New Jersey Governor Chris Christie approved a law that bans state investments in companies boycotting Israel. Christie expressed support for Israel as a “beacon of democracy” in the Middle East. The bill met little opposition in the New Jersey assembly and senate. (Courier-Post, August 16, 2016, by John C. Ensslin)
The new law requires the state government to list the companies supporting a boycott of Israel to expedite state divestment of the blacklisted companies. Legal experts voiced doubt about the law surviving a First Amendment test. (Salon, August 18, 2016, by Ben Norton)