Oklahoma Gov Signs Anti-BDS Bill Into Law

On May 21, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed into law a bill barring the state from providing contracts that boycott Israel.

The Jerusalem Post reported Stitt said in a Twitter video announcing his signing of the bill, “This bill just lets everybody know that Oklahoma stands with Israel, and we will not do business with companies that boycott the country of Israel.”

Oklahoma stands with Israel 🇮🇱

HB 3967 makes it clear Oklahoma will not do business with companies that boycott Israel & declares them as a prominent trading partner with our state. Thank you Rep. McBride & Sen. Weaver for your hard work! pic.twitter.com/8SJRpWo0vq

— Governor Kevin Stitt (@GovStitt) May 21, 2020

Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations chairman Arthur Stark, President William Daroff and Vice Chair Malcolm Hoelein said in a May 26 statement, “We welcome Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt’s signing of legislation that prohibits Oklahoma from contracting with companies that boycott Israel. Oklahoma is the 30^th state to take action against the discriminatory, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions initiatives, closely following Missouri which became the 29^th state to do so earlier in this month.”

They added, “We look forward to the remaining states rejecting the pernicious BDS campaign in the days ahead.”

Jewish Leaders Welcome Signing of Anti-BDS Legislation in Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/AAU2nsfXt3

— Conf Of Presidents (@Conf_of_Pres) May 26, 2020

The Journal had previously reported that the Oklahoma State Senate had passed the bill on May 15 with 36 votes in favor and seven against; it passed the State House on May 4 with 75 votes in favor and 20 against.

In March, when the bill was still in the House, both the American Civil Liberties Union and Council on American-Islamic Relations argued that the bill is unconstitutional. In April, a federal appeals court dismissed a lawsuit against Texas’ anti-BDS law.