Pols Seek State-Aid Cutoff For Schools That Boycott Israel

Compliance with campaign ‘a slap in the face,’ says state Senate leader.

New York taxpayers have no business funding universities that single out Israel for an academic boycott, local legislators said this week.
Assemblyman Dov Hikind and state Senator Jeff Klein called on their respective houses to pass a bill that would cut off aid to both public and private universities if they participate in efforts to isolate the Jewish state’s professors or institutions.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver is also mulling his own legislation to address the issue. “We have not seen the measure,” said Silver spokesman Mike Whyland.
“We are working with advocates to develop appropriate legislation.”
The measure, which would also apply to other democracies that are targeted for boycotts, was prompted by the recent vote by the American Studies Association (ASA) to reject cooperation with Israeli universities. The bill gives colleges and universities 30 days to withdraw support from organizations that participate in boycott efforts. After that, they can kiss state funding and bonding privileges goodbye.
“The ASA’s boycott of Israel is not only a direct violation of New York State’s Human Rights Act, it’s a slap in the face to Jews and supporters of Israel everywhere,” said Hikind, a Brooklyn Democrat, and Klein, a Bronx Democrat who is co-majority leader of the Senate, and in a joint statement. “Make no mistake: the ASA’s boycott is targeted discrimination against Israel that betrays the values of academic freedom that we hold dear.

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new-york-news/pols-seek-state-aid-cutoff-schools-boycott-israel