A group of Muslim-led organizations announced on Saturday that it is launching an anti-BDS investment initiative to support Israel, its Arab citizens, and Palestinians employed by Israeli companies, according to a report by Barbara Russo-Lennon published in amNewYork.
BDS — boycott, divestment and sanctions — is a movement that pushes for economic and political pressure on Israel. Support for the movement has grown in the United States and elsewhere since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel and the war in Gaza that followed.
The Unbreakable Bond Coalition
The newly formed coalition, called the Unbreakable Bond Coalition, plans to launch its initiative in New York City on July 9. Organizers describe the effort as a direct alternative to BDS, aiming to mobilize at least 500,000 pro-Israel supporters to each invest a minimum of one dollar by October 9, 2026 — building a startup investment fund of at least $500,000. The coalition intends to invest the fund in Israeli treasury bonds.
Coalition Members
- American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council (AMMWEC)
- Muslim Women Speakers Bureau
- Global Youth Unity Project (GYUP)
- Abraham PRC
- Muslims Israel Dialogue and organizational partners
The fund’s proceeds are earmarked for four nonprofit organizations: Sharaka, the Jerusalem Interfaith Center, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, and Debate for Peace. According to the coalition, a contracted financial institution will manage the money on behalf of the fund’s fiduciary board of trustees.
In a statement, the coalition’s board expressed confidence that the campaign could draw hundreds of thousands of pro-Israel participants from around the world to the effort.
A Backdrop of Divestment Debate
The campaign’s launch comes amid ongoing debate in New York City politics over Israel-related divestment. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly backed BDS, telling a mayoral forum last year — according to a Forward report — that his support for the movement stems from a broader commitment to non-violence and his view that similar tactics proved effective in pressuring South Africa to comply with international law during apartheid.
While there has been speculation about whether New York City’s pension funds should divest from Israeli-related holdings, no such policy is currently in place. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, has publicly cautioned against applying BDS-style divestment strategies to the city’s pension funds. In social media remarks last month, Greenblatt argued that such a move could produce billions of dollars in weaker investment returns for the pension funds covering teachers, police officers and firefighters, potentially forcing taxpayers to cover the shortfall and diverting resources from basic city services — all while further isolating the Jewish community.
Organizers frame the Unbreakable Bond Coalition as a grassroots, faith-driven counterweight to the BDS movement — one built on small individual contributions rather than institutional divestment.
This article is based on reporting by Barbara Russo-Lennon, published in amNewYork.
