New York – The Orthodox Union, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, on Thursday submitted testimony at a contentious New York City Council hearing calling on the city to pass Resolution 1058-A, which rejects the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions against Israel movement (BDS).

The BDS movement seeks to delegitimize Israel, a democratic nation and U.S. ally, and to exclude Israel from all economic, academic and cultural pursuits with the world. The movement also denies Israel’s right to exist and rejects a two-state solution, in which a free and democratic State of Israel coexists in peace alongside a free and democratic Palestinian State.

“We are coming up on the 15th anniversary of 9/11, when we witnessed both the worst of humanity and the absolute best of humanity,” said Jake Adler, New York State Policy Director for OU Advocacy. “The events of that day demonstrated people’s capacity to work together in the face of adversity, and what happens when hatred is allowed to fester.

“Unfortunately, adherents of the BDS movement have committed to a course of hatred and division instead of peace. The New York City Council, just blocks away from the World Trade Center – a target of the horrific destruction of 9/11 – should pass Resolution 1058-A. Doing so will send a message to the world that New York supports civility, democracy, peace and unity.”

The OU also expressed gratitude to Council Member Helen Rosenthal who chaired the hearing; Council Member Andrew Cohen, the resolution’s lead sponsor; members of the State Legislature; and Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who recently signed an executive order barring the state from doing business with supporters of the BDS movement.