Town of Hempstead Proposes New Anti-BDS Law

TOWN OF HEMPSTEAD, NY - The Town of Hempstead recently announced a new proposal that would prevent the local government from doing business with individuals or companies that openly boycott against America, Israel and other allies.

Hempstead Town Supervisor Anthony J. Santino, Councilman Bruce Blakeman and Councilman Anthony D’Esposito joined together at Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, along with local rabbis and religious leaders, Five Towns business owners and other officials to speak out against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement on Wednesday.

The officials claim that the town will be the among the first municipalities in the state to consider legislation against those that openly boycott against the U.S. or any of their allies. 

The proposal will ensure that the town will only contract with entrepreneurs who are "friendly and reject acts of hate and economic hostility," a press release from the Town read.

Under the proposed law, individuals or companies who want to do business with the town would be required to submit a certification that they do not – and will not for the duration of the contract – boycott the U.S. and its allies, which include Israel, all NATO member nations, signatories of the Southeast Asian Treaty Organization, signatories of the Rio Treaty of 1947 (excluding Venezuela), Ireland, Japan, and The Republic of Korea.

Violating the law would result in the town rescinding the contract.

“Israel is America’s closest ally in the Middle East, a relationship built upon our nations’ common values and interests,” Rabbi Dov Schwartz, a former rabbi of Congregation B’Nai Shalom in Rockville Centre and North Woodmere resident said. “Enacting this new legislation places the Town of Hempstead on the right side of history as it joins the growing list of municipalities taking legislative action to root out the BDS message of hatred and exclusion.”

Town officials claim the movement is "anti-Semitic" and an attack on economic cooperation between the United States and Israel, as well as other allies, according to the release.

“Our free market economy is the foundation of a strong democratic society, but we cannot in good conscience stand with businesses that are hostile to the United States, Israel and our other allies around the world,” Santino said. “My administration will continue to fight bigotry, anti-Semitism, acts of hatred and all efforts designed to undermine the sovereignty of Israel and this nation’s other allies. Standing against the BDS movement is a key step in this fight.”

The officials all have made efforts in fighting anti-Semitism in the past.

Blakeman recently met with high-level government and military officials in Israel and last year, after an airplane with a swastika banner was seen flying over town beaches, officials called on the state to strengthen laws prohibiting the display of swastikas in public places.

In addition, officials have partnered with law enforcement organizations and religious institutions in responding to hateful graffiti and vandalism of houses of worship and other locations.

Santino will call for a public hearing at the May 24 Hempstead Town Board meeting, and an official hearing on the matter will be scheduled for June 21.

“Standing up for what’s right is part of being a leader,” Santino said. “I will always stand with patriotic Americans in support of Israel and our other allies. BDS is just another term for anti-Semitism and will not be tolerated by municipal government.”