Bloom puts forth California anti-BDS bill in Assembly

State Rep. Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) has officially introduced legislation in Sacramento aimed at combating the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2844 is titled, “California Combating the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions of Israel Act of 2016.” Introduced April 4, it prohibits public contracts with companies participating in a boycott of Israel.

Bloom’s bill states that California companies’ participation in boycotts against Israel undermines the relationship between Israel and California, and it is thus in the interest of the state to not enter into contracts with companies boycotting the Jewish state. Israel is California’s 18th largest export partner. 

Its introduction is not without controversy. Bloom had agreed to co-author a similar anti-BDS bill introduced several months ago by State Rep. Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach) before he withdrew his support. 

Bloom drew up his own bill because, as he said, he believed a bill drafted with the support of the California Jewish Legislative Caucus — which had not signed on to Allen’s legislation — would have a greater chance of passage. The two bills are virtually identical, the Journal reported. 

Boycotts of Israel are part of the larger BDS movement, which opposes Israel’s activity in the West Bank and has gained momentum on college campuses, in the University of California system in particular. Bloom, for his part, has previously spoken out against the BDS movement at UCLA. 

Bloom is a member of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus.

American Jewish Committee (AJC) applauded the bill. “AJC commends Assemblymember Bloom and all members of the California legislature who take a clear stand against BDS,” AJC Regional Director Janna Weinstein Smith said in a statement on April 4. “The aim of the BDS movement is not a negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinians, but to delegitimize the existence of Israel, our democratic ally in the Middle East.”

Bloom’s bill likely will have its first committee hearing later this month, a press release said.