John Bel Edwards says Louisiana won't do business with companies that boycott Israel

http://www.nola.com ^ | 5/23/18 | Julia O'Donoghue

[BBell]

Gov. John Bel Edwards issued an executive order Tuesday night (May 22) prohibiting Louisiana state government from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.

The order directs the state commissioner of administration, Jay Dardenne, to terminate existing state contracts with companies if they are currently boycotting Israel or supporting those who do so. Moving forward, companies will be required to sign an agreement certifying that they aren't boycotting Israel before being awarded a state contract.

The prohibition will not be applied to companies that have contracts with the state that total less than $100,000 or that have fewer than five employees, according to the executive order.

Edwards issued the order on the same night he was celebrating the 70th anniversary of Israel at the governor's mansion. The Louisiana House also honored Israel at the opening of their special session Tuesday afternoon.

"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 Democrat, said in a written statement Tuesday night.

The governor's office said 24 other states have already passed or implemented similar measures, including nearby Arkansas. Such proposals have been pushed nationwide by the American Legislative Exchange Council and other politically conservative advocacy groups.

They are meant to counter the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which calls for people to stop doing business with Israel due to the country's treatment of Palestinians.

Edwards' executive order specifically mentions BDS, and a hope to pushback on the movement's goals of isolating Israel with his proposal. "The state of Louisiana unequivocally rejects the BDS campaign and stands firmly with Israel,"

[BBell]

But I thought that the folks in the south were racist backward anti-Semite KKK rednecks?

The ACLU will probably sue.

[yldstrk]

well it’s about damn time somebody stood up for Israel. The only western style government in an area run by potentates.

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

I don’t think whether a private company supports or doesn’t support a foreign nation should have any impact on a state government’s decision to do business with it. Who offers the taxpayer the best bang for our buck? If you’re giving me the best value on a service I don’t really give a damn how you feel about Israel.

[nwrep]

Are there any companies that boycott Israel? I did not think so. I thought this was only college campuses and activists, not companies..

[Maine Mariner]

So a symbolic gesture that means little in real terms but great publicity for the governor?

[Zionist Conspirator]

Oh, if only Ned Touchstone (yimach shemo vezikhro!) were around to see this!

[bgill]

That’s good but isn’t enforceable.

[pabianice]

Righteous among the nations ping.

[fella]

Good news.

[Rebelbase]

No mudbugs for you!

[SJackson]

Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

..................

Only marginally a state issue. If the State Dept were to blacklist the palestinian boycott, American's couldn't participate. Let the courts work out the issue of whether the palestinians qualify as a "state" in the context of the law.