State Rep. Theresa Gavarone, R-Bowling Green, voted Thursday for legislation that further expresses Ohio’s acknowledgement of Israel as a strong economic and diplomatic partner in the Middle East.
House Bill 476 bolsters the economic bonds between Ohio and Israel by prohibiting state agencies from entering into contracts with companies that are boycotting or disinvesting from Israel. Also known as “Anti-BDS” (boycott, divestment and sanction), HB 476 requires companies to explicitly state in such contracts declaring that they are not boycotting or disinvesting from Israel, an agreement that lasts through the duration of the contract.
The legislation further defines that to boycott Israel is to refuse to engage in business or commercial activity with the Israeli government, a company operating in Israel or a company operating in territory controlled by Israel to protect the Israeli government.
House Bill 476 now awaits consideration in the Ohio Senate.
