The ADL has spent record amounts on lobbying – an effort that critics say is primarily in support of legislation that would punish criticism of Israel and target pro-Palestinian groups
Amid attacks from snipers, airstrikes, and Israeli border restrictions, Gazans’ ability to obtain food is further hampered as Israeli citizens block the entrance of humanitarian aid; Israeli forces burn 3,000 homes in Gaza; Palestinian American woman in West Bank abducted, arrested for social media “incitement”; 4-year-old boy attacked by Israeli military dog; Israeli forces killed 2 Palestinian men; Blinken repeats his usual talking points to Israeli leaders, they announce plans to expand efforts in Rafah; ACLU denounces IHRA definition of antisemitism, and more
State lawmakers and governors across the US have allowed the Israel lobby to write public policy. New laws and executive orders have been crafted by Israel lobbyists, then copied from one state to the next, adopted with virtually identical language. The groundwork for anti-boycott legislation was laid by Israel partisans a decade ago…
In Arkansas, a newspaper publisher is in financial straits after refusing to sign an anti-BDS (Boycott, Divest, Sanction) pledge for Israel. He believes that political dissent is protected speech, and that the Arkansas law violates his constitutional rights and his journalistic ethics.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) attorney Brian Hauss dissects the accusation from the anti-BDS camp that it is “hypocritical” to support anti-discrimination laws (think: wedding cake), but oppose anti-BDS laws. Bottom line: businesses do not have the right to refuse service to consumers because of who they are. On the other hand, consumers have a First Amendment right to withhold their patronage from businesses in order to express their political beliefs.
Action Alert! Tell your legislator to say NO to Israel-centric definition of anti-Semitism, and to attend congressional briefing on mistreatment of Palestinian children.
In open letter, Christian leaders representing dozens of national orgs urge Congress to support free speech, oppose anti-BDS legislation.
AIPAC helped craft a bill making BDS a felony, subject to a minimum civil penalty of $250K and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison; many of its cosponsors have no idea what the bill contains.