The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today unanimously approved HR 370, a resolution condemning the international Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and its activities in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for seeking to undermine the State of Israel.

The resolution specifically condemns academic boycotts against Israel and considers the international BDS movement and its agenda as “inherently antithetical and deeply damaging to the causes of peace, justice, equality, democracy and human rights for all peoples in the Middle East.” The House resolution also recognizes the Jewish people as indigenous to the land of Israel, supports Israel’s right to engage in lawful acts of self-defense and opposes all attempts to deny the legitimacy of Israel as a sovereign state.

HR 370 was introduced by Rep. Matthew Baker (R-Bradford) and Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia). Rep. Mike Schlossberg (D-Allentown) was a co-sponsor.

We commend the House for its leadership and applaud its efforts to put an end to the delegitimization of Israel, the only true democracy in the Middle East. We are also grateful for the efforts of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, the public policy advocacy organization representing the interests of PA’s Jewish Federations in our state capital.