Florida became the fifth state in the nation to introduce a landmark resolution to confront the anti-Semitic BDS movement. Building on the nationwide momentum created by Tennessee, legislators in Florida have decided On December 21, 2015, to confront this growing threat as well in 2016.
Numerous efforts have increased to boycott Israeli political leaders and businesses. Also, the number of anti-Semitic attacks against Jewish and pro-Israel students on university campuses continues to grow nationwide and in Florida specifically. Parents, students and grassroots activists in the sunshine state are increasing pressure on their state legislators to publicly condemn this anti-Semitic movement by adopting Tennessee’s landmark resolution.
“Florida and Israel have enjoyed a long history of friendship and are great allies of our shared Democratic values”, stated PJTN’s Board Chairman, Stanley G. Tate. Mr. Tate, a resident of Miami, Florida was instrumental in the early development of the Florida Prepaid College Program where he served as Chairman of the Foundation from 1987 to 2005.
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Mr. Tate worked closely with Florida State Senator Miguel Diaz de la Portilla (R – Miami) and State House Representative Lori Berman (D-Lantana) in drafting SR 1184/HR1001, a bi-partisan resolution to condemn the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement and halt the increasing incidents of anti-Semitism on Florida campuses.
BDS is an international anti-Israel, anti-Zionist propaganda campaign and by extension, an anti-Semitic and anti-Jewish campaign. The BDS movement calls for:
- Boycotting Israeli products, academics, and cultural leaders.
- Pressuring companies to stop doing business with Israel and divesting from companies that do business with Israel.
- Sanctioning Israel for its legitimate self-defense measures to protect Israelis of all ethnicities from terrorism, and Hamas rocket/missile attacks.
The President of PJTN, Laurie Cardoza-Moore stated, “unfortunately, now the President of the United States has joined the growing chorus of global voices calling for boycotting Israel. His past treatment of Israel’s PM and his absence during Netanyahu’s address before both houses of Congress in March of 2014 and his recent endorsement of labeling products manufactured in Judea and Samaria further lends legitimacy to the BDS movement and anti-Semitic attacks. Obama’s despicable action of boycotting America’s only legitimate ally in the Middle East threatens to further isolate and demonize Israel.”
The time has come for elected state leaders to step forward and condemn the hate speech and targeting of pro-Israel and Jewish students on college campuses that has been fueled by the BDS campaign. The incidents of anti-Semitic attacks in general, and against Jewish students on college campuses specifically, have seen a dramatic increase over the last several years.
In closing, Ms. Cardoza-Moore stated, “The recent Florida resolution can serve as a positive example and concrete model of a firm step that other state legislators can take as we begin to expose the malicious intent of the BDS campaign and confront it head-on! With 70% of Americans supporting Israel over the Arab-Israeli conflict, I am calling on Christians, Jews and people of conscience to add their voices to this groundbreaking initiative by contacting PJTN.org and launching this initiative in their states. It’s time to confront these anti-Semites head-on!”
