June 30, 2016 — New York, New York
AJC praised yesterday’s passage by the Senate Appropriations Committee of the Combating BDS Act of 2016 as an amendment to the State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) spending bill. The amendment passed by a bipartisan majority of 21-9. Its sponsors were Senators Mark Kirk (R-IL), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), and Charles Schumer (D-NY). AJC has strongly advocated passage since the bill was first introduced in February, and its role has been publicly acknowledged by the sponsors.
“This marks an important step in the battle against the Israel-haters,” said AJC CEO David Harris. “While ostensibly aimed at helping Palestinians, the BDS movement in fact seeks to delegitimize and ultimately eliminate Israel. We eagerly look forward to passage of the bill by the full Senate and the House, and the president’s signature that makes it law.”
The bill declares that state and local governments have the legal power to divest public funds from entities involved in the boycott of, divestment from, or sanctions on the State of Israel (BDS), so long as the designation of such entities is based on “credible information available to the public.” The measure strengthens the hands of local and state legislators who are fighting back against the BDS economic assault on Israel.
To date, Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and South Carolina have passed anti-BDS laws, and a number of other states are also considering such action.
