In a stunning defeat for anti-divestment forces in Somerville, the avidly anti-divestment candidate E. Moroney was soundly defeated in the only head-to-head match for elected office that Somerville has seen in two years. SDP (Somervillle Divestment Project) protested publicly Moroney's campaign last December. Moroney lost 62 % to 38 % to Denise Provost - a candidate whose campaign was suppported by many SDP members. Moroney's website said that "Elizabeth Moroney strongly opposes attempts to require Somerville or the Commonwealth to divest of Israeli Bonds (RF: an error - the bonds are called Israel Bonds). Somerville needs more local aid not a foreign policy".

Apparently Somerville citizens disagree. Moroney's stance on divestment distinguished her from Denise Provost - a well known progressive candidate who supports human rights for all people. In response to Moroney's stance on divestment, SDP pointed out in a publicly distributed flyer that Somerville already has a foreign policy by investing in Israel. SDP calls for divestment from Israel bonds and companies that support the human rights violations. Moroney was supported by Steve Grossman a well known zionist who opposes human rights for Palestinians.

Thanks to the work of SDP, divestment became a hot issue in Somerviile over the last two years. Today's result indicates that candidates who do not oppose divestment can win citywide in Somerville. Recently, an entire region of Norway and a city in the Basque region of Spain voted to boycott Israel, boosting the international pressure for human rights for Palestinians. The defeat of Moroney echos the support for divestment that exists in Somerville. SDP continues to advocate for divestment in Somerville.

Anti-divestment supporters, such as Steve Grossman, supported Moroney with cash and hoped to defeat Denise Provost. They were not successful. Let's look forward to a year where Israel will be pressured and eventually forced to recognize the human rights of Palestinians. The world community is losing patience with Israel. It is simply not acceptable for Israel to carry out racist policies against and apartheid against Palestinians.

Read about Israel Bonds, divestment factsheet and other divestment campaigns.