Jewish Community Relations Council of NY - Tweets and R/T are my own opinions.
Joined November 2012
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Last week, New Yorkers raised over $1M for Palestinian refugees at the Gaza 5K. @JabariBrisport and I joined to let participants know about @notonourdimeny, our legislation to end tax-exempt status for organizations that fund Israeli war crimes.
Free Palestine! 🇵🇸
Howard Pollack retweeted
Heartbroken by the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary in Bend, Oregon.
My prayers are with the families, the entire community, and those stolen from us far too soon.
I know this man and he is at his core a Zionist and a supporter of the Jewish People! I stand with @MarkLevineNYC
The economic relationship between New York City and Israel is deeply important, bringing substantial investment into our city and generating strong returns for our pension funds.
Our funds invest around the world, including more than $285 million in Israel, primarily in equities. Israel remains one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative economies, and those holdings remain an important part of our portfolio. They also make clear that New York City’s pension funds are not engaging in BDS.
I expressed my deep appreciation for the Israel-NYC economic relationship during my campaign for comptroller, and that appreciation remains unchanged. I also pledged to make every investment decision free of politics, based solely on its financial merits and my fiduciary responsibility to 750,000 current and future retirees.
We apply those same principles to Israel Bonds. At present, a number of challenges, including constraints related to a rules change on our short-term investment desk made by the previous comptroller, prevent us from making direct purchases. We continue to evaluate this investment, as we do all potential investments.
Anyone suggesting that this means I am giving up on Israel is trying to turn the ordinary rebalancing and management of a pension portfolio into a political issue. That is simply not the case. Our commitment to investing in Israel remains clear in the hundreds of millions of dollars in Israeli equities that our pension funds continue to hold.
Like many Jewish New Yorkers, my deep personal connection to Israel is a part of who I am. It will not change. As New York City comptroller, I also have a solemn duty to safeguard our city’s pension funds, and I will not shirk that responsibility. I will continue to honor both commitments with integrity.
Howard Pollack retweeted
We appreciate NYC Comptroller @MarkLevineNYC 's thoughtful statement reaffirming his deep personal connection to Israel, his commitment to honoring his promises, including his pledge to renew support for Israel Bonds, and the importance of the New York–Israel relationship.
With approximately $285 million invested in Israeli equities, NYC pension funds reflect an enduring relationship that benefits New Yorkers economically, culturally, and in countless other ways.
Sound financial stewardship and a strong New York–Israel relationship can and should go hand in hand.
The economic relationship between New York City and Israel is deeply important, bringing substantial investment into our city and generating strong returns for our pension funds.
Our funds invest around the world, including more than $285 million in Israel, primarily in equities. Israel remains one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative economies, and those holdings remain an important part of our portfolio. They also make clear that New York City’s pension funds are not engaging in BDS.
I expressed my deep appreciation for the Israel-NYC economic relationship during my campaign for comptroller, and that appreciation remains unchanged. I also pledged to make every investment decision free of politics, based solely on its financial merits and my fiduciary responsibility to 750,000 current and future retirees.
We apply those same principles to Israel Bonds. At present, a number of challenges, including constraints related to a rules change on our short-term investment desk made by the previous comptroller, prevent us from making direct purchases. We continue to evaluate this investment, as we do all potential investments.
Anyone suggesting that this means I am giving up on Israel is trying to turn the ordinary rebalancing and management of a pension portfolio into a political issue. That is simply not the case. Our commitment to investing in Israel remains clear in the hundreds of millions of dollars in Israeli equities that our pension funds continue to hold.
Like many Jewish New Yorkers, my deep personal connection to Israel is a part of who I am. It will not change. As New York City comptroller, I also have a solemn duty to safeguard our city’s pension funds, and I will not shirk that responsibility. I will continue to honor both commitments with integrity.
Howard Pollack retweeted
I can’t keep up anymore. Mark Levine says his decision not to reinvest in Israel Bonds was technical. Some Jewish groups say he caved. Others defend him, saying it was a technical decision, not a concession. DSA elected officials take credit and call it a BDS victory. People to the left of DSA say it’s not enough and demand he divest everything.
Why do I need a Dramamine after reading the news?
I honestly don’t know what happened here. But I can say that I’ve known Mark since his City Council days.
He’s always been proudly Jewish and a strong supporter of Israel.
I spoke to him today, and he told me that hasn’t changed. I trust him.
The economic relationship between New York City and Israel is deeply important, bringing substantial investment into our city and generating strong returns for our pension funds.
Our funds invest around the world, including more than $285 million in Israel, primarily in equities. Israel remains one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative economies, and those holdings remain an important part of our portfolio. They also make clear that New York City’s pension funds are not engaging in BDS.
