Amid the chaos in Washington DC over the government shutdown, the first bill introduced by the U.S. Senate, entitled S.1 – is not a bill to open the government, but rather an unprecedented law specifically designed to shield the Israeli government from any public criticism or political opposition in the U.S.
WASHINGTON — Pro-Israel lawmakers in Washington, undeterred by the partial shutdown of the United States government, are pursuing their agenda full speed with the introduction of the first piece of legislation before the 116th Senate — a bill that aims to stifle the free-speech rights of American critics of apartheid Israel.
The Republican-controlled Senate’s first bill (S.1) would enact penalties on entities that engage in boycotts of Israel — one of many measures in the United States intended to push back on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
According to Marco Rubio, the first bill the 2019 U.S. Senate will take up is one that is focused on Israel. His Twitter announcement shows a number of people suggesting that he should instead focus on getting the U.S. government running.
The map below shows the spread across the USA of laws against support for the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) Movement. It was compiled by Palestine Legal, an organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Americans who speak out for Palestinian freedom.
One state with anti-BDS legislation on its books is Texas. Says The Intercept:
JERUSALEM (AP) — A U.S. software company said Friday it blocked the fundraising account of the Palestinian-led boycott movement against Israel following a complaint by a pro-Israel group that the campaign has links to militant organizations.
Donorbox, which makes fundraising management software, confirmed that the BDS campaign’s account was temporarily blocked while it investigates the allegations.
The BDS movement called the Israeli move “McCarthyite.”
AUSTIN, TEXAS — A Texas speech pathologist has filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas after she was reportedly fired for refusing to sign an oath that she would not boycott the apartheid state of Israel.
SANTIAGO, CHILE — After the Chilean city of Valdivia became the first municipality in Latin America to support the non-violent Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement this past June, the Chilean government has now ruled that it is illegal to boycott Israel at the municipal level throughout the entire country.
Two police departments in the New England region of the United States canceled their annual visit to Israeli police forces and engagement in training, amid pressure from organisations affiliated with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The Vermont State Police and the Northampton Police Department in Massachusetts both canceled their planned trip to Israel for a training program just days before it was supposed to start.
In case you missed it…
Via the human rights activists at Electronic Intifada, an incredible — long-suppressed — piece of hidden camera investigative journalism by Al Jazeera: “The Lobby — USA.”
Watch all four parts below:
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA — (Analysis) In the aftermath of the horrific attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, politicians have managed to use the tragedy to attack their opponents. Instead of addressing the underlying issue of such hate attacks, they change the focus to unrelated matters.
