The ‘Sunshine State’ has overwhelmingly passed an anti-BDS bill with a vote of 112 to 2, making it the latest State to reject the boycott campaign against Israel.
The law passed Wednesday makes clear that the State of Florida will not engage in commerce with boycotters, however, it does not infringe on the First Amendment right to free speech. This means individuals and independent groups are free to advocate boycotting Israel and will not be penalised for exercising free speech.
What this law does say is that the legislature controls taxpayer money, and it decides where to invest it and where to spend it. Florida is exercising its financial discretion to support public policy and the basic ethical standards of government. As there is overwhelming documentation that the BDS movement is thinly veiled anti-Semitism, with this law, Florida makes clear that anti-Semitism is against its public policy.
Meaning all public bodies and government funded organisations will not be allowed to do business with organisations which boycott the Jewish state.
Last year, Tennessee became the first state to pass a legislation against the Boycott movement. The Tennessee resolution declares that the BDS movement is “one of the main vehicles for spreading anti-Semitism and advocating the elimination of the Jewish state,” adding that BDS activities in Tennessee “undermine the Jewish people’s right to self-determination, which they are fulfilling in the State of Israel.”
Around thirty more States are looking to pass anti-boycott laws. Let’s pray all of them pass.
