US States and Counties Invest Over $500 Million in Israeli Bonds During Israel-Hamas Conflict

Several American states, including Florida, Indiana, and New York, have invested a total of $300 million in Israeli bonds since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. The majority of the investments come from states with senior financial officials who are members of the conservative State Financial Officers Foundation (SFOF), which has criticized the politicization of taxpayer-funded investments. The SFOF has campaigned against environmental, social, governance (ESG) investment strategies, claiming they yield less optimal profits. Critics argue that the investment in Israeli bonds is a political decision, while credit ratings agencies have expressed caution.