm Beach
Palm Beach County, Florida, which holds $1 billion in Israeli bonds, faces a campaign by BDS activists to prevent reinvestment in $67.5 million in bonds maturing in November. The struggle intensified after the arrest of attorney Nora Erekat at a public hearing in September. The article covers the unusual constitutional background, the scale of investment, and the organized networks on both sides.
The battle over Palm Beach County, Florida's investments in Israeli bonds has reached a new peak. The county, which holds $1 billion in Israeli bonds, is the largest investor in Israeli bonds outside of Israel. On November 1, $67.5 million in bonds will mature, and BDS activists are working to prevent the county from reinvesting the money in Israeli bonds. The struggle gained media attention after Nora Erekat, a Palestinian-American attorney, was arrested at a public hearing on September 15 after attempting to raise the issue of investments. The article describes the unusual constitutional background that allows this investment, the history of bond purchases by the county, and the organized networks on both sides: on one side, the Internationalist Law Center leading the divestment campaign, and on the other, Israel Bonds supported by the local Jewish community. The article also notes dissenting voices within the Jewish community, such as Jewish Voice for Peace.