February 26, 2016 — Miami, Florida
AJC commended Florida’s House of Representatives for overwhelmingly passing a measure prohibiting the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel. The bill, SB 86: Scrutinized Companies, requires the State Board of Administration to identify all publicly funded companies that engage in boycotts of Israel.
The bill, adopted by a vote of 112-2, unanimously passed the Senate last month, and is expected to be signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.
Florida is the latest state to take action against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement which seeks to delegitimize and demonize Israel. Other state legislatures that have passed similar measures against BDS include Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
“Florida clearly rejects the BDS movement’s efforts to encourage punitive actions against Israel,” said AJC Miami and Broward Regional Director Brian Siegal. “BDS does not advance peace, which only will be achieved in direct bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.”
