Pittsburgh Jewish leaders, officials decry proposed BDS ballot measure

(August 16, 2024 / JNS) A measure potentially slated to appear in Pittsburgh on November ballots that would penalize entities that do business with Israel and nonprofits aligned with the Jewish state has provoked an immediate backlash from local Jewish groups and government officials, including a legal challenge.

The boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) measure—backed by Pittsburgh Democratic Socialists of America and an organization that calls itself “No War Crimes on Our Dime”—would not allow the city to invest in, provide public funds or grant tax exemptions to “entities that conduct business operations with or in the State of Israel” to last until the war in Gaza concludes.

The now 10-month-old war began after Hamas infiltrated the southern border with Israel on Oct. 7 and slaughtered 1,200 people, wounded thousands and kidnapped as many as 250 others to Gaza, where more than 100 are still being held captive.

“I strongly condemn this referendum which targets Pittsburgh’s Jewish community and Jewish organizations,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) wrote on X. “As antisemitic incidents are on the rise across the nation, I will always stand with the Jewish community in Pittsburgh and across the Commonwealth.”




https://www.jns.org/pittsburgh-jewish-leaders-officials-decry-proposed-bds-ballot-measure/