Standing With Israel

by Gary Bauer, Contributing Author: Friday, I flew to Indianapolis to witness a bill signing ceremony by Governor Mike Pence. Gov. Pence signed what Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer described as the strongest anti-BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) bill in the country.

As you may know, the anti-Israel BDS movement, backed by the left and, sadly, even some mainstream church groups, has been seeking to punish companies that invest in Israel. I am pleased to report that there are many legislators and governors who understand Israel is the only nation in the Middle East that reflects the values of the United States and whose friendship is not based on oil. These pro-Israel officials are pushing back against misguided BDS efforts.

Indiana's law turns the BDS effort against those attacking Israel. If a company is involved in a boycott against Israel, then Indiana is going to boycott or divest from that company. At the ceremony, Gov. Pence vowed that "Indiana will not do business with those who seek to inflict financial damage on the people of Israel."

Pence is seeking re-election this year, and his strong support for Israel is just one more reason why I hope he is re-elected in a landslide.

It is absolutely clear to me that the BDS movement is anti-Semitic. Any group looking at the world today, which includes regimes like Iran and North Korea, must be motivated by something other than a so-called "concern for human rights" when it singles out Israel for punishment.

Unfortunately, a new survey finds that one-third of American college students support boycotts, divestment and sanctions as legitimate ways to pressure Israel. That is another disturbing indication of the radicalization taking place on America's college campuses and the political left generally. It is a likely result of President Obama's policies, which are often hostile to Israel, and can be seen in the anti-Israel policies and remarks of Senator Bernie Sanders.

Last week, I noted that Sanders had appointed a number of radical anti-Israel activists to the Democrat platform committee. It's not just the Sanders appointees that friends of Israel need to worry about.

Hillary Clinton named Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Illinois) to the platform committee. Gutierrez says he wants to make sure the Democrats' platform "elaborates more clearly the . . . aspirations of the Palestinian people and their hope for justice and for peace and equality."

Of course, there are Palestinians who desire peace. But as we have repeatedly pointed out, there is pervasive hatred throughout Palestinian society, and very little sympathy for peace with Israel.
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Gary Bauer is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families

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