Aug 02, 2019, 00:36 am
(This post was last modified: Aug 02, 2019, 00:41 am by Resurgence. Edited 2 times in total.)
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) is a Palestinian-led campaign promoting various forms of boycott against Israel until it meets what the campaign describes as Israel's obligations under international law, defined as withdrawal from the occupied territories, removal of the separation barrier in the West Bank, full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and respecting, protecting and promoting the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties.
The BDS campaign is meant to put pressure on Israel over the occupation of Palestine. Specifically it puts economic pressure to cease some of its activities against Palestinians as part of the occupation.
On February 5, 2019, the Senate passed S.1 - Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 (sponsor: Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL]). It passed with 77 for and 23 against. Those against it include one Independent (Bernie Sanders), one Republican (Rand Paul) and 21 Democrats.
S.1 includes the Combating BDS Act of 2019.
The summary of the Combating BDS Act:
The US House of Representatives on July 23 passed H. Res 246 (sponsor: Rep. Bradley Schneider [D-IL-10]), a bill expressing opposition to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement directed at Israel. The bill passed with a huge majority 398 for to just 17 against.
There are now anti-BDS laws in many states with the language of the bills sometimes almost identical: "A rapid succession of states — 27 in four years — have adopted measures to curb the boycott initiative known as BDS.These new laws and executive orders have been crafted by activists, then copied from one state to the next, adopted with virtually identical language. Most require tens of thousands of state contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel — or lose their government funding. Other efforts require state pension boards to divest from companies that boycott Israel."
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has argued the bills are unconstitutional and they have been ruled as such in three states: "Last week a federal district court in Texas blocked as unconstitutional a state law that required government contractors to certify that they did not boycott Israel and would not do so over the course of their contract. With courts in Arizona and Kansas issuing similar rulings last year, that’s now three federal courts that have protected the right to engage in First Amendment-protected political boycotts—including boycotts of Israel and Israeli settlements."
YouTube member “The Last American Vagabond” gives a good synopsis of the overall situation and the Senate vote:
The Senate Bill:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-cong...ate-bill/1
Vote Summary:
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/r...vote=00016
The House Bill:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-cong...lution/246
Vote Summary:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll497.xml
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/anti-...s-congress
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/polit...cle/554611
The BDS campaign is meant to put pressure on Israel over the occupation of Palestine. Specifically it puts economic pressure to cease some of its activities against Palestinians as part of the occupation.
On February 5, 2019, the Senate passed S.1 - Strengthening America's Security in the Middle East Act of 2019 (sponsor: Sen. Marco Rubio [R-FL]). It passed with 77 for and 23 against. Those against it include one Independent (Bernie Sanders), one Republican (Rand Paul) and 21 Democrats.
S.1 includes the Combating BDS Act of 2019.
The summary of the Combating BDS Act:
Quote:The bill allows a state or local government to adopt measures to divest its assets from entities using boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies. Such measures shall meet various requirements, including those related to written notice and comment. It also bars lawsuits against investment companies based solely on a company's decision to divest from entities that use boycotts, divestments, or sanctions to influence Israel's policies.
The bill expresses the sense of the Senate that, before any significant withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria or Afghanistan, the President should certify that the conditions for the enduring defeat of al Qaeda and ISIS have been met.
The US House of Representatives on July 23 passed H. Res 246 (sponsor: Rep. Bradley Schneider [D-IL-10]), a bill expressing opposition to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement directed at Israel. The bill passed with a huge majority 398 for to just 17 against.
There are now anti-BDS laws in many states with the language of the bills sometimes almost identical: "A rapid succession of states — 27 in four years — have adopted measures to curb the boycott initiative known as BDS.These new laws and executive orders have been crafted by activists, then copied from one state to the next, adopted with virtually identical language. Most require tens of thousands of state contractors to pledge not to boycott Israel — or lose their government funding. Other efforts require state pension boards to divest from companies that boycott Israel."
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has argued the bills are unconstitutional and they have been ruled as such in three states: "Last week a federal district court in Texas blocked as unconstitutional a state law that required government contractors to certify that they did not boycott Israel and would not do so over the course of their contract. With courts in Arizona and Kansas issuing similar rulings last year, that’s now three federal courts that have protected the right to engage in First Amendment-protected political boycotts—including boycotts of Israel and Israeli settlements."
YouTube member “The Last American Vagabond” gives a good synopsis of the overall situation and the Senate vote:
The Senate Bill:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-cong...ate-bill/1
Vote Summary:
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/r...vote=00016
The House Bill:
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-cong...lution/246
Vote Summary:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll497.xml
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/anti-...s-congress
http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/polit...cle/554611