Illinois' investment in Israel
While student protesters have called for their schools to divest from Israel, state governments, including Illinois, have increased their investment during the Israel-Hamas War.
Since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs has directed $30 million in total to Israeli bond purchases.
“My office has invested in Israel Bonds because they diversity the state’s portfolio, achieve good returns, offer a safe investment, and to affirm the special relationship between Illinois and the only democracy in the Middle East," he said in an Oct. 12 news release following the state's first $10 million investment.
Frerichs defends the investments, saying the dollars do not fund Israeli military operations but rather go towards infrastructure costs: "You could have a disagreement with a government and still find the investment, a good investment."
But political opponents have decried the investments as nearly 35,000 Palestinians have died since Hamas launched a massive attack against Israel and sparked the current war.