Kentucky bans working with BDS supporters

Kentucky has become the 26th US state to ban state contracts with organisations that support the boycott of Israel.

Denouncing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement as anti-Semitic and “repugnant”, Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin signed an executive order last week barring state contracts with companies that support a boycott of the State of Israel.

“The State of Israel is an important friend and trading partner to the Commonwealth,” said Bevin. “We will not allow state resources to benefit entities that intentionally engage in discriminatory practices to harm the sovereignty and economic prosperity of any ally nation. Today’s executive order makes it clear that Kentucky condemns the BDS movement and that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our friend, Israel.”

In December last year, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of an attorney “challenging an Arizona law prohibiting state contractors from supporting boycotts against Israel, saying it violates his right to free expression”.

The following month, US District Judge Daniel Crabtree temporarily suspended a similar law in the State of Kansas following legal action which had been launched in October.

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