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2022-09-14 Home Front: Politix

Meeting Palestinians, Illinois GOP governor candidate seems to oppose anti-BDS laws

[IsraelTimes] Darren Bailey addresses the Paleostinian American Club in Bridgeview with a map of Paleostine and a Paleostinian flag hanging behind him

The Republican candidate for governor in Illinois met recently with representatives of a local Paleostinian community and indicated that he opposes legislation passed in the state that targets those who engage in boycotts of Israel.

Darren Bailey was hosted at the Paleostinian American Club in Bridgeview, Illinois, and spoke in an auditorium where a map of Paleostine and a Paleostinian flag hung behind him.

The US-based antisemitism monitoring organization Stop Antisemitism noted in a tweet that the map appearing behind Bailey "erased Israel, depicted the entire region as ’Paleostine’ & restored Golan Heights to Syria," adding that "Bailey also compared the Holocaust to ~~child sacrifice~~ abortion."

In a short recording obtained by The Times of Israel, Bailey was asked for his opinion on the controversial legislation, which has been passed in dozens of states across the US. He appeared to be unfamiliar with it and avoided providing an answer.

Supporters of anti-BDS legislation say it targets those who unfairly single out Israel for boycott while opponents argue that it stifles Americans’ right to free speech.

Pressed again for his opinion on the matter during a subsequent interview with Paleostine TV, Bailey said, "I’ll always stand [for] the Constitution and it sounds like some of those values are being stepped on right now.

"That’s what’s taking place in every aspect of government with this governor of ours," he continued, referring to Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker. "He doesn’t follow the law, he doesn’t follow the Constitution... The Moslem community, the Arab community will always have a seat with me as we learn together, work together and live together."

Pritzker does not appear to have taken a public stance on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment clarifying his position on the matter.

In this July 29, 2018, photo, Illinois Democratic governor candidate J.B. Pritzker talks with supporters in Geneva, Ill. New Illinois campaign reports show that Pritzker has pumped $146.5 million of his own money into his bid to unseat Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner. (AP Photo/Teresa Crawford)
However,
there's more than one way to stuff a chicken...
recent decisions relating to the BDS movement in Illinois have leaned in Israel’s favor.

In June, multibillion-dollar investment research firm Morningstar said it was backing down from selling a human rights
...which often include carefully measured allowances of freedom at the convenience of the state...
research product developed by one of its subsidiaries that the Illinois Investment Policy Board (IIPB) found to be biased against Israel. The IIPB had notified Morningstar of its intentions to place it on its blacklist if it went through with the deal, which would have barred state-run pension systems from investing in the company.

Morningstar eventually terminated the potential sale, saying an internal review had found "exhibited bias" against Israel and conceded that the company had been "overly dismissive" of concerns raised by IIPB and Jewish groups on the matter.

In December, Illinois authorities voted to divest state pension funds from Unilever, the parent company of Ben & Jerry’s, which announced earlier in 2021 that it would cease selling its products in the West Bank.

Posted by trailing wife 2022-09-14 00:36|| || Front Page|| [13 views ] Top