Philip Weiss says the key people behind bills that would punish boycotters with a minimum fine of $250,000 and a maximum penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison are Jewish Zionists in the Democratic party… but others are opposing AIPAC and he predicts that side will ultimately win.
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.
![Schumer, ‘guardian of Israel,’ calls anti-Zionism a form of antisemitism [videos]](https://israelpalestinenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/SchumerIsraelParade-617x410.jpg)
Minority leader Chuck Schumer, who earlier told an AIPAC audience that God had made him ‘guardian of Israel,’ claimed in a recent Senate speech that anti-Zionism is antisemitism – see videos…
An office in Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs is waging a ‘war’ against the Palestinian rights movement, placing agents in embassies around the world and working to advance anti-boycott legislation, close bank accounts, torpedo events, thwart donations, organize counter-protests. The Director says: ‘In order to win, we must use tricks and craftiness.’
Legislation against companies boycotting Israel is being enacted in state legislatures, cities, and at the national level. The American Jewish Committee and other Israel advocacy groups tout their successes, including getting all 50 governors to sign an anti-BDS statement.
The progressive organization Moveon is featuring Ben & Jerry’s in its latest action alert, even though the ice cream company is being boycotted by three different social justice campaigns for its unethical practices in the Palestinian territories and its treatment of workers & the environment in Vermont.
UC Irvine’s Students for Justice in Palestine group were harassed and intimidated during their anti-Zionism week events by Israel supporters. The campus has been a focal point for Israel advocacy groups seeking to conflate Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism.
![Making A Sexy Pitch For Israel [video]](https://israelpalestinenews.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/6-13-17-D-728x410.jpg)
A new anti-BDS campaign called 4il.org enlists Israel’s supporters as Internet foot soldiers. The two-pronged campaign is geared toward digitally savvy millennials, and uses an interactive website and a smartphone app to turn Israel advocacy into a competitive game.
The National Coalition of Christian Organizations in Palestine pleads for Western churches to take a stand: “As we meet this month in Bethlehem in occupied Palestine, we are still suffering from 100 years of injustice and oppression…we need you and we need you now more than ever. We need your costly solidarity…This is no time for shallow diplomacy Christians. We urge you to hear our call.”
Ha’aretz’s Gideon Levy writes: Isn’t it time to do away with the artificial distinction between the Israelis who view themselves as nice and just and the brutal occupation they are responsible for? Hasn’t the time come to punish them in a nonviolent manner for the crimes that each and every one of them is party to?