The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed an anti-boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) resolution on July 23 by a vote of 398 in favor, 17 against and 5 abstentions.
The nonbinding resolution, H.R. 246, condemned the BDS movement for attempting to delegitimize Israel. The resolution had nearly 350 co-sponsors, including Reps. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) and Brad Sherman (D-Calif.). Sixteen of the 17 representatives who voted no were Democrats; four out of the five who voted present also were Democrats. The only non-Democrat who voted present was Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.).
Here are the nays and "present" votes: pic.twitter.com/qKE65xdFUz
— Sia Kordestani (@SiaKordestani) July 23, 2019
During the 40-minute floor debate on the resolution, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) said the BDS movement “promotes a one-sided view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that seeks to marginalize Israel, that would deny the Jewish people the right of national self-determination.” He added, “Participating in an international commercial effort that undermines Israel’s legitimacy and scuttles the chances of a two-state solution isn’t the same as an individual exercising First Amendment rights.”
After the vote, Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) tweeted, “Displays of anti-Semitism have become too frequent in the past few months, even from members of this House of Representatives—and it is time that we stand united in support of Israel.”
The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement is an economic attack on Israel and BDS supporters do not even think Israel should exist.
— Rep. Alex Mooney (@RepAlexMooney) July 23, 2019
Displays of anti-Semitism have become too frequent in the past few months, even from members of this House of Representatives—and it is time that we stand united in support of Israel.
— Rep. Alex Mooney (@RepAlexMooney) July 23, 2019
Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump, our relationship with Israel has never been stronger. We must never forget the important role Israel plays in the world and I will continue to be a vocal supporter of our eternal friendship.
— Rep. Alex Mooney (@RepAlexMooney) July 23, 2019
Earlier in the day, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) criticized the resolution, saying, “It sets a dangerous precedent because it attempts to delegitimize certain people’s political speech and to send a message that our government can and will take action against speech it doesn’t like”
The Anti-Defamation League and AIPAC praised the passage of the resolution:
We applaud the House's bipartisan passage of this resolution, which affirms opposition to efforts to delegitimize Israel (eg BDS) and supports direct negotiations toward peace and two viable states, while also protecting free speech. Recent statement: https://t.co/5pOx51xEXI
— ADL (@ADL) July 23, 2019
BREAKING: 398 House members just voted for H.Res.246 in a powerful statement opposing the global BDS campaign and its deliberate discrimination of Israel. This overwhelming vote is representative of the breadth, depth and diversity of bipartisan support for Israel in Congress. pic.twitter.com/B4j6kNYKaF
— AIPAC (@AIPAC) July 23, 2019
StandWithUs CEO and Co-Founder Roz Rothstein similarly said in a statement, “Congress continues to recognize that anti-Israel boycotts are a form of hate which will never lead to justice or peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Everyone who is committed to fighting discrimination and bigotry should follow their lead and oppose these campaigns wherever they occur.”
The House also passed a bill that provides security assistance to Israel as well as a bill that sanctions foreign governments that provide material support for Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
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