Ajcommittee, Adl, File Complaint with State Rights Commission to Stop U.s.-arab Chamber of Commerce

The American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith have asked the New York State Human Rights. Division to stop the U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce from engaging in “unlawful discriminatory practices” in violation of State law to “enforce” the Arab boycott of Israel.

In a complaint tiled today with the Human Rights Division, the two organizations charged that the U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce refuses to certify documents accompanying American goods shipped to Arab countries unless the shipper signs a clause stating that it is abiding by the Arab boycott.

The complaint cited “at least three instances.” It said the Chamber refused to certify documents of W. R. Zane and Co. of New Orleans and the Asiatic Petroleum Co. of New York City which sought to ship goods to Abu Dhabi and the Gaynor Shipping Corp. of New York which sought to ship goods to Saudi Arabia.

The complaint charged further that the Chamber was enforcing the boycott by responding to inquiries from Arab individuals and organizations as to whether certain American companies were in violation of the boycott. It cited two instances where the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and industry sought information about General American Shipping, inc. and the Consolidated American Co., both of New York City.

Arab importers, the complaint went on, refuse to make purchases or shipments from American suppliers or shippers of goods unless the documents accompanying the goods contain statements that the supplier or shipper has not committed acts in violation of the Arab boycott, along with “appropriate certification” by the U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce.

ACTION VIOLATES STATE’S LAW

The complaint held that the actions listed constituted “discriminatory practices” in violation of Section 296 (13) of the Executive Law of the State of New York which is part of New York’s anti-boycott law. The AJ Committee and ADL asked the Human Rights Division to order the Chamber of Commerce “to cease and desist” from such acts “together with such other relief as the State Commissioner of Human Rights deems proper.”

The information on which the complaints were based was obtained through an analysis by the Jewish agencies of reports filed recently with the U.S. Department of Commerce by American companies that had been asked to comply in various ways with the Arab boycott. The companies are required under the Export Administration Act to report all such requests.