‘If you boycott Israel, New York will BOYCOTT YOU!’ – Cuomo SLAPS DOWN divestment movement

by SooperMexican

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo just gave the anti-Israel BDS movement an atomic wedgie with this nuclear executive announcement that uses New York State’s economy as a weapon against critics.

Daaaang!!! Liberals are freaking out and calling it an “unconstitutional” and “McCarthyite” move by the otherwise far left liberal governor.

Here’s more from Salon:

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a pro-Israel executive order on Sunday that will punish people and groups who support a boycott of Israel on behalf of Palestinian human rights.

Legal experts have described this long pending anti-boycott policy as “21st-century McCarthyism,” warning it would effectively create a discriminatory “blacklist” of Palestinian human rights advocates who endorse boycotts like those organized in order to combat U.S.-backed apartheid in South Africa.

Prominent legal organizations including the Center for Constitutional Rights, National Lawyers Guild, the New York Civil Liberties Union and Palestine Legal say these politically motivated anti-boycott policies constitute an unconstitutional attack on the freedom of speech.

The New York legislature has unsuccessfully tried to push through anti-boycott legislation for months, amid intense pressure by pro-Israel lobby groups. Now it appears that Gov. Cuomo has decided to instead circumvent the legal process and implement the policy on his own.

Wow. I’m pro-Israel, and I’m glad they’re shutting down the BDS movement, but this seems a tad bit over the top.

Here’s the text of the proclamation:

“DIRECTING STATE AGENCIES AND AUTHORITIES TO DIVEST CERTAIN PUBLIC FUNDS

WHEREAS, the State of Israel is a critical and invaluable ally of the United States;

WHEREAS, the State of New York and Israel enjoy a special historical relationship and share a commonly forged cultural bond;

WHEREAS, the State of New York does not support boycott related tactics that are used to threaten the sovereignty and security of allies and trade partners of the United States;

WHEREAS, in 2005, elements of Palestinian civil society issued a call for a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel, coordinated by the Palestinian BDS National Committee;

WHEREAS, the State of New York unequivocally rejects the BDS campaign and stands firmly with Israel;

WHEREAS, the State of New York will not permit its own investment activity to further the BDS campaign in any way, shape or form, whether directly or indirectly;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows.”

What do you all think?


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