Israel is an apartheid state that has been occupying Palestinian lands and systematically repressing the Palestinian people for decades. Over the last ten months, Israel has been committing a genocide in Gaza, slaughtering at least 40,000 individuals, including whole families and 16,000 children. Israel has destroyed Gaza’s infrastructure, including its education, health, and water systems, and blocked deliveries of food and medical aid. Palestinians in Gaza now suffer constant bombardment, starvation, and epidemics of starvation and polio. Israel stands charged with the crime of genocide before the International Court of Justice, the world’s highest court, which recently called for Israel to immediately end its illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.

Yet, Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs has supported what he calls “our Israeli friends” by buying millions of dollars of Israel bonds since he entered office in 2015 with taxpayer money with $30 million invested since October 7th and bringing the total of Illinois investments to over $120 million. Illinois is one of the leading state governments in terms of their material support to the Israeli apartheid state. In fact, the President and CEO of Israel Bonds, Dani Naveh, stated. "At a time when Israel is under attack, we are highly gratified by this meaningful investment, which reflects that the State of Illinois stands with Israel in a powerful way."

We must demand that our taxpayer funds be immediately cut from supporting an apartheid state committing genocide slaughtering innocent civilians. Sign the petition to demand that State Treasurer Frerichs immediately divest all public monies under his control from Israeli bonds.