Illinois State Legislature approves an Anti-BDS bill

For several months now, the U.S. government has been conducting a substantial amount of necessary work on fighting anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism. At the end of March, Congress created a Bipartisan Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, based on the Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism. The State Department’s definition, which currently is used only for international monitoring, includes demonizing Israel, delegitimizing Israel, and holding Israel to a double standard to that of any other country in the world. Currently, U.S. administrative agencies, State governments, and universities have not adopted this definition, and still lack a formal definition of anti-Semitism. Defining anti-Semitism would be exceptionally useful for articulating the boundaries of discrimination and harassment towards the Jewish people and ensuring their civil rights are adequately protected, while not intruding on First Amendment free speech rights.

Certain state governments have been taking steps in the right direction, in terms of adopting resolutions condemning anti-Semitism, and condemning the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel (BDS) movement.

The Department of State’s definition of anti-Semitism is endorsed in a Californian bill, SCR-35 which urges “each University of California campus to adopt a resolution condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and racism, and would condemn any act of anti-Semitism augmenting education programs at all publicly funded schools in the State of California.”

The BDS Movement has experiencing a strong backlash in certain State Legislatures, and we hope this trend will spread. Previously condemned by the Indiana and Tennessee State Legislatures, the Illinois State Legislature is currently on the verge of passing an anti-BDS resolution.

Seal_of_Illinois.svgThe bill, SB 1761, was passed unanimously by the Senate and the House of Representatives Executive Committee. It will now move forward to the full chamber of the House of Representatives for a final vote. This bill, pushed forward by Republican Governor Bruce Rauner, “Amends the Illinois Procurement Code. Prohibits a State agency from entering into a contract subject to the Code with a business that boycotts Israel.”
By cutting the state sponsored pension funds to the companies participating in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel, the Illinois State Legislature makes a strong point in combatting the anti-Israel movement.

SB 1761 is modeled on previous state legislation divesting from Darfur and Iran, and concerns not only American businesses but foreign companies, as well. The Export Administration Act of 1979 (EAA), though not renewed, prohibits American companies to divest from Israel. But this federal law does not apply to foreign businesses.

On May 13, B’nai B’rith International released a statement applauding “Illinois citizens and their representatives for taking such a strong stance against a movement rooted in anti-Semitism that ultimately impedes the peace process by opposing constructive dialogue between Israel and Palestinians.”

If the House of Representatives approves the bill, Illinois would become the first state to ban foreign companies to boycott Israel, and it would pave the way for other states to implement such legislation, as well.