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Kentucky becomes 22nd state to officially enact anti-BDS law

“My colleagues and I condemn the BDS movement, and we have sent a letter to the Office of Foreign Asset Control requesting an update on the federal government’s oversight of non-governmental organizations engaged in anti-Semitic hate against our allies in Israel and the Jewish people worldwide,” said Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) at the signing ceremony.

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin. Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr.
Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin. Credit: Gage Skidmore/Flickr.

Kentucky became the 22nd state to enact legislation prohibiting state contractors from boycotting Israel. About a half-dozen other states have executive orders or resolutions.

“Kentucky condemns the #BDS movement and refuses to tolerate boycott-related tactics used to threaten the sovereignty and security of @Israel or other allies of the United States,” tweeted Gov. Matt Bevin (R).

“My colleagues and I condemn the BDS movement, and we have sent a letter to the Office of Foreign Asset Control requesting an update on the federal government’s oversight of non-governmental organizations engaged in anti-Semitic hate against our allies in Israel and the Jewish people worldwide,” said Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.) at the bill’s signing ceremony.

StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein tweeted that the enactment was “great news.”

The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations also applauded the Aug. 27 move.

The legislation codified into law an executive order that Bevin signed in November to prohibit awarding state contractors who partake in the anti-Israel movement.

The reversal “sends an unfortunate signal at a time of rising antisemitism and sustained efforts to isolate Israel economically,” Evan R. Bernstein, CEO of B’nai B’rith International, told JNS.
Cooperation cannot thrive with boycotts, said the Israeli president, who met Bahraini and Chinese foreign ministers on the sidelines of a pan-Asian conference in Azerbaijan.
Israel’s foreign minister called it a historic day for ties between the two countries and an important day for the capital.
Mark Levine “pledged many times to restore New York City’s investment in Israel Bonds and had it right when he called them ‘a long-term safe and secure investment,’” an Israel Bonds spokesman told JNS.