‘Indefensible,’ Jewish leaders say of NYC comptroller opting to abort city’s Israel Bonds investments

(Oct. 15, 2026/ JNS)

On Monday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog granted a Presidential Medal of Honor to Israel Bonds in an event in Jerusalem, throughout which he applauded its “impressive work” that “functions as a strong verification that in spite of efforts to separate us, individuals of Israel never ever stand alone.”

2 days later on, on Wednesday, Mark Levine, New York City comptroller, informed the New York City Times that the city will not invest in Israel Bonds, mentioning issues about their financial investment strength.

William Daroff, CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, an umbrella group that represents about 50 Jewish groups, informed JNS that “Mark Levine’s choice is indefensible and repudiates the clear dedication he made to citizens.”

“Israel Bonds started in 1951. Israel’s record ever since is unbroken, with not one missed out on payment of principal or interest,” Daroff stated. “Investors acquired more than $8.5 billion in Israel Bonds given that Oct. 7, 2023, highlighting the strength of ongoing self-confidence in Israel and the failure of efforts to separate it.”

“New York City ought to reverse course and restore its financial investment,” he informed JNS.

Evan R. Bernstein, CEO of B’nai B’rith International, informed JNS that the not-for-profit is “deeply dissatisfied” with Levine’s choice “to reverse his clear project dedication and decrease to reinvest New York City pension funds in Israel Bonds.”

“Israel has an unbroken record of conference every principal and interest payment on its bonds given that 1951, consisting of those held by the city for almost half a century,” Bernstein stated. “Other significant U.S. public funds continue to purchase them as noise, varied holdings.”

The turnaround, which New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani informed press reporters that he invites, “sends out a regrettable signal at a time of increasing antisemitism and continual efforts to separate Israel financially,” Bernstein stated.

“Framing the option entirely as a narrow monetary estimation does not alter the bigger message it provides,” he informed JNS. “We prompt Comptroller Levine to reassess and to restore this longstanding, accountable financial investment.”

At the event in Jerusalem on Monday, Herzog stated that “the profits from Israel bonds have actually been utilized to construct and establish our economy, to promote developments in science and innovation and to supply a crucial network of assistance throughout times of crisis.”

“This has actually never ever been more apparent than throughout the previous couple of years of unpredictability, loss and guts, here in Israel, because Oct. 7,” the Israeli president stated. “The exceptional work by Israel Bonds raised $1 billion of capital in the very first month following Oct. 7, and more than $8.5 billion because that dark day.”

“To us, this functions as a strong verification that regardless of efforts to separate us, individuals of Israel never ever stand alone,” he stated. “In truth, over the previous 75 years, more than $58 billion worth of Israel bonds have actually been acquired around the globe, strengthening Israel’s long-lasting standing in the international market and showing the trust financiers have in Israel.”

“We have actually paid back that trust, never ever as soon as defaulting, as I am particular we will continue to do,” he included.