'This is just the beginning': Nonbinding Israel divestment ballot question passes in Somerville

"Local News Question 3 asks voters whether Somerville officials should divest from companies that "engage in business that sustains Israel's apartheid, genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine." A nonbinding ballot question on whether Somerville should divest from companies supporting Israel's actions in Palestine passed overwhelmingly Tuesday night, unofficial results indicated. Question 3 asked voters whether Somerville officials should divest from companies that "engage in business that sustains Israel's apartheid, genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine," The question passed with 11,489 votes, or 55.7 percent of the votes, according to unofficial election results. According to unofficial election results, 38.4 percent, or 7,920 people, voted against the question, while 5.8 percent, or 1,203 voters, left the question blank."

"The ballot measure, prompted by grassroots group Somerville for Palestine, received more than 11,000 signatures, Sara Halawi, a leader of Somerville for Palestine, told Boston.com before polls closed on Tuesday. Halawi said Somerville for Palestine group members were feeling "extremely encouraged" and embracing the lively, anticipatory energy of election day. "For question three for Palestine, people are ready to come out and vote in solidarity with Palestine to end Somerville's complicity in Israel's genocide, apartheid, and illegal occupation of Palestine," Halawi said."

Somerville voters passed a nonbinding ballot question urging city officials to divest from companies that engage in business sustaining Israel's apartheid, genocide and illegal occupation of Palestine. The measure received 11,489 votes (55.7 percent), with 7,920 votes against (38.4 percent) and 1,203 blanks (5.8 percent). Somerville for Palestine collected more than 11,000 signatures to place the question on the ballot. Group leaders reported feeling extremely encouraged and energized on election day. Opponents including an Anti-Defamation League-funded group, Somerville United Against Discrimination, filed lawsuits and previously paid for mailers seeking to remove the question from the ballot.

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