Overview

• In a CBS New York interview, Zohran Mamdani said the city’s pension funds should not buy Israel Bonds and pledged to stop such investments as mayor.
• He praised Comptroller Brad Lander’s 2023 decision to let Israel Bonds mature without reinvestment and said his near-term focus is on direct municipal holdings rather than a wider corporate divestment push.
• New York City’s five pension funds hold roughly $315 million in Israel-linked equities and real estate within a $289 billion portfolio, according to recent reporting.
• Mark Levine, the Democratic nominee for comptroller, has said he would seek to repurchase Israel Bonds, setting up a potential clash on pension boards where the mayor, comptroller and union representatives share votes.
• Israel Bonds’ CEO highlighted $5.5 billion in investments since October 7 and former Comptroller Scott Stringer called a move to avoid the bonds a mistake, underscoring divided reactions to Mamdani’s stance.