U.S. pension fund giant confirms divestment from Israel firm

"Tension between Jerusalem and Oslo increased recently after Norway's government pension fund decided to divest from an Israeli company" - If it's the divestment spoiling the relations, it might have escaped him that the American pension giant TIAA-CREF, too, has divested from an Israeli company lately.

It looks like the TIAA-CREF story is yet another divestment-related hoax, similar to one that was tried earlier this year vis-a-vis Motorola. Details can be found at www.divestthis.com.

Unlike Wall Street and the banks, TIAA-CREF is a NY state regulated insurance company. There are rules about its investments. It can't just gamble like a bank or hedge fund. And investing in bankrupt companies if frowned on, even nearly bankrupt companies that don't pay their bills. I do not believe that New York has exemptions for bankrupt or nearly bankrupt Israeli companies. Maybe Ora Coren at TheMarker should do some more homework.

yup! boycotts and sanctions, too... they'll be coming, too.

...this coming week. It will be interesting to correlate the claims being made here of all these "millions" suddenly being moved by wingnuts at TIAA-CREF.

...comes out with her move to Fidelity. What she thinks can be done on Monday may not wind up being done at all. TIAA-CREF is extremely fussy about moving accounts. Already there was a "fund manager" in here claiming he/she/it was going to move $7 million on Monday to another investment fund. I'd love to know how that one turns out as well. These folks may claim this stuff but when they review the process and the numbers, nah, they are not going to wind up divesting. TIAA-CREF is simply being a responsible company, I hope they dig a little deeper, and I'm proud of them for being so upstanding. I look forward to more American firms doing the same until Israel gets the message. Make peace, end the abominable occupations.

...Such a transaction will easily be spotted, and now with your post, it will be looked for. Forewarned is forearmed.

we know corporates have no soul. To even suggest that a company can divest on humanitarian grounds is bull. Always follow the money my Israeli friends. Always! The article does state that the Israeli firm was in crisis anyway. Good chance that the investor has been approached by some gulf Arab firm looking for capital.

You guys have been manipulating people and governments for too long with your money. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Well, thank you TIAA-CREF. First thing Monday morning I will be moving $20 million from the family fund I manage to them.

since when did the market have a heart???? adalah-ny sounds like another al sharpton shakedown scheme.

TIAA-CREF is a huge organization. It is the pension investment firm for a large percentage of the university employees in the United States. It is where all of my pension money is invested. This small divestment should be viewed by concerned Israelis as an opening salvo in a movement to remove ALL investment from Israeli corporations -- more divestment by TIAA-CREF and more by other funds. Divestment, sanctions and boycotts are the price you will pay for the settlements on the West Bank. I hope you think it is worth the price.

There are plenty of investors in the sea. Hook another one. Forget the one that got away.

I hope all the public school teachers in the US get to invest in terrorist friendly firms which support Hezbollah and Hamas. In fact I would hope Hamas floated their own IPO so that TIAA-CREF could invest in that.

"Oh and BTW - many teachers, civil servants and other professions have LOTS OF JEWS who will join me. Fidelity here I come." - Jane - Gee and I thought they were all brilliant minds working on their Nobel prices from culture to medicine to science. Okay, okay, but to be fair, that is what you repeatedly have told us in previous posts at times when Jews hit the news for brilliance. But I am truly happy to hear there are lots of Jews working for a meager wage as teacher or civil servant serving the common good. My friend Shlomo is one of them (actually an Israeli immigrant in Holland). Wonderfull guy. Keep up the good work.

first thing monday $7,000,000 Canadiand being redirected to other investment funds. Lets play.

....among the U.S. Jewish Diaspora from the good ones. Those U.S. Jews, who are threatening now the U.S. pension fund giant with boycott for divesting from an organisation which clearly supports Israels settlement policy in the West Bank, DO NOT WANT A FAIR PEACE between Israelis and Palestinians. Seems to me, that a few masks will come down here on this thread....

As so many posters on this site, you have no idea what you are talking about. TIAA is a teachers' retirement fund.

that TIAA decided that an investment in Leviev's company isn't so hot? After all, it's one of numerous Israeli companies that TIAA has in its portfolio. This hardly represents bowing to some request to boycott Israel!

else your Ireland produces? Besides hotel chambermaids that is .Now they're being replaced by cheaper Polish ones.Divestment at its best.

Before taking precipitous action, you might call the company and get the actual facts. It is not possible to tell from this story why this minuscule divestment was made. The amount is less than the retirement account of one 30-year teacher. Based on the story, it might appear that the firm being divested is on the verge of bankruptcy. And getting out before its value drops below a penny a share is maybe wise. A brain is a wiser investment tool than the heart.

