Federal court dismisses challenge to Texas’ anti–BDS law

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Tuesday dismissed a challenge to a Texas law that prohibits companies from receiving state funds if they participate in the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, Algemeiner reports.

Launched in 2005, the BDS movement rejects Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish nation-state and works to isolate and punish the country with economic, political, and cultural boycotts.

In 2021, the petitioner Haseeb Abdullah filed suit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, claiming that the state’s anti-BDS law violated his right to free speech and may cause him to lose his government pension, Algemeiner reports.

Rejecting Abdullah’s argument this week, the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that Abdullah lacked standing as the law had not caused him any harm, Algemeiner reports. Concerning Abdullah’s claim that he might suffer economic losses, the court said this was “at most — speculative” and that he “lacks any concrete stake in this law.”

In a statement welcoming the ruling, Paxton said Tuesday: “Texas anti-boycott law is both constitutional and, unfortunately, increasingly necessary as the radical left becomes increasingly hostile and antagonistic toward Israel.”

“Though some wish to get rid of the law and Israel fail, the state of Texas will remain firm in our commitment to stand with Israel by refusing to do business with companies that boycott the only democratic nation in the Middle East,” Paxton said.

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