State agencies will now cease doing business with companies that boycott, divest or sanction the Israeli government under an executive order issued Sunday by Gov. Cuomo.
“It’s very simple: If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you,” he said before marching up 5th Avenue in the Celebrate Israel Parade. “We are against the BDS movement in every way. We are against companies that do it. We are against the promotion of it.”
The new mandate will take effect immediately and require the state Office of General Services to compile a list of institutions and companies that “participate in boycott, divestment, or sanctions [BDS] activity targeting Israel, either directly or through a parent or subsidiary.”
The list, which will be posted on the agency’s website within the next six months, will be updated twice a year based on “credible information available to the public.” Entities that want to be removed must submit written evidence proving they’re no longer involved in BDS activities.
New York is the first state in the country to take such a hard line, and Cuomo encouraged others to take a similar approach.
He also chided fellow Democrats who support economic sanctions against Israel.
“I’m sad as a Democrat,” he said. “You now have assets of the Democratic Party that are being critical of Israel as being disproportionate in its response [to enemies].”
Supporters of boycotting Israel attacked Cuomo, describing him as “out of touch.”
“Shame on Governor Cuomo for using an anti-democratic executive order,” said Rebecca Vilkomerson of the pro-BDS Jewish Voice for Peace. “Boycotts have long been a tactic used by social justice movements to bring about urgently needed change.”