It's not that this divestment is significant. It's not, and I doubt if it was even politically motivated. TIAA-CREF was taking flak for a holding they didn't even have any more, and they merely pointed that out. However, if people jump all over TIAA-CREF for it, other financial players will take note. Just don't invest in Israel in the first place. Then no one can give you flak for selling your holdings.

Just went up by $ 300,000.

they have placed a huge explosive device among civilians in ulster.the bomb was larger then the murderous irish bomb that killed 28 women and children in omagh.

i write no more then the truth.the amount is too small to effect us.it is not news.otherwise every share holder who sells israeli shares will call it "divesting".quite ridiculous. sneering?none needed in this case just the facts.

"the amount is too small" It is not about the financial impact. It is about increasing public awareness. And simply sneering at it won't help.

These are large companys that have pension funds in israel that affect working class citizens. By divesting of then you don't just punish the bug companys and there stock holders, you punish the working people Iincude palistians). We are in a bad enconic time. don't you think you should look at who is affect you descisions you make against what you think is just a large companmy.

then we take Al Quds. Little cracks on the zionist international mob. Lev Leviev is a criminal before anything else. But how many Lev Levievs are still at large?

Ombudsman is making a joke about TIAA-CREF being miniscule (at least I hope they are making a joke). TIAA-CREF has an amount almost twice the GDP of Israel under management. The amount is tiny but the significance is huge as having a respected fund such as TIAA-CREF divesting legitimizes divestment for other funds.

I and many others have large retirement funds investd through TIAA-CREF. Guess what I'm doing on Monday?? The entire bundle is being moved to an undivested company. Oh and BTW - many teachers, civil servants and other professions have LOTS OF JEWS who will join me. Fidelity here I come.

U.S. companies are mostly pro Israel like majority of the population. The business world is not left leaning like it is in Europe, so Adalah can try their best, but at most they might convince some left leaning artists and clothing companies to divest from Israel, while majority of bond and shareholders will want to make their money with Israel.

TIAA-CREF has had numerous customer service and other issues which led to SEC complaints.

This was a financial move only according to the man who I ride the train with every work day who was involved in that business decision. Don't make more of it than it was.

There is no ripple whatsoever since the left wing fanatics and university professors have already shown their hand!! Sane Americans recognize the devious Arab methods and turn their backs on the anti-Zionists that have refused to accept a JEWISH state in the middle of the Muslim world.... Too bad but we are here to stay and be protected from terror by erecting a wall/barrier... By the way, this is exactly what the USA is doing along the drug war lord infested Mexico!!

So why is the barrier snaking in the West Bank , seperating Palestinian communities from each other , seperating Palestinian farmers from their arable land?????

It is certainly getting the attention of Israel . Keep chipping away at this unconditional support of the occupation....

israel is above all a creative society.we do not have natural resources other then our intelligence.we therefore export technology needed by the entire world.jaffa oranges are a thing of the past. do you think divestments would bother a nation whose wealth is its people?

WHAT THE COMPANY IS STIL INVESTED IN

Very stupid move on the part of these pro-arab jerks. Their total investment of $257k was di minimis. I look forward to closing my account -- not large, but larger than the $257k they pull from an Israeli company. And I look forward to telling them WHY I'm doing it. I hope other's follow suit; but I'm looking forward to being one of the first come Monday morning. I can easily roll it over into another IRA and say good-by to these anti-Israel, anti-Jewish pro-arab slime.

Two good reasons not to do business with TIAA-CREF any longer: (1) they let their personal politics affect how much of a return I can earn; (2) their personal politics are immoral.

yes indeed, a mere drop... but it opens eyes and paves the way for others to consider doing the same. it's not so much the drop that makes the difference; it's the ripple that radiates from its impact.

Israel has worked hard to gain this attention---so let,s reward her.

you have just given this miniscule "fund" some free advertising.if an opponent of the state says he has just divested usd 100 of shares from an israeli company would you also comment?

The barrier protects the israeli citizens from terrorism.

adalah is partly supported by the new israel fund, an american jewish organization. some of its most outspoken anti-israel leaders(jewish and muslim israelis) have been trained at american university law school.

All US Jews are urged to boycott this hypocritical company.

The Apartheid state of South Africa was altered partly by disinvestment by the West. It could happen again. One state solution would almost mean an apartheid state. The two state roadmap is the plan. I'm pro Israel, but there are limits of time and money that taxpaying Americans will allow. Now, is the time for peace!