‘Discrimination’ against Israel could cost vendors state contracts

The longstanding Israeli-Palestinian dispute got an airing at a House hearing Tuesday.

HF400, sponsored by Rep. Ron Kresha (R-Little Falls), would bar state government from entering into contracts with vendors that discriminate against Israel.

“We’re not going to discriminate against Jewish people and their businesses,” Kresha said. “There’s a movement out there to boycott, divest and put sanctions on Israel’s businesses. As a practice for the state of Minnesota, I’m saying with this bill, I don’t think that’s acceptable.”

The House Government Operations and Elections Policy Committee approved the bill, as amended, and sent it to the House State Government Finance Committee. The companion, SF247, sponsored by Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove), awaits action by the Senate State Government Finance and Policy and Elections Committee.

With Kresha’s delete-all amendment, the bill evolved significantly. In its original form, the bill would have required that state contracts include vendors’ certification to prove they aren’t engaged in “a boycott of Israel.”

WATCH Full video of committee discussion on the bill

As amended, the bill softens the language from “boycott” to “discrimination,” which is defined as “engaging in refusals to deal, terminating business activities, or other actions that are intended to limit commercial relations with Israel, or persons or entities doing business with Israel.”

The amendment also includes two exceptions: contracts worth less than $1,000, and contracts for which a state commissioner decides it wouldn’t be “practicable or in the best interests of the state” to comply.

Rep. Michael Nelson (DFL-Brooklyn Park) said the second exception rendered the bill meaningless. “You could drive a truck through this bill,” he said, calling it “more of a feel-good type of bill.”

Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL-Hibbing) asked whether the bill’s intent would be better accomplished with a resolution.

Opponents said the bill would violate the U.S. Constitution’s free-speech guarantees. “The use of economic pressure in the form of consumer and commercial boycotts has a long history in this country,” said Sanna Nimtz Towns, a member of Minnesota Coalition for Palestinian Rights, citing Civil Rights-era bus and lunch counter boycotts.