Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons The State of Louisiana has become the 25th state to prohibit ties with the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement. On Tuesday, May 22nd, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed an anti-BDS executive order, stating that Louisiana does not and will not support any boycott of Israel, as Israel is a strong ally and trade partner to the U.S. and Louisiana. The order says that “executive branch agencies may not execute a procurement contract with a vendor if that vendor is engaging in a boycott of Israel. Further, executive branch agencies shall reserve the right to terminate any procurement contract with a vendor that engages in a boycott of Israel during the term of the contract.” Additionally, all contracts must include a stipulation confirming that the vendors are not actively engaging in a boycott of Israel and will not engage in one for the duration of the contract. However, this does not apply to contracts with a value less than $100,000 or for vendors with less than five employees. Governor Edwards stated, “The United States, and by affiliation Louisiana, have benefited in innumerable ways from our deep friendship with Israel. Any effort to boycott Israel is an affront to this longstanding relationship. I am pleased that Louisiana will join what is now a critical mass of states in supporting our closest ally.” Edwards, a true friend of Israel, issued the order on the same night he held a celebration for Israel’s 70th anniversary in the Governor’s Mansion. This is not the first time Louisiana has dealt with the BDS movement. This past January, the City of New Orleans passed a resolution, drafted by the New Orleans Palestinian Solidarity Committee, that would have prohibited “contracting with or investing in corporations whose practices consistently violate human rights.” Anti-Israel activists and BDS supporters hailed the passage of the resolution (5-0 vote) as a victory for the BDS movement, as Israel could be targeted. However, the council unanimously (7-0 vote) rescinded the resolution after groups like the Anti-Defamation League and the Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans condemned it. Additionally, Senator Bill Cassidy acknowledged that the resolution was “rooted in anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel.” While the rescission of the resolution ended up being a huge win for pro-Israel supporters, this new executive order will bring the state closer to eradicating the BDS movement.