Lawmakers To Debate Bill On Israel Boycott

Read the letter that Governor Larry Hogan sent in July to the American Jewish Committee regarding the movement to boycott Israel. Download This File

Later this month, lawmakers in Annapolis hold hearings on legislation that supporters believe would put the state of Maryland clearly on the side of Israel, in a worldwide movement to boycott Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians.

The legislation (HB 949 and SB 739) would ban the state of Maryland from offering procurement contracts, or making any investments in companies that boycott Israel.

The legislation was a topic of conversation on this week's edition of Maryland's News This Week.

The legislation is in response to a worldwide Boycott, Disinvestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement that seeks to put economic pressure on Israel to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians. It is similar to the 1980's movement that put pressure on South Africa to end Apartheid.

Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council said that the legislation is an extension of existing state law which bans state investments related to Iran and Sudan.

Libit said the aim of the organizers of the BDS movement is not peace, but the destruction of the State of Israel and he believes that no Jew should support this measure.

There are Jews who support BDS and oppose this legislation.

Rachel Roberts, an attorney and activist from Silver Spring, who is a member of Maryland Freedom to Boycott.

Roberts told Maryland's News This Week that the measure is unconstitutional, and she says this is different than state laws related to Iran.

Roberts said the law related to Iran addresses a country that is already the focus of a country that faces sanctions by the U.S.

She says this legislation targets a grassroots movement formed by citizens.

The House bill is sponsored by Montgomery County Democratic Delegate Ben Kramer. The bill has about a dozen co-sponsors both Democratic and Republican including House Minority Leader Nic Kipke. The House bill will face a hearing in the House Health and Government Operations Committee next Tuesday, February 28.

The Senate version of the bill is sponsored by Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee Chairman Bobby Zirkin, and has about a dozen Democratic and Republican co-sponsors including Senate Minority Leader J.B. Jennings.

As for Gov. Larry Hogan, Doug Mayer, the governor’s communications director, provided WBAL NewsRadio 1090 with a copy of a July letter the governor sent to Alan Ronkin, Washington Director of the American Jewish Community.

In the letter, Hogan criticizes the BDS movement saying it, "attempts to undermine Israel."

Hogan goes on to say that Israel is an important ally and that a peace agreement is achieved through, "not by boycotts and threats, but by dialogue, compromise and cooperation."