Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) Last week, the House of Representatives introduced a bi-partisan resolution condemning the boycott of Israeli academic institutions or professors. Resolution 318, introduced by Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), carries support from both sides of the aisle with two Republicans, and three Democrats. The resolution recognizes that boycotting Israel, as the resolution states, “hinders the possibility of achieving a fair and just solution and a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” This push at the federal level to knock out the Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions(BDS) Movement against Israel follows several successful state level efforts. Last month, the Illinois State Senate, incorporating the State Department’s Definition of Anti-Semitism, passed an anti-BDS bill that is slated to pass the House. Next, the Tennessee State Assembly overwhelmingly approved an anti-BDS resolution, stating that BDS is “one of the main vehicles for spreading anti-Semitism and advocating the elimination of the Jewish State.” The Indiana General Assembly followed suit two days later, unanimously condemning BDS, stating BDS promotes “a climate of hatred, intimidation, intolerance and violence against Jews.” Just this month, the New York State Assembly rejected BDS through a resolution that opposes attempts to delegitimize and apply double standards to, the Jewish State. The full text of the bill can be read below. (more…)
California State Assembly Seal Last week, the Higher Education Committee of the California State Assembly approved State Senator Jeff Stone’s resolution (SCR-35) condemning anti-Semitism at California college campuses, by a vote of 8-0. This resolution was previously passed by the CA State Senate. It will now go to the CA State General Assembly for a final vote. The resolution focuses on recent anti-Semitic acts at UC schools, while recognizing that “anti-Semitism continues to be internationally prevalent.” In addition, the resolution criticizes anti-Jewish activity as retaliation “over political events in the Middle East or elsewhere.” At the end, the resolution urges all publicly-funded schools in California to adopt a similar resolution condemning acts of “anti-Semitism and racism, including Islamophobia.” This resolution utilizes the State Department’s Definition of Anti-Semitism, which includes the “3-D Test” of anti-Semitism relative to Israel: applying Double standards to, Delegitimizing, or Demonizing Israel, the only Jewish State. In April, the Brandeis Center joined twenty other groups in writing a letter to State Senator Stone, urging him to support the State Dept. Definition of Anti-Semitism, stating, “…we are extremely troubled by the efforts of some groups to remove from the resolution any reference to the U.S. State Definition’s definition of anti-Semitism.” LDB President Kenneth L. Marcus says, “I congratulate the Higher Ed. Committee on passing this vital piece of legislation with the State Department’s Definition, and hope similar legislation continues to spread to other states.” Victories against BDS are reaching the university level in California, as well. In May, after LDB joined the AMCHA Initiative and other groups in urging UC President Janet Napolitano to adopt the State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism into university policy in order to restrict and inhibit acts of Anti-Semitism against students, Napolitano gave her public support for doing so. This issue will be on the agenda at the UC Board of Regents meeting in July.