A controversial effort to establish a proposed ballot measure in Pittsburgh that would require the city to cut ties with companies that do business with Israel was set aside on Monday after a judge ruled that the recently filed petition lacked the required number of valid signatures.

The petition, backed by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, faced legal challenges from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and the city controller, Rachael Heisler, alleging that the ballot referendum, if approved in November, would contravene state law concerning boycotts and could prevent critical city services from functioning.

In a statement after the court hearing on Monday, Heisler called the ruling “a victory for the City of Pittsburgh,” adding that the “proposed referendum would have been impossible to implement, a threat to public safety and a significant legal liability.”

The Jewish federation in Pittsburgh, in a separate statement, hailed the judge’s decision as a “victory against” what it called “the first attempt to qualify an anti-Israel boycott and divestment proposal at the municipal level to a popular vote.”

Prior to the hearing, the Pittsburgh DSA chapter had announced on social media on Sunday evening that it had chosen to withdraw the petition, saying that it could not “keep up with” the legal challenges.

“This is a strategic withdrawal, and by no means a loss,” the group wrote. “This isn’t about us, and at the end of the day this isn’t about ballot access — this is about pressuring for a ceasefire and a Free Palestine.”

The DSA also claimed that it had “submitted more signatures than required” and accused “politicians and interest groups” of pushing its initiative off of the November ballot.

But Heisler rejected that characterization. “The petitioners were not ‘pushed off’ of anything – they simply failed to collect enough valid signatures to get on the ballot,” she said in her statement. “Our office, and the other objectors, followed the legal process available to us. I believe the referendum language itself is why they failed to get enough signatures.”

The federation, which called the DSA’s petition “a grave threat to the core values and financial viability of the Jewish community,” echoed that sentiment. “In the end,” the group argued in its statement, “it was their antisemitic and anti-Israel agenda that led to the referendum initiative’s defeat.”

In addition to court challenges, the petition had faced bipartisan condemnation from top elected officials in Pennsylvania and led to the resignation of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey’s communications director, who had been among the signatories.

In its statement on Sunday, the DSA vowed “to come back stronger, more experienced and fully ready to continue fighting for a free Palestine with all avenues available to us,” but did not elaborate on any plans to revive the petition.

“In a time of increasing antisemitism and threats against the Jewish community, efforts like this no doubt will continue to arise,” the federation said on Monday. “However, our victory today demonstrates the strength and resilience of our community. We will not be intimidated by those who seek to sow division and fear.”