Portland, Maine residents divided over Israel divestment plan [Video]

PORTLAND, Maine — Portland now joins a small group of American cities in passing a plan to divest from companies doing business with Israel.

The Portland City Council passed a resolution Wednesday that would direct the city manager to not invest public funds in more than 80 companies—from defense contractor Lockheed Martin to Volvo—that supporters say are tied to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

“People in Portland, Maine, and across the U.S. have spoken very loudly that the atrocities have to end,” Sarah Snyder, who helped draft the resolution that was introduced by councilor April Fournier, said Thursday.

Snyder said the goal of the resolution is to put the pressure on Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports more than 40,000 …