Florida Congressman Fine warns of possible boycott of British businesses
In the United States, Florida Congressman Randy Fine said the state could boycott British companies if the United Kingdom boycotts Israel. This came ahead of an expected Tuesday announcement by British authorities of a ban on trade with Israeli settlements.
Florida law
As the Jerusalem Post reports, Fine referred to a Florida law prohibiting contracts with companies on a special list. It provides that companies and other entities participating in a boycott of Israel generally cannot qualify for certain contracts with state authorities or local governments.
Companies applying for government contracts must also certify that they do not participate in a boycott of Israel. According to Fine, British businesses that join such a boycott could lose the ability to operate in Florida if their work requires official interaction with state or local authorities, including for permits or tax collection.
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Fine said Florida is one of the United Kingdom's largest trading partners and warned of potential losses for British businesses amounting to billions of dollars.
The Airbnb example and state laws
As an example of how such a policy works, the congressman cited Airbnb's 2018 decision to remove about 200 rental listings in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Florida subsequently added the company to its Scrutinized Companies list. In April 2019, Airbnb reversed the decision after lawsuits were filed.
According to a 2026 academic study by Indiana University law professor Joseph Tomain, 38 U.S. states have adopted anti-BDS laws. Such laws generally tie access to government contracts, investments, or other public benefits to refraining from participating in boycotts of Israel. These states include Texas, which, according to the publication, may apply restrictions similar to those in Florida.
