Tell AFT: We Support Divesting from State of Israel Bonds
***To endorse, please fill out form below this text.***
Right now, the AFT is funding the horrific violence in Gaza that has damaged or destroyed nearly 90% of schools and killed tens of thousands of children and teachers.
The AFT currently holds only one bond of a foreign government in the form of an Israel Bond. Through its investment in Israel Bonds, our union is lending unrestricted funds to the Israeli government that can be used to fund any and all violence and human rights violations–with no guardrails.
Our union should not be funding or profiting off of a foreign government that international human rights organizations and legal authorities widely regard as engaged in crimes against humanity. The AFT’s investment makes it complicit in this ongoing genocide and scholasticide, as well as the maintenance of Israel’s violent apartheid regime & decades-long military occupation over Palestinians.
Investing in Israel Bonds also doesn’t make any financial sense for our members. These bonds are significantly more unstable and restrictive than other comparable bonds, not allowing our union to make the decisions we need to make to prioritize the interests of our members.
As educators, health care providers, and public servants, we should live out our values of equality and justice for students and their families–in our communities as well as around the world–by ensuring that our union no longer invests in Israel Bonds.
For more information or to get involved with AFT4Palestine, visit: https://www.aft4palestine.org
Read the entire resolution below and and sign below to tell AFT leadership to divest from genocide, apartheid, and scholasticide.
The Resolution
Whereas, over 35,500 Palestinians have been killed since October 7th, 2023;
Whereas, among Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in their current offensive in Gaza civilians are disproportionately and overwhelmingly represented, particularly Palestinian children who total almost half of all Palestinian deaths;
WHEREAS, The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions has issued an urgent global call to action, calling on unions everywhere to end funding to Israel;
Whereas, U.S. Labor’s condemnation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza created by Israel and subsequent calls for ceasefire includes over 200 locals from UAW, SEIU, AAUP, United Steelworkers, Teamsters, UNITE HERE, AFL-CIO, HELU, IWW, NEA, and many more;
Whereas, Israeli military attacks have since October 2023 destroyed or damaged all 12 Palestinian universities that were operating in 2023 in Gaza and 80% of schools, leaving at least 625,000 children currently without access to education, a condition described by Palestinian and international scholars as scholasticide;
Whereas, Israeli forces have killed more than 480 healthcare workers since October 2023, destroyed most hospitals and healthcare center in Gaza, leaving only 10 out of 36 hospitals “somewhat functional” and only 20 out of 80 of the primary healthcare centers still operational, with 75% of hospitals and 100% of primary healthcare centers in the North of Wadi Gaza non-functional;
Whereas, as educators and healthcare workers, we condemn the destruction of schools and healthcare facilities in any and every part of the world;
Whereas, The AFT holds only one bond of a foreign government, which is the State of Israel, a country internationally accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide; and
Whereas, The AFT’s State of Israel bond, which helps fund Israel’s scholasticide and genocide, and pays for Israel’s longstanding occupation of the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the apartheid regime against Palestinians everywhere, is valued at $150,000; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the AFT will redeem its State of Israel bond and shall purchase no further bonds from foreign governments.
