News

Partial victory in Ohio anti-BDS legislation fight

An anti-BDS bill, supported by several Zionist organizations including the American Jewish Committee (AJC) and the Jewish Federations, passed both chambers and is now on the desk of Republican governor John Kasich.

While H.B. 476 eventually passed, it did so only after it was amended, effectively weakening the pro-Israel legislation. The amendments came in response to overwhelming pressure by 35 individuals and organizations, including Kareem El-Hosseiny, AMP’s national government affairs coordinator, who told members of the Government Oversight and Affairs Committee the bill was unconstitutional and could potentially be costly to the state of Ohio if it were to be litigated in court. 

Other organizations that provided testimony against the bill were ACLU of Ohio, Jewish Voice for Peace, CAIR-Ohio, Pal Legal, and the Center for Constitutional Rights. Zionist organizations promoting the infringement of First Amendment rights included Stand With Us, The Jewish Federation, AJC, and Hillel.

The original bill would have banned state agencies from doing business with companies boycotting or divesting from Israel for any reason. Now, the bill has been amended to ban boycotts and divestment efforts for “discriminatory purposes.” This leaves intact the possibility of state agencies contracting with companies, which are boycotting or divesting from Israel for political purposes.

“I would categorize this as a partial victory,” El-Hosseiny said. “As compared to other states that have passed anti-BDS legislation, this feels less of a win for those who would aim to shield Israel from any criticism.”

The Ohio anti-BDS coalition, which includes AMP, is now organizing to persuade Governor Kasich to veto the bill.