Residents urge Cuyahoga County Council to divest $16 million in Israeli bonds; pro- and anti-divestment voices clash

Dozens of residents used the council’s public-comment period on Jan. 28 to press Cuyahoga County officials to stop reinvesting about $16 million in Israeli bonds, a recurring demand that produced emotional testimony and sharply divergent views.

The speakers — teachers, students, longtime residents and faith leaders — told the council the investments are both morally indefensible and financially risky. “I am a third grader and a resident of Cuyahoga County,” said Aya Abu Hashim, one of several children who spoke, adding, “I hope you make the right choice.” Anne Gazy, speaking for other organizers, said the county’s Investment Advisory Committee had identified Israeli bonds as “the highest risk assets in the County’s portfolio” and urged that reinvested funds be kept locally or at least within the United States.

The night’s significance was twofold: the scale and consistency of the divestment demand, and vocal counter-testimony. Bruce Mandel, a lifelong eastern Cuyahoga County resident and retired attorney, thanked the council for not pursuing a defund resolution and defended the bonds as “a great economic investment,” saying “a penny has never been lost on these bonds.” Others argued that treating the question purely as an investment decision overlooks moral concerns tied to civilian harm overseas.

Speakers pressed a range of arguments. Supporters of divestment said the county’s holdings had been downgraded and posed both reputational and financial risk; they also framed divestment as solidarity with Palestinian civilians and called for local reinvestment to address homelessness, schools and neighborhood needs. Several speakers asked the county to refuse cooperation with immigration enforcement and to prioritize local underserved neighborhoods when reallocating funds.

Those urging retention of the bonds framed the decision as fiduciary: they described Israeli bonds as historically reliable and important to U.S.-Israel relations and cautioned against conflating moral judgments with routine investment decisions.

Council President Del Miller noted the Investment Advisory Committee discussion and comments by Treasurer Crohms were already on record; staff and council members did not take a final vote on divestment that night. The public comment period closed after roughly 28 speakers; council proceeded to its scheduled legislative business.

What’s next: Several residents said they will watch the March 1 renewal date closely. The council did not adopt a divestment resolution at the meeting; any formal change to the county’s investment practices would require further committee review or action at a later meeting.