Judges reverse decision that found legislation to be unconstitutional, saying that requiring government contractors to pledge to avoid boycotting Jewish state was not in violation of First Amendment.

A federal appeals court on Wednesday upheld Arkansas' law requiring state contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel, finding the restriction is not an unconstitutional violation of free speech. The full 8th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals reversed a 2-1 decision last year by a three-judge panel of the court that found the requirement to be unconstitutional. The Arkansas Times had sued to block the law, which requires contractors with the state to reduce their fees by 20% if they don't sign the pledge.

"(The law) only prohibits economic decisions that discriminate against Israel," Judge Jonathan Kobes wrote in the court's opinion. "Because those commercial decisions are invisible to observers unless explained, they are not inherently expressive and do not implicate the First Amendment."

As reported by Ynet
Image source: citizenside/AFP