The US will designate the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement as “antisemitic”, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said, describing the campaign as a “cancer”.

“We’re committed to combatting it. Our record speaks for itself. During the Trump administration, America stands with Israel like never before,” he said Thursday in a statement to the press, flanked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“It seems like a statement of fact but I want you to know that we will immediately take steps to identify organisations that engage in hateful BDS conduct and withdraw U.S. government support for such groups,” he said. 

Mr Netanyahu said the initiative sounded “simply wonderful”.

The move came as Mr Pompeo travelled to a winery in Psagot, becoming the first top US official to visit a settlement in the West Bank.

It is unclear what the incoming administration’s policy on BDS will be. President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in January next year. 

Mr Netanyahu and Israeli president Reuven Rivlin this week called the Democrat to congratulate him on his election win.