North Carolina State Legislature Passes Anti-BDS Bill
(JTA) — The North Carolina state legislature passed a bill that would bar the state from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.
The bill passed last week by both houses of the General Assembly has been sent to state Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature.
The bill, titled “Divestment from Companies That Boycott Israel,” passed the state House of Representatives by a vote of 96 to 19, and passed the state Senate by a vote of 45 to 3.
The legislation required state institutions to stop contracts with companies that boycott Israeli companies or products made in Israel. The bill also prohibits future work with such companies.
North Carolina businesses conduct nearly $140 million per year in exports and commerce with Israel, according to the North Carolina Jewish Federation.
North Carolina will become at least the 22nd state with laws or executive orders banning state business with companies that support the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, or BDS, against Israel.
Among the states that have passed anti-BDS legislation in recent months are: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.
If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO