Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague, Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs, Pennsylvania Treasurer Stacy Garrity, Oklahoma Treasurer Todd Russ and Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller
Israel Bonds debuted the group, which was established by its national sales vice President Stuart Garawitz working with its Palm Beach Advisory Council's chair Norm Taplin and executive director Mark Ruben, on Thursday.
The group aims to grow the organization's
Dani Naveh, president & CEO of Israel Bonds, highlighted the importance of investing in Israel bonds, especially at this time, noting that it is not only a strong investment, but is also an expression of support for the United States' ally, the
Sprague, the group's first chair, extended a general invitation for everyone to be a part of this committee following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.
"We can't stay neutral. It is very clear to me that if we stay neutral, we are going to benefit Hamas. It benefits the aggressor, the attacker," Sprague said. "And I think that is what they want — for everyone to stand on the sidelines and do nothing."
Speaking on Illinois' investment in Israel bonds, Frerichs said the "United States has a special relationship with the only democracy in the Middle East and this is affirming that relationship."
He added, "soon after Oct. 7, my staff and I were sitting around asking what we could do. We reached out to our friends at Israel Bonds. We initially invested $10 million and then another $20 million."
Garrity said Pennsylvania would always stand with Israel.
"If Hamas stopped fighting today, there would be no more war. If Israel stops fighting, there will be no more Israel," she said.
Oklahoma State Treasurer Todd Russ spoke about his state's values.
"I'm honored to be able to support this cause and, like some of the others have said, this is about Israel but this is also about America. This is about… democracy and what that means to the rest of the world," he said.
"About two Saturdays ago, right down the street from our office, we had a very large protest of, I would submit, anti-Semitic individuals," said Palm Beach County Clerk & Comptroller Joseph Abruzzo. "I'm here to say that not only will I not adhere to their calls, we are going to make a larger investment in Israel bonds."
The Development Corporation for Israel, also known as
Since Oct. 7, Israel Bonds has secured more than $1 billion in bond investments from U.S. investors and doubled its annual global bond sales for 2023 to over $2 billion.
More than 15 U.S. state and municipal governments and institutions have invested in Israel bonds since the war broke out.
The new investments have come from the states of Florida, New York, Alabama, Arizona, Ohio, Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Nevada, Louisiana, South Carolina, Pennsylvania and Indiana as well as Florida's Broward County, Franklin County, Palm Beach County, Miami Beach, KeyBank and Cross River Bank.
