NEW YORK (VINnews) – New York City Comptroller Mark Levine sought Thursday to defend his record on investments in Israel following criticism from pro-Israel groups over his decision not to make direct purchases of Israel Bonds at this time.

Levine said the city’s pension funds hold more than $285 million in Israeli investments, primarily equities, and stressed that Israel remains one of the world’s most innovative economies.

He said those holdings demonstrate that the city’s pension funds are not participating in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel.

Levine explained that several challenges currently prevent direct purchases of Israel Bonds, including restrictions stemming from a rule change implemented by his predecessor on the city’s short-term investment desk. He said his office continues to evaluate Israel Bonds alongside other 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,” Levine wrote.

The comptroller reiterated his personal connection to Israel, saying it would not change, while emphasizing his fiduciary responsibility to protect the retirement funds of 750,000 current and future city retirees.

Levine said he remains committed to investing in Israel while making investment decisions based on financial considerations rather than politics.

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.

— Mark D. Levine (@MarkLevineNYC) October 15, 2026