Mar 10, 2016

Greater Miami Jewish Federation Applauds Florida Passage of Anti-BDS Bill

The Board of Directors of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) applaud the State of Florida for the passage of anti-BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) legislation to prohibit the investment of State funds in companies that boycott Israel and to require parties contracting with the State government to certify that they do not participate in boycotts against Israel. Having passed with unanimous support in the Senate and with an overwhelming majority in the House, the bill was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott on March 10.

A leadership group from the JCRC and Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy traveled together to Tallahassee earlier this year to meet with State legislators on a broad range of issues, including this anti-BDS legislation. All six members of the Federation delegation testified in a formal hearing before the Florida House State Affairs Committee in support of the bill. In her testimony, JCRC Chair Shelley Niceley Groff said, “Firms that boycott Israel are a vital part of the movement to delegitimize Israel by using the tools of boycotts, divestments and sanctions, or BDS. The BDS movement is simply using these tactics to tell an anti-Israel story which is counterproductive, disingenuous and plain wrong. We should be building bridges between different peoples, not burning them.” She added, “The BDS movement works unambiguously to undermine the ‘two states for two peoples’ solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. The way forward is not by immoral threats of boycotts that do more harm than good, but rather by negotiations.”

Commenting on the legislation that prohibits contracts with and investments in companies that boycott Israel, Federation Board Chair Robert Berrin said, “We commend the State legislature and Governor Scott for passage of this law, which we hope will serve as a model for other states across the country. We are particularly proud that each of our six senators in the Miami-Dade State legislative delegation were co-introducers of the bill.”

The arguments of the BDS movement rely heavily on a pattern of distortions and falsifications of Israel’s legitimate historical, spiritual, cultural and legal ties to the land, as well as demonization of its human rights record and policies, and its right to self-defense. Anti-Israel activities have increased on university campuses and in academic and professionals associations, church movements, the cultural sector, and other areas. JCRC initiatives to educate and empower our youth to speak out against the BDS movement are critical.

For further information, please call the JCRC at 786.866.8486.