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Is the BDS Movement Facing New Challenges in the U.S.?
(Al-Jazeera) Alex Kane - BDS advocates are facing a barrage of bills in state legislatures that condemn the movement as "anti-Semitic" and bar state governments from contracting with or funding entities that support boycotting Israel. "Israel's diplomatic missions in the U.S. have expressed full support and appreciation for legislative initiatives to boycott the boycotters," said Shimon Mercer-Wood, spokesperson for the Consulate General of Israel in New York. "The BDS movement is racist, discriminatory and hostile to freedom of speech....The movement itself is dedicated to silencing Israeli voices in the public space." Legislation that prohibits state funds from going to pro-BDS entities has been enacted in 10 states and is being debated in many more.