Senator and presidential candidate Ted Cruz announced that if he is elected in 2016, he will pull federal funding from any university that boycotts Israel.
Cruz’s comments came on Thursday when he received the Defender of Israel Award at the third annual Champion of Jewish Values International Awards Gala in New York City.
“We need a president of the United States who will stand up and say that if a university in this country boycotts the nation of Israel, then that university will forfeit federal taxpayers dollars,” Cruz said.
Cruz condemned the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) movement as “anti-Semitism” and said it is “premised on a lie.” BDS is a global campaign to end Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory by placing economic and political pressure on the nation.
“When you are advocating the murder of Jews, you will not receive American taxpayer money,” Cruz said.
In his acceptance speech, Cruz discussed strengthening the relationship between America and Israel. He also reminded everyone that in 19 months there will be a new president of the United States, and he pledged to continue to sponsor and support pro-Israel legislation and do everything in his power to stop an Iran nuclear deal.
Other honored guests at the gala included Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, and author and Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel.
Watch Cruz’s speech below.