I expressed my deep appreciation for the Israel-NYC economic relationship during my campaign for comptroller, and that appreciation remains unchanged. I also pledged to make every investment decision free of politics, based solely on its financial merits and my fiduciary responsibility to 750,000 current and future retirees.
We apply those same principles to Israel Bonds. At present, a number of challenges, including constraints related to a rules change on our short-term investment desk made by the previous comptroller, prevent us from making direct purchases. We continue to evaluate this investment, as we do all potential investments.
Anyone suggesting that this means I am giving up on Israel is trying to turn the ordinary rebalancing and management of a pension portfolio into a political issue. That is simply not the case. Our commitment to investing in Israel remains clear in the hundreds of millions of dollars in Israeli equities that our pension funds continue to hold.
Like many Jewish New Yorkers, my deep personal connection to Israel is a part of who I am. It will not change. As New York City comptroller, I also have a solemn duty to safeguard our city’s pension funds, and I will not shirk that responsibility. I will continue to honor both commitments with integrity.
I’m cosponsoring @JoaquinCastrotx’s Stop the Settlements Act to stop the illegal land grabs in Gaza and the West Bank.
This bill will deploy sanctions to halt the construction of new settlements and stop the expansion of existing Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
This is the right thing to do. Morally and financially.
Now do ours, @NYSComptroller 🙏🏼.
Howard Pollack retweeted
Everything politicians do is political, but a comptroller's job is ensuring risk-adjusted returns for retirees.
If an asset offers substantially lower yields than U.S. Treasuries (107 bps lower as of this writing), choosing not to reinvest is basic portfolio discipline.
NEW: In his 10th month in office, @MarkLevineNYC has decided not to reinvest in Israeli bonds, breaking a campaign promise on a particularly fraught issue. He said he still supports Israel, but that the bonds aren’t strong enough investments:
nytimes.com/2026/10/14/nyreg… via @NYTimes
Howard Pollack retweeted
Levine’s an ardent supporter of Israel & this was purely a fiscal decision because Israel bonds have lost considerable value due to the actions of Netanyahu (Gaza) & Trump (Iran)
If you call everything antisemitic, then it lessens its meaning when actual antisemitic things occur
🚨Former City Comptroller @scottmstringer blasts Levine's decision on Israel Bonds:
”This is a major victory for BDS, and it’s going to have long-term ramifications,” Stringer told me. “This indecision will, unfortunately, spark more BDS calls that could cause further antisemitism.” forward.com/news/855800/nyc-…
While Mark Levine won’t reinvest in Israel Bonds, NYC pension funds still hold over $300 million in Israeli investments.
During Israel’s genocide in Gaza, NYC pension funds under Brad Lander purchased additional shares in Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer. NYC’s Elbit holdings increased over 500% during his tenure, reaching $1.5 million.
Lander boasted that NYC pension funds were “proudly invested” in these genocidal companies, declaring, “I have always opposed BDS and I always will.”
Levine has defended maintaining these investments. NYC must divest from all Israeli companies.
Howard Pollack retweeted
The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) hosted Nova Music Festival survivor Daniel Sharabi to share his story. It was an honor to meet Daniel and experience his strength and courage in person.
The Stop the Settlements Act would sanction anyone looking to take Palestinian land in the West Bank or Gaza. And support keeps growing.
Since I introduced the bill alongside Reps. Dean, Beyer, Casar, Jacobs, and Escobar, over 50 members have now co-sponsored.
Settlement expansion pushes Palestinians off their land and makes peace harder to achieve. It’s time to use tools like sanctions to stop it.
Thank you to our newest co-sponsors:
Rep. Everton Blair (GA-13)
Rep. Bill Foster (IL-11)
Rep. Valerie Foushee (NC-04)
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (IL-01)
Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04)
Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10)
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL)
Rep. James Walkinshaw (VA-11)
Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-43)
Rep. Nikema Williams (GA-05)
Israeli bonds are financially risky and morally abhorrent investments, especially after 3 years of genocide.
Divesting NYC from them is the right thing to do. It’s time for @NYSComptroller to do the same at the state level.
We need to get money out of politics now, not after our democracy is gutted any further. I’m proud to be endorsed by @StopBigMoney. In Congress, I’ll fight alongside them to break corporate greed’s grip on our democracy.
MORE....
A spokesperson for Levine’s office noted that the decision applies only to the city’s short-term investments, where concerns about regional instability and financial risks make Israel Bonds "less attractive than other options."
"Our Office continues to evaluate investment opportunities based on their financial merits and our fiduciary responsibilities." forward.com/news/855800/nyc-…
#FactsMatter - @MarkLevineNYC has always been a champion for the Jewish people.
NYC comptroller not reinvesting pension funds in Israel bonds - in stunning campaign pledge reversal trib.al/rGpyFPc
