Divestment

We are following the model of CT's successful divestment from the apartheid Republic of South Africa in 1981-1982, now against the genocidal and apartheid state of Israel. Please email us if you would like to join our divestment efforts or ask any questions:

For divestment of the state of Connecticut Treasurer's pension fund, please see MECC's No Bonds page:

Please co-sign our Israel divestment petition letter calling for divestment from the state of Israel (both equities and bonds) of the state of Connecticut's pension fund, as controlled by the CT state Treasurer, currently Eric Russell:

https://bit.ly/divestCT

https://forms.gle/QDrW3QquhN8WbeiB8

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December 13, 2025

Erick Russell

Treasurer, State of Connecticut

165 Capitol Avenue, 2nd Floor

Hartford, CT 06106

state.treasurer@ct.gov

RE: DIVEST FROM THE STATE OF ISRAEL

Dear Connecticut State Treasurer Erick Russell:

Thank you very much for your efforts and consideration of how the state of Connecticut's pension fund is invested, on fiduciary, legal, and moral grounds. However, we are concerned that the state of Connecticut is failing on all three grounds when it comes to its investment in the state of Israel. Please note Connecticut's current investment in the state of Israel as of 6/17/2025, which totals to approximately $106 million.

As you are aware, the state of Israel is currently engaged in a genocide in Gaza, military occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, an apartheid system in all of Palestine, and multiple wars of aggression throughout the region. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that Israel is "plausibly" committing the crime of genocide. Some of the state of Connecticut's pension money is invested in Elbit, Israel's biggest weapons manufacturer. In addition, reportedly, since the new Israeli government came to power, investors in Israel’s stock market have lost over $25 billion.

The historic precedent of the state of Connecticut divesting from the apartheid state of South Africa in 1982 is our model, but there are more recent precedents as well, based on Connecticut law and regulations. Thus on fiduciary, legal, and moral grounds, we, the undersigned, appeal to your office to sell off all investments in the state of Israel.

We also encourage you to publicly and explicitly support legislative efforts within the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) to legislatively divest from the state of Israel. Please see a very concise example of such legislation attached (below).

Sincerely,

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PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION

AN ACT CONCERNING THE STATE INVESTMENT POLICY IN RELATION TO ISRAEL.

The state treasurer shall review the invested assets of all state funds to ensure that no such assets are invested in: (1) Any financial institution making loans to the State of Israel, a national corporation of the State of Israel or a subsidiary or affiliate of a United States company operating in the State of Israel or (2) any stock or obligations of any company doing business in or with the State of Israel or (3) any bonds issued by the State of Israel.

On or after the effective date of this act no such assets shall be invested in any such institution or any such stock or obligations or any such bonds and any such assets so invested on said date shall be disinvested within a reasonable period as determined by the state treasurer.

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Background: The government of Israel is committing the international crime of apartheid, and the International Court of Justice has ruled that Israel is "plausible" committing the crime of genocide and has issued provisional orders to Israel to take measures to avoid that crime. Connecticut has a history of disinvestment in countries where governments are committing grave acts of injustice (South Africa, Northern Ireland, Sudan, Russia). The pension funds, made up mostly of public employee monies, should not be invested to further or profit off crimes of the Israeli government.

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Please see CT's current investment in genocide and apartheid as of 6/17/2025 here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p-ZwsxxIxi5QZCxoHgF3d2BVDh0yiiZa/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=100798628669163877109&rtpof=true&sd=true

Please especially note the investments in cyber spyware, through CELLEBRITE DI LTD, as well as in ELBIT SYSTEMS LTD (missiles), TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL IND LTD, (pharma), etc.

From the CT State Arab and Muslim (Employee) Affinity Group:

Dear Taxpayers of the State of Connecticut: In view of the horrifying Israel-Palestine conflict, *please sign the petition below* demanding the State Treasurer to divest, not further invest OUR state funds, and not enter into any future investment in any weapons manufacturer. Every human life is precious irrespective of religion, race/ethnicity, or any other status. We stand for justice for all.

https://forms.gle/Kq35hkPAHwCGrvi17

Please share widely.

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Example of other coutries sanctioned by the state of Connecticut's investment policy:

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ott/doing-business/072324noticecrptfmanagersinrestrictinvestments-jul24.pdf