In a rush vote before summer recess, the House of Representatives passed H.Res.246, which claims that the global boycott movement against Israel undermines the possibility for a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The majority of Americans oppose such legislation. The Israel lobby was elated. A few courageous Congress members voted against it…
The House is expected to fast track three measures on behalf of Israel tomorrow: laws to give Israel a minimum of $38 billion and to sanction groups that support the Palestinian resistance, and a resolution expressing opposition to the global boycott of Israel (BDS)… Contains a link to contact Congress about the legislation…
Israeli settlers protest the “unlawful” boycott movement playing out in their midst by calling for a boycott of their own.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will endorse a bipartisan resolution that would impede Americans’ First Amendment right to boycott. Schumer calls himself a “guardian for Israel.” The bill has 60 co-sponsors. A companion bill in the House of Representatives has 300 co-sponsors.
Presidential candidate Mike Gravel says, “The two-state solution is dead. Let us take the obvious and humane path forward,” and he lays out a courageous proposal.
Palestinians in Gaza protest against the German Parliament decision on BDS on 23 May 2019 [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor] A significant number of Israeli and Jewish intellectuals publicly denounced Germany’s “deceitful” anti-BDS bill, the first of its kind in Europe. [Nathan Thrall summarizes the birth and goals of BDS: The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement…
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…
Giraldi sums up presidential hopeful Cory Booker: “a complete sell-out to Israel and its Jewish supporters” who tries to be “more Israeli than the Israelis.” Booker claims that there is “no greater moral vandalism than abandoning Israel,” and swears to give Israel even more money.
Former President Jimmy Carter encourages the House of Representatives to reject the anti-BDS bill: “Under our Constitution, people and legal entities have the right to express political views without fear of consequences.”
Among the many state and local orgs that work in the shadows for Israel is the Virginia-Israel Advisory Board (VIAB), funded by Virginia taxpayers. VIAB’s main objective is to provide preferential and unconditional funding to oftentimes secretive Israeli business projects designed to entwine Israeli industries into Virginia industries and government. VIAB is currently being scrutinized by the state Attorney General over its handling of government funds.