Taken from flsenate.gov, the language of the bill defines anti-Semitism this way:

51 (7) A public K-20 educational institution must treat

52 discrimination by students or employees or resulting from

53 institutional policies motivated by anti-Semitic intent in an

54 identical manner to discrimination motivated by race. For

55 purposes of this section, the term “anti-Semitism” includes a

56 certain perception of the Jewish people, which may be expressed

57 as hatred toward Jewish people, rhetorical and physical

58 manifestations of anti-Semitism directed toward a person, his or

59 her property, or toward Jewish community institutions or

60 religious facilities.

61 (a) Examples of anti-Semitism include:

62 1. Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or

63 harming of Jews, often in the name of a radical ideology or an

64 extremist view of religion.

65 2. Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or

66 stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of

67 Jews as a collective, especially, but not exclusively, the myth

68 about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the

69 media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

70 3. Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real

71 or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or

72 group, the State of Israel, or even for acts committed by non

73 Jews.

74 4. Accusing Jews as a people or the State of Israel of

75 inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

76 5. Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel,

77 or the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the

78 interest of their own nations.

79 (b) Examples of anti-Semitism related to Israel include:

80 1. Demonizing Israel by using the symbols and images

81 associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or

82 Israelis, drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to

83 that of the Nazis, or blaming Israel for all inter-religious or

84 political tensions.

85 2. Applying a double standard to Israel by requiring

86 behavior of Israel that is not expected or demanded of any other

87 democratic nation, or focusing peace or human rights

88 investigations only on Israel.

89 3. Delegitimizing Israel by denying the Jewish people

90 their right to self-determination and denying Israel the right

91 to exist.

92

93 However, criticism of Israel that is similar to criticism toward

94 any other country may not be regarded as anti-Semitic.

95 (c) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to

96 diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First

97 Amendment to the United States Constitution, or the State

98 Constitution. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to

99 conflict with federal or state discrimination laws.

You’ll note this bill is directed at K-20 educational institutions in the state and has the impact of teaching our kids appropriate behavior. And while no child should be taught to be anti-Semitic, there are provisions highlighted above that give pause and certainly give rise to First Amendment concerns.

Lines 65-69: Making stereotypical characterizations. Stereotypes are based, even if loosely on actual behavior or events. Preventing this discussion stifles learning and understanding in historical context. One of my favorites is respect for the Mossad and their abilities on many fronts. Nobody is better at the spy and tactics game than Israel.

Lines 76-78: Accusing Jews of greater loyalty to Israel than to their home nations. But, what if the allegation is a fact? Truth should be immune from law penalizing it being spoken.

Lines 82-84: Comparing Israeli policy to that of Nazis. But, what if the tactics of Israel are similar and worthy of comparison? Do we create law in this country to keep peoples’ feelings from being hurt? Again, truth has to be the barometer here.

Lines 85-88: Having expectations of Israel that are not expectations of other nations and focusing peace or human rights investigations only on Israel. How many schools conduct these investigations? Why is this even in here? And with Israel being the United States strongest ally in the Middle East, should not our expectations of them be greater than other nations of the region?

This law in these places, and maybe others, so violates the First amendment that the governor should have the VETO pen warmed up when he knows it’s hitting his desk. That a republican lawmaker brought such a bill into existence, in fact, would make one question exactly where his loyalties lie. It certainly does not seem to be with the United States Constitution.

I would never embrace the weakness that a bill such as this portrays for the people of Israel or their fellow Jews across the globe. The insecurity embodied here is indicative of much more than bad lawmaking.

The governor must veto this bill as signing it would be an affront to the Constitution and an insult to the people of Israel and the rest of us!