Florida bill targets finance company Morningstar for anti-Israel actions.

Florida Legislature Passes Bill to Protect Israel from ESG Investing

Florida is taking a stand against companies that work to undermine Israel under the guise of progressive Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) guidelines. The state legislature has approved a bipartisan bill that would prohibit state funds from investing in companies that take adverse action against Israel. This move aims to crack down on companies that hurt Israeli businesses and feed the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Morningstar Accused of Anti-Israel Bias

One of the companies accused of anti-Israel bias is financial ratings giant Morningstar. Critics say that Morningstar systematically downgrades companies that work with Israel, discouraging investors from funding them. Morningstar subsidiary Sustainalytics blacklists several companies that work with Israel to stop terrorism. The Florida bill could provide a roadmap for other states that want to cut ties with Morningstar over its alleged anti-Israel bias.

Pro-Israel Advocacy Groups Support the Florida Statute

Pro-Israel advocacy groups are already lining up behind the Florida statute. Christians United for Israel, one of several groups that have been pressuring Morningstar to eradicate anti-Israel bias, has also raised the issue in meetings with members of Congress. The broad bipartisan support for the Florida measure signals that lawmakers are saying “no” to those seeking to use ESG as a vehicle to surreptitiously infect American investments with BDS.

Morningstar Denies Anti-Israel Bias

Morningstar has repeatedly denied accusations of anti-Israel bias, insisting that it in no way supports the BDS movement. It has also taken steps to eradicate bias from its ESG ratings and adjust current guidelines to more favorably rate Israel.