ZOA Praises New Hampshire’s Executive Order Joining 36 Other States Opposing BDS – But Legislative Action Needed to Guarantee Exec. Order’s Permanence
News Press Release
July 7, 2023

The Zionist Organization of America thanks and commends New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu for issuing an executive order this week that makes his state the 37th U.S. state to officially combat the anti-Jewish and anti-Israel BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) Movement.

Sununu’s executive order notes:

“Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no executive branch agency may adopt any investment policy that would have the effect of requiring or inducing any person to boycott Israel.

“Executive branch entities will be restricted from investing in companies found to be engaged in a boycott of Israel.

“No executive branch agency shall contract with a company that has been determined to be boycotting Israel.” And:

“Any executive branch agency that enters a contract shall make the contracting party aware that the agency will not tolerate any boycotting of Israel.”

ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said in a statement: “We are grateful that Gov. Sununu took this important action. We encourage America’s remaining governors to follow suit. However: While executive orders are very helpful as long as they remain in existence, a subsequent governor can vacate them. This is why it is vitally important that America’s state legislatures also must introduce and pass legislation that prohibits anti-Israel boycotts, divestments and sanctions. BDS is merely a thinly veiled form of Jew-hatred.”

Klein added: “We urge all Americans who are supportive of Israel and who oppose Jew-hatred to reach out to their governors and state lawmakers to encourage them to issue anti-BDS executive orders and to introduce and pass anti-BDS laws.”

Gov. Sununu noted in a tweet that “NH & Israel have experienced decades of successful exchange of commerce, culture, technology, & tourism. NH will not tolerate anti-semitism, & we are taking significant steps at the state level to prohibit discriminatory boycotts of Israel in state procurement and investments.”

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