The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) praises the New York State Senate for overwhelmingly passing an important, bi-partisan anti-boycott bill, S6378A (2015), last week. The bill prohibits New York State government agencies from contracting with and investing in entities that boycott American allies, including Israel.

The companion bill now needs to pass the New York State Assembly before S6378A can become the law! We need your help!

Please contact members of the New York State Assembly to urge them to pass A9036. (See contact information below.)

Anti-Semitic BDS groups are sending out alerts telling Israel haters to stop A9036 from passing in the Assembly, saying: “Tell Albany: You can’t tell us who to Boycott!” Assembly offices told ZOA that they are receiving emails against this bill from Israel-haters.

WE NEED TO FLOOD ASSEMBLY OFFICES WITH EMAILS AND CALLS TO PASS THIS BILL.

You can find out who your Assembly-person is and their contact information by clicking here.

We cannot let anti-Semitic BDS groups kill anti-boycott laws in the NY State Assembly!

You might also send a below sample letter or email to your Assembly-person

Sample letter:

Dear Assemblyman/woman _________:

Please vote for A9036, an important bill that prevents our tax dollars from flowing to anti-Semitic hate groups that boycott and are trying to economically destroy our close ally Israel, the only democratic nation in the Middle East. The New York State Senate recently passed the companion bill (S6378A).

I appreciate your help passing the Assembly resolution last June condemning anti-Israel boycotts. That resolution stated that the “BDS movement” to boycott Israel “is damaging to the causes of peace, justice, equality, democracy, and human rights for all peoples in the Middle East.” Passing A9036 now will put into effect the principles stated in the Assembly’s June 2015 resolution.

We need you to act now so that A9036 can become law. Please help assure that New York State does not support hateful, anti-Semitic boycotts.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

_______________________________

Here are some statements about the Senate bill, which you can also include or adapt for your letter to the Assembly.

State Senator Jack Martins said: “Our tax dollars should not be used to aid those who wish to harm our friends. Israel and our other allies stand side by side with us to protect New Yorkers and all Americans. We owe it to them to ensure our own resources are not used in efforts to attack them. This sends a strong message that New York State supports those who have continually supported us.”

State Senator Simcha Felder said, “Those who advocate and engage in boycotts against Israel, and who promote anti-Semitic ideology, have no place as a state contractor. This is very meaningful legislation that protects our nation’s allies and stands up against bigotry and injustice.”

State Senator (& Majority Leader) John J. Flanagan said: “New York taxpayers need to be protected from becoming unwitting supporters of those who are trying to undermine our greatest ally, Israel, and other critical allies. We are demonstrating that New York will continue to stand with our international partners and protect our shared interests.”

U.S. Congressman Lee Zeldin said: “There is no greater ally and strategic partner to the United States than Israel. It’s essential that we remain committed to building a stronger relationship between our two nations. The anti-Semitic ideology harming Israel and her economy through the BDS movement should not be supported in any manner by the United States. I thank the New York State Senate for leading boldly on this important issue, and hope that this legislation will be quickly passed by the State Assembly and signed into law.”