WASHINGTON, D.C., April 24, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Israel Project today commended Minnesota state legislators for passing a law that prohibits state agencies from contracting with organizations that participate in the discriminatory Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. The legislation is expected to be signed into law by Governor Dayton.
Despite the preponderance of totalitarian regimes and human rights-abusing governments throughout the world, proponents of BDS focus all their attention on demonizing the only Jewish state – a state that shares immutable values with the United States. The founders of this insidious initiative have openly stated that their goal is for Israel to cease to exist.
The bill passed today ensures that taxpayer funds will not support this unabashed anti-Semitism, and reaffirms the strong relationship between the North Star State and Israel.
The sponsors of this bipartisan legislation are Rep. Ron Kresha and Sen. Warren Limmer. The bill passed in the House 98-28 and in the Senate by a margin of 57-8. The bill must make one additional, quick stop in the State House for concurrence before it is sent to Governor Dayton.
“Israel and Minnesota are great friends, and I thank the people of Minnesota for supporting this essential relationship, which is based on shared values,” said The Israel Project CEO and President Josh Block. “By passing this bill today, Minnesotans are standing strong against discrimination, and are solidly on the right side of history.”
Minnesota is the latest of more than a dozen states to pass this legislation, following similar victories most recently in Michigan, Arkansas, and Ohio.
About The Israel Project
The Israel Project (TIP) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization that provides factual information about Israel and the Middle East to the press, policymakers and the public. Founded in 2003, TIP works in multiple languages to provide real-time background information, images, maps, audio, video, graphics and direct access to newsmakers. To learn more about TIP, visit http://www.theisraelproject.org.