Wisconsin should protect Israel from boycott effort

In my previous position, as special envoy to monitor and combat antiSemitism under President Barack Obama, I helped craft the State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism. We based our definition partly on former Soviet refusenik Natan Sharansky’s “3 Ds.” Anti-Semitism manifests itself with regard to the state of Israel through demonization, delegitimization and double standards.

Two bills currently before the Wisconsin state Legislature, Assembly Bill 553 and Senate Bill 450, will ensure that our state does not become complicit in a global movement that singles out Israel, the world’s only Jewish state, for criticism in an effort to demonize and delegitimize the country. The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement focuses exclusively on Israel and ignores conflicts and human rights issues in other nations. This is a harmful double standard that undermines a two-state solution.

Considering events elsewhere, the BDS movement’s laser-focus on Israel is confusing and concerning.

Wisconsin’s proposed legislation ensures that companies entering into large procurement contracts with Wisconsin don’t engage in discriminating against a people based on national origin. This legislation would not limit free speech. Proponents of boycotting Israel remain free to call for boycotts.

The legislation would only impact companies that contract with the state for more than $100,000. If we would not accept our government contracting with companies that refuse service to African Americans or people from Arab countries, for example, why should we offer state contracts to people who discriminate against Israelis?

The federal government has recognized for 40 years that anti-Israel boycotts are wrong. In response to the Arab League boycott, our government — under both Democrats and Republicans — made it a criminal offense and imposed fines on American companies that boycott Israel.

Former President Obama has pointedly rejected the BDS movement, stating that “when voices around the world veer from criticism of a particular Israeli policy to an unjust denial of Israel’s right to exist,” that is anti-Semitism. And sadly, the BDS movement has revealed that its target is not a particular Israeli policy, but the entire state of Israel. The continued boycott of the Israeli company, SodaStream, even after the company moved its plant out of the disputed West Bank, is sad evidence of the true intentions of the BDS movement.

Twenty-three other states agree and have passed anti-BDS measures, all of them with bipartisan support. In Illinois, the legislation passed unanimously. Wisconsin should bring the total to 24 and pass AB 553 and SB 450.

Israelis and Palestinians deserve peace. Both parties need our support and encouragement to move toward the painful compromises that a negotiated two-state future entails. Punitive measures such as boycotts — or any efforts that reduce the conflict to a caricature of good and evil, right and wrong, drive the parties further apart.

I support policies that advance peacemaking, reconciliation, relationships. And I support efforts that draw a line at discrimination — which surely the BDS movement represents.