CUNY professors’ union narrowly approves resolution supporting BDS
movement against Israel
By Carl Campanile
Published Jan. 30, 2025, 9:18 p.m. ET

139 Comments

A missile explodes in Gaza City during an Israeli air strike on October
8, 2023.
CUNY's Professional Staff Congress in a statement told its pension
system on Jan. 23 that they support "complete disinvestment from Israel."
AFP via Getty Images
The union representing professors at the City University of New York
approved a resolution last week in support of the boycott, divestment
and sanctions movement against Israel.

The statement approved by CUNY’s Professional Staff Congress on Jan. 23
told its pension system that it supports “complete disinvestment from Israel.”

In addition, the PSC also said it will “divest its own funds from any investment vehicle that includes in its portfolio stocks and bonds of
Israeli companies and Israeli government bonds no later than the end of
January 2026.”

The resolution, which passed narrowly — 73 votes in favor to 70 votes
against — slammed Israel’s bombing of Gaza and the killing of thousands
of civilians.

But the statement makes no mention of the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel
when Hamas terrorists killed 1,200 people in the Jewish State and took
scores of hostages — triggering Israel’s response and effectively ending the war.

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The resolution also omits the current cease-fire agreement and Hamas’
release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel —
and that the US State Department considers Hamas a foreign terrorist organization.

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The PSC resolution cites the International Criminal Court’s arrest
warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war
crimes, the International Court of Justice’s opinion that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful and its preliminary
finding that there is a “plausible claim that genocide is occurring in Gaza.”

In the resolution, the PSC noted that the Teachers’ Retirement System of
the City of New York of which it is part, has direct investments of $100 million and $115 million respectively in Israeli companies and
government bonds.

CUNY students of Palestinian descent and their allies hold a rally to
protest the Israeli occupation of Palestine and demand that the
university system divest from Israel, May 28, 2021 at John Jay College
in New York City, New York
PSC also said they will “divest its own funds from any investment
vehicle that includes in its portfolio stocks and bonds of Israeli
companies and Israeli government bonds no later than the end of January 2026.”
Corbis via Getty Images
The union also said it will create a volunteer committee to investigate
whether “further divestment is appropriate and feasible.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul blasted the resolution and noted she signed an
executive order to divest public funds from institutions that support
the BDS movement against Israel.

“In my first week as governor, I signed an executive order to divest
public funds from institutions that participate in the harmful BDS
movement — and that order remains in effect,” Hochul said.

“I strongly oppose the resolution narrowly passed by the PSC-CUNY
delegates and will continue standing up against antisemitism and hate in
all forms.”

In June of 2021, the CUNY professors’ union passed a one-sided
resolution rebuking Israel for attacks on Palestinians — indicating then
it may support the movement to boycott and divest from the Jewish state
down the road.


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What do you think? Post a comment.

The latest resolution is just the latest bashing of the Jewish State by
CUNY professors and students.

In 2022, professors at CUNY’s Law School also passed a resolution in
support of the BDS movement against Israel.

Students, joined by some professors, disrupted and even vandalized some
CUNY campuses with anti-Israel protests over the past year.

An independent probe commissioned by Hochul and released last September
found that CUNY needs a top-to-bottom overhaul to combat “alarming’’ antisemitism fanned by its own faculty and do-nothing higher-ups.

Professional Staff Congress president James David, asked about the
anti-Israel resolution approved by his union delegates said, “The PSC unequivocally deplores all forms of hate, including antisemitism. The divestment resolution was an incredibly close vote on an issue on which
our members have deep, sincere disagreements.”

“Many PSC delegates oppose the Israeli government’s conduct of the war
in Gaza and are concerned about how the pension funds and union dues of
PSC members are invested.”

But he also noted the close vote of 73 in favor and 70 against and said
the union’s “executive council and principal officers” were among those who opposed it.

“We were elected to protect PSC members’ rights, to improve their pay
and working conditions, and to strengthen their union. Keeping focus on
these primary responsibilities while engaging in wider struggles for
justice and peace is important, especially in this politically
tumultuous moment. The PSC recently ratified a new contract and is
intent on enforcing that contract and improving the working conditions
of all members,” Davis said.

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