For over a year, Palestinian advocacy groups in the Bay Area have persistently called on local politicians to divest from Israel. On Dec. 10, Henry Levy, the Alameda County treasurer-tax collector, announced that $32 million in public funds will be divested from Caterpillar Inc. The company supplies heavy machinery such as bulldozers and excavators to the Israeli military where they demolish the infrastructure of Palestinian roads, agriculture, homes and other structures throughout all of Occupied Palestine.
On Dec. 11, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) gave a statement congratulating Alameda County’s decision to divest from Caterpillar and establish an ethical investment policy.
“This is a historic moment for Alameda County,” CAIR policy coordinator Musa Tariq said, “demonstrating the power of community advocacy and the county’s leadership in ethical governance.” He also highlights that the decision to divest sends a clear message that public funds should not go to corporations complicit in human rights violations.
Luchi B., co-founder of advocacy group Bay Area Divest, said, “We know that divesting from Alameda County itself will not end the genocide, but it’s a start.” According to The Oaklandside, Alameda County is the first county nationwide to divest from a company due to its ties to Israel.
On Jan. 24 the Hayward City Council decided to divest $1.6 million from Caterpillar, Intel, Hyundai and Chevron with a 4-3 majority vote. Richmond was the second city in the East Bay to divest from Israel in a 5-to-1 vote. The vote called for all city money from stocks or mutual funds tied to Israel to be divested.
Israel continues to send air strikes to Gaza amid a push for a ceasefire. They have expanded their attacks to Syria and Lebanon. Since the attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, and the bombardment of Gaza carried out afterward,the conflicting narratives have made Americans aware of the $3 billion of tax dollars going to the Israeli military. Calls for the world to divest were inspired by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. BDS is a Palestinian-led movement that launched in 2005. Co-founder Omar Barghouti drew from the tactics of the South African anti-apartheid movement for ways to pressure Israel to comply with international law.
Nineteen years after BDS’s formation, calls for divestment remain strong by supporters of Palestinian human rights. Which is evident due to the efforts of local governments, higher education and cultural institutions being pressured by concerned citizens to support the BDS movement.
Caterpillar also had ties cut by KLP, a Norwegian pension fund, due to Caterpillar’s machinery being used to harm citizens in Occupied Palestine back in June of this year. Norway and Alameda County are just a few examples of governments and organizations that do not want to be associated with companies engaged in Israel’s war crimes.
The Bay Area chapter of the Arab Resource & Organizing Center (AROC) posted on their Instagram page announcing the County’s decision to divest from the company.
“The divestment is a victory not only for Palestinian communities, but for all marginalized people being impacted,” said Aline B., Palestinian-American resident and representative of Bay Area Divest.
American citizens continue to call for divestment from Israel as they realize a significant amount of their tax dollars are going to Israeli military aid rather than the healthcare and education systems here in the U.S.
Alameda County’s decision to divest from Caterpillar is consistent with its history of establishing ethical investments. In 1985, the county divested from South Africa due to citizens advocating against apartheid.
When Henry Levy discussed his decision to divest, he stated that “…as the only Jewish elected official for the County of Alameda, I feel a great sorrow that long histories of trauma have triggered fear and other emotions when issues like this emerge.”
Some residents who support Israel felt the policy “singled out the Jewish state” while ignoring the actions of other countries and claiming that Israel was placed within a double standard, according to Jewish News of North America.
Despite the backlash received by Israel supporters, advocates for Palestinian human rights continue to organize and call for divestment. Palestine supporters in Dublin are planning to use the last city council meeting of the year to demand divestment from pro-Israel companies. Organizations in the East Bay, such as the Soul of My Myul Exhibit, hope that pushing Dublin to divest officially can trigger divestment from the rest of the Tri-Valley cities.
When asked what took place at the city council meeting in Dublin, the Instagram account “Soul of my Soul Exhibit” claimed the committee to create guidelines on investments has formed. Bay Area Divest plans to follow up Dublin city council in the next year.
Top photo: Alameda County is the first county nationwide to divest from a company due to its ties to Israel. (Photo credit: Equipment World)
Sabrina Hossain is the Social Media Editor for The Express. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @WritersBlock678.
