Residents urge Arlington to cut ties with Virginia Israel Advisory Board; board says state-level decision

Dozens of residents used the Arlington County Board public-comment period on June 14 to urge the county to stop doing business with the Virginia Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) and to investigate ties between local economic development efforts and Israeli companies.

Speakers repeatedly said VIAB directs taxpayer-supported investment to Israeli companies, including those tied to weapons manufacturers and settlements, and asked the board to prioritize local programs instead. "Israel is a foreign country. Israel is the only foreign country that has an advisory board here in Virginia that is taxpayer funded," said Kishore Mahulikar. "This means that taxpayer money either directly or indirectly is diverted away from Virginians and Arlingtonians to fund Israeli business interests and lately their weapons interests."

Why it matters: Speakers linked VIAB and some private companies…