NH Gov Signs Anti-BDS Executive Order

New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R) signed an executive order on July 6 barring the state government from contracting with those who are boycotting Israel, making New Hampshire the 37th state in the country to adopt measures against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

The executive order lauded “decades of successful exchange” trade with New Hampshire and argued that “Israel is the specific target of a dedicated hate movement that seeks to isolate it economically, alienate it socially and coerce neutral businesses into joining the hate-driven boycott against their will.” The executive order also stated that the New Hampshire state government has long barred contracts with businesses that engage in discriminatory behavior and that the executive order “will protect the rights of our local businesses to engage freely in good business without the fear of coercive tactics of the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.”

“[New Hampshire] will not tolerate anti-semitism, & we are taking significant steps at the state level to prohibit discriminatory boycotts of Israel in state procurement and investments,” Sununu tweeted.

NH & Israel have experienced decades of successful exchange of commerce, culture, technology, & tourism.

NH will not tolerate anti-semitism, & we are taking significant steps at the state level to prohibit discriminatory boycotts of Israel in state procurement and investments. pic.twitter.com/Dxur3vUyHo

— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) July 6, 2023

Today I joined Israel Ambassador to the @UN @giladerdan1 and Consul General of Israel to New England @AmbMeronReuben to sign an Executive Order prohibiting the Executive Branch in NH of doing business with any company that supports discriminatory BDS laws. ⁰⁰Read the EO: pic.twitter.com/gf70WN6FlU

— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) July 6, 2023

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan, who was present at the signing ceremony of the executive order, said in a statement, “I have come here today to express gratitude to the state of New Hampshire on behalf of the State of Israel and Jewish people. By becoming the 37th state to reaffirm opposition to BDS, New Hampshire is helping not just to strengthen relations between Israel and the US, but is also creating an economic Iron Dome that will ensure our shared progress and prosperity while fortifying the moral Iron Dome protecting the basic notions of truth and justice. The support of New Hampshire is the perfect response to this antisemitic commission. I believe we must boycott our boycotters and delegitimize our delegitimizers. This is the most effective tool as was proven with Ben & Jerry’s and Airbnb.”

Israeli-American Coalition (IAC) for Action Chairman Shawn Evenhaim applauded Sununu’s signing of the executive order in a statement, saying that the New Hampshire governor took a stand “against national origin discrimination and defending the deep cultural and commercial ties between Israel and New Hampshire. This executive order protects the freedom and liberty of New Hampshire businesses from the coercion and bullying tactics of the BDS hate movement.” The IAC for Action has helped New Hampshire and other states draft anti-BDS laws.

The executive order came the same day that legislators from 42 states signed a letter lampooning the United Nations’ Commission of Inquiry (COI) June 8 report that stated: “Policies and legislation enacted by foreign governments targeting free speech in relation to Palestinian rights and criticizing Israel’s actions, mirror many of the steps undertaken by the Israeli Government to silence human rights defenders domestically, in particular those advocating boycotts. In the United States, thirty-five States have adopted anti-BDS legislation, and prominent organizations and individuals critical of Israel have faced obstacles at some American institutions. State legislators in the United States have also placed financial burdens on companies accused of boycotting Israel through blacklists and pension fund divestments.”

“The COI’s statements are as false as they are outrageous,” the letter stated. “They seemingly echo the antisemitic conspiracy that our anti-boycott laws are the product of undue influence by some subversive,Jewish-affiliated cabal, or in this case, the Israeli government as you insinuate. They further disrespect our states’ democratic processes and sovereignty. Unlike the reports issued by your COI, our anti-boycott laws are in fact the work of directly elected representatives, and have been carefully scrutinized by courts as high as the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. Further petitions for appeal to challenge the legality of such anti-BDS laws have been unanimously rejected by the United States Supreme Court.”

StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein said in a statement, “The [New Hampshire] executive order and letter signed by lawmakers are important gestures indicative of legislators’ growing frustration with the COI and reflect a growing push to stop funding the UNHRC mandate, which has no end date and no boundaries when it comes to scapegoating Israel. The state legislators behind these initiatives are looking for their federal counterparts to revive the COI Elimination Act (HR 211).  StandWithUs has been consistently working to raise awareness regarding the COI’s antisemitism and systemic double standards against only Israel, and we look forward to seeing how these recent state developments might help guide Congressional action toward eliminating COI.” StandWithUs Mid-Atlantic Representative Julie Paris attended the signing ceremony of the executive order.