The order, which continues legislation in Congress stating that anti-Israelism is anti-Semitic, threatens to cut off institutions that support boycott from federal funding • 27 states have so far passed laws trying to curb the BDS movement

• President Donald Trump at the IAC Conference // Photo: AFP

President Trump plans to sign a presidential order to fight anti-Semitism and anti-Israelism at universities and colleges with a threat to cut off federal funding, a New York Times official reported.

The order, which is due to be signed later Wednesday, targets the boycott movements against Israel, such as the BDS, which are widespread in many universities and colleges. In the Trump administration, the BDS has long been arguing that it is a form of anti-Semitism similar to discrimination against minorities or women.

The order will define discrimination against the common national identity of Jewish students - Israel - and not just as a form of religious or racial discrimination. Defining Judaism as a form of national identity allows the education department to launch civil rights investigations in schools that it believes do not foster an open climate for Jewish students.

Critics of the hard-line federal approach against BDS say the government is violating the right of free speech of anti-Israeli movement advocates, preferring Jewish students over BDS-supported Muslim students who feel some kind of discrimination.

At least 27 U.S. states have passed laws trying to curb the BDS movement, in part by requiring providers who work with the state to sign a pledge not to support the movement.

The President's executive order is intended to effectively implement a bill in Congress against boycott movements. The bill has widespread, bipartisan support in Congress, though some Democrats and Republicans also oppose it on grounds of violating free speech.

The order takes anti-Semitism as "denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination and opposition to Israel as an example of this behavior."

Participating in the preparation: Ariel Kahana