The US state of Maryland will be denying contracts to firms that boycott the Israeli regime, Governor Larry Hogan says.

The governor of the Free State signed an executive order on Monday to block it from doing business with companies boycotting Israel over its expansionist policies in the Middle East.

Speaking with pro-Israel Jewish leaders by his side at a news conference in Annapolis, Hogan announced the measure against the movement known as Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).

“Boycotts based on religion, national origin, ethnicity or place of residence are discriminatory, and contracting with businesses that practice discrimination would make the state a passive participant in private sector commercial discrimination,” argued the Republican governor. “There is no place in our state for boycotts and threats.”