Gov. John Bel Edwards bans state contracts with businesses that support Israel boycott

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has issued an executive order barring state agencies from doing business with any company that takes part in a boycott of Israel.

"Israel is America's closest ally in the Middle East and a beacon of democracy in the region," Edwards, a Democrat, said in a statement announcing his executive order. "The United States, and by affiliation Louisiana, have benefited in innumerable ways from our deep friendship with Israel. Any effort to boycott Israel is an affront to this longstanding relationship. I am pleased that Louisiana will join what is now a critical mass of states in supporting our closest ally."

The move came Tuesday just hours after state lawmakers passed bipartisan resolutions honoring Louisiana-Israel relations and welcomed Israeli Consul General for the Southwestern United States Gilad Katz to the State Capitol. A celebratory event was held at the Louisiana Governor's Mansion Tuesday night.

Louisiana is the 25th state to take such action — either by executive order or by law — to forbid government from dealing with businesses engaged in activities that are part of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement that aims to change Israeli policy toward Palestinians.

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