North Hempstead, NY – North Hempstead Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board voted unanimously at the April 4 Board Meeting to enact legislation that will prohibit the Town from working with companies and contractors that are participating in the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Movement against the State of Israel.

The Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is designed to inflict economic damage upon the nation of Israel through the boycott of its goods and services and divestment of Israeli companies. BDS is a damaging and discriminatory policy being perpetrated by a mounting number of entities.

“The BDS movement is nothing more than thinly veiled anti-Semitism, designed to cause economic and reputational harm to Israel” said Supervisor Bosworth. “The Town now joins with Nassau County and the Town of Hempstead in passing anti-BDS legislation. “We believe that this Anti-BDS legislation will ensure that taxpayer funds are never used to do business with or support any company that engages in discriminatory actions against the Jewish people or individuals of the Jewish faith.”

“I am honored to put forth this proposal that the Town refuse to contract with entities that participate in the movement to boycott, divest investment in or sanction the State of Israel,” said Supervisor Bosworth. “The BDS movement is a movement to punish Israel and try to cause its economic collapse. This is an attack on all Jews. It means so much to me that the this Town, through my wonderful colleagues on the Town Board, condemn this BDS movement and declare that the Town will not do business with companies that participate in it.”

Council Member Peter Zuckerman stated: “It is important to me that our public officials promote a world of tolerance and inclusion, protecting the inalienable rights of all people regardless of race, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability. This legislation acts on the government’s right to refuse to do business with any companies that participate in discrimination of any kind. I am proud to stand against this injustice, as the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stated ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere.’”

Council Member Anna Kaplan said: “The BDS movement goes far beyond criticism of Israel’s policies and instead targets the world’s only Jewish state for economic strangulation and destruction while conspicuously ignoring the grave and repeated human rights abuses of other governments within and without the region. By passing this legislation, the Town of North Hempstead’s taxpayers are sending a clear message that they will not do business with any entity that associates with the BDS movement or any other hate group.”

Council Member Lee Seeman said: “This is a quote from Rabbi Hillel: “ If I am not for myself, who will before me – and if not now, when.” NOW is the time to reject Boycott, Divest and Sanction. Israel and the Jewish people are one and I shall go froth and fight for my people and the country which is MY legacy. I am proud to be in full support of the Town’s anti-BDS legislation.”

Council Member Dina De Giorgio said: “I’m proud that North Hempstead has adopted a bi-partisan stand against the anti-Semitic BDS movement. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in anti-Semitism both nationally and internationally, and this legislation is a critical component of reversing that terrible trend.”


Any company that engages in BDS activities or other discriminatory policies may prevent the procurement of goods or services of the best quality and at the most competitive prices.

This new anti-BDS legislation will counteract the damaging ways of this movement by:

1. No businesses currently entered into contract with the Town will be permitted to participate in any Boycott or BDS activities (this includes sub-contractors)
2. Any businesses looking to contract with the Town must disclose if they currently or have ever participated in Boycott or BDS activities (this includes sub-contractors)
3. All businesses that participates in Boycott or BDS activities will be deemed a not responsible bidder (this includes sub-contractors).