New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered agencies under his control on Sunday to divest themselves of companies and organisations that support the anti-Israel BDS movement.
At a speech at the Harvard Club in New York on Sunday, he described the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment movement as an “economic attack” on Israel and said: “If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you.”
“In New York, we lead by example. We are also a place of action. We want to take immediate action because we want Israel to know that we are on their side.
“If you boycott against Israel, New York will boycott you.”
The executive order was the first of its kind to be signed by a governor and will command the commissioner of the Office of General Services to compile a list over the next six months of businesses and groups engaged in BDS activity targeting Israel, “either directly or through a parent or subsidiary.”
The order states: “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.”
The Democrat governor signed the order before marching in the Celebrate Israel parade in New York. “I’m proud to sign this nation’s leading executive order, which will help protect Israel from the threat of divestment,” he said.
