By The Staff | The Save Jersey Blog
New Jersey’s government is expressing bipartisan support for Israel.
On Tuesday, Governor Chris Christie signed S-1923 into law; the measure prohibits the investment of state pension and annuity funds in any companies boycotting goods, products or businesses of Israel.
“Standing with Israel, for peace and democracy, requires more than just pledging military defense and support,” Governor Christie said in a statement. “It is in all of our best interests to invest in and partner with Israel, while opposing any attempt to wipe out Israel, economically or otherwise. I’m proud to take this action today and help set an example for other states and nations throughout the world to join New Jersey by enacting similar laws against the radical ‘BDS’ movement, as well as our earlier divestment from foreign companies with equity ties to Iran and Sudan.”
South Carolina, Illinois, New York and the federal government have taken similar action.
It’s a response to the ‘Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions’ (or “BDS”) movement that “seeks to weaken America’s strongest ally in the Middle East, isolate a bulwark against the radical Islamic terrorism that threatens us all, and demonize a democracy that stands for human rights and confers full citizenship on Israeli Jews and Arabs alike,” explained Fox Contributor Jason Greenblatt.
On Monday, Christie joined 15 other governors and the mayor of the District of Columbia in signing the American Jewish Committee’s “Governors Against BDS” pledge; the language reaffirms “support for Israel as a vital U.S. ally, important economic partner and champion of freedom” on the part of American political leaders.
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