Alabama Passes Strong Pro-Israel, Anti-BDS Resolution

State of Alabama Recognizes Israel’s Right to Exist as a Jewish State and Condemns the Anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

2-17-2016 Robin Rowan for Church4Israel

Alabama Senate Joint Resolution 6 “DENOUNCING THE BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, AND SANCTIONS (BDS) MOVEMENT” quickly passed unanimously both the House and Senate and was signed by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley on February 16, 2016.

The strongly worded Joint Resolution “reaffirms its support for the State of Israel as a Jewish State” and “recognizes that the Jewish people are indigenous to the land of Israel.” It also condemns “delegitimizing Israel by denying the historical Jewish connection to the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, or the Holy Land.”

The purpose of the Resolution is to recognize the resurgence of global anti-Semitism currently being at its highest point since World War II and condemns the anti-Israel activities on college campuses. It recognizes that the increased Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has resulted in “intimidation and violence on University campuses, is harmful to the State’s Jewish citizens and has a deleterious impact on the educational environment.”

Other States that have passed similar Resolutions are New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Tennessee and California. Legislative Bills against the BDS movement have been passed by Illinois and South Carolina.

Alabama has a great history of supporting Israel. Before Israel existed, in the midst of World War II, Alabama led the nation in an official call for the establishment of the Jewish State and Homeland. The Joint resolution was unanimous and signed by the Governor on June 10, 1942.

Alabama State Senator Arthur Orr from Decatur sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 6 and said, “The BDS movement has targeted the Jewish state for economic and political sanctions and with a dramatic increase of BDS activity now also reaching U.S. college campuses, our position must be clear. Alabama sends a strong message with SJR 6 denouncing the BDS Movement and affirming we stand with our closest ally in the Middle East.”

Alabama House Speaker Pro Tem, Victor Gaston of Mobile stated, “I am proud to have had a role in the House Rules Committee assisting with the now unanimous passing of this important Resolution. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement has no place in the State of Alabama as it harms the United States’ greatest ally and friend to Alabama, Israel.”

Jewish and Christian leaders united from across the state to help get this important Resolution passed.

The Birmingham Jewish Federation, Church4Israel based on the Alabama gulf coast and leaders in Montgomery and Birmingham came together with leadership from The Alabama-Israel Task Force in Huntsville to get this important Resolution passed. Alabama’s support for Israel is represented in unity of the Christian and Jewish communities throughout the State.

For More Details on the Dangerous BDS Movement see C4I article

“The Presbyterian Church USA Divests from Israel”

The State of Alabama is clear on its stand. – Excerpts from SJR6 –

“BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, That we unequivocally denounce and reject the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement and any furtherance of this movement in this state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature of the State of Alabama rejects any activities that contribute directly or indirectly to the delegitimization of the sovereignty of Israel as a Jewish State including, but not limited to, promotion of economic, cultural, and academic boycotts against Israel.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature of the State of Alabama considers the international BDS Movement and its agenda inherently antithetical and deeply damaging to the causes of peace, justice, equality, democracy, and human rights for all peoples in the Middle East.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature of the State of Alabama reaffirms its support for the State of Israel as a Jewish State, recognizes that the Jewish people are indigenous to the land of Israel, condemns all attacks on the people of Israel, supports Israel’s right to engage in lawful acts of self-defense, opposes all attempts to economically and politically isolate Israel within the international arena, and opposes efforts to assault the legitimacy of Israel as the sovereign homeland of the Jewish people.”