New York First State to Implement Key ACLJ Anti-BDS Strategy After Historic UN Convention

Last week I directly addressed one of the most critical issues facing our ally Israel at the United Nations (U.N.) in New York City – the anti-Israel BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement.  Now, less than a week later, the State of New York has already implemented one of the key proposals I presented to stop this anti-Semitic and illegal movement in its tracks.

Anti-Israel forces have long tried to delegitimize the State of Israel through any means possible – terrorism targeting innocent civilians, lawfare abusing international systems of law, and now through invidious discrimination aimed at the Jewish People and anyone who would support them.

In my speech, I discussed that our team has briefed 30 states – including New York – about the dangers of BDS. And over the weekend, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order forcing state entities to stop investing with any entity linked with the BDS movement.  It’s the first action of its kind in the nation and a significant victory.

The Associated Press has more:

The Democratic governor expects state agencies to divest all public funds from any company or individual with ties to the movement known as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. BDS was founded in 2005 to protest Israel's actions toward Palestinians by boycotting Israeli products and companies.

Cuomo says New York will boycott anyone who is boycotting Israel.
"This order sends the message that this state will do everything in its power to end this hateful, intolerant campaign," the governor said. 

Our multi-pronged legal advocacy strategy crosses party lines; it crosses national lines; it crosses geopolitical boundaries.

Vicious discrimination against Israel, the Jewish People, and even Christians (and people from other faiths) who support the State of Israel must not be tolerated.  It’s illegal.  It’s immoral.  And it must end.

We have taken on anti-Israel BDS on college campuses all across the U.S. – where it has sowed the seeds of hate and anti-Semitism – and we’ve won.  We’ve taken on anti-Israel BDS across the U.S. legally and won.  As I stated at the U.N., our message has been clear and simple: Knock it off.

But we don’t just talk about this issue; we take aggressive action – in courts, in state legislatures, and in national assemblies.

We can win this fight.  New York has taken a significant first step. We urge other states to follow and put an end to this illegal discriminatory behavior.