Thirteen Republican Attorneys General Warn UK and Netherlands to Drop Israel Sanctions or Face Divestment

Thirteen Republican state attorneys general sent a letter Monday to the ambassadors of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands warning that recently enacted or announced sanctions targeting Israeli economic activity in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Golan Heights could trigger U.S. trade retaliation and force American states to divest from British and Dutch companies.

The letter, led by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird and signed by the attorneys general of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, and South Carolina, states that the measures “impose potentially severe economic harm on individuals and businesses in other nations—including those within our States” and align with the objectives of Hamas and Hezbollah.

Many states have laws prohibiting government contracts with companies that boycott Israel or requiring divestment of public funds from such firms. The AGs warned that the sanctions “may thus disqualify companies from your nations from contracting with our States, or require our States to divest from your companies.” They reserved the right to pursue remedies under federal trade law through the U.S. Trade Representative if the sanctions proceed.

Bird’s office said the restrictions hurt American businesses by limiting trade markets and interfere with Israel’s sovereignty. The United Kingdom and Netherlands have described their measures as targeting settlement-related activity; the AGs called on both governments to rescind or halt implementation.