Chicagoland Pro-Israel Political Update
If you're allodoxaphobic, this newsletter might not be for you
December 9, 2018
Trump effectively accused American Jews of dual loyalty at Thursday's White House Hanukkah Party.
The choice between fighting boycotts of Israel organized by foreign organizations and safeguarding constitutionally protected speech is a false choice: The Israel Anti-Boycott Act achieves both goals, and it does not alter U.S. policy on West Bank settlements.
American citizens have the right to advocate for boycotts of Israel and to boycott Israel, which is why it is so important that we exercise our constitutional right to speak out against the BDS movement, which effectively denies the national identity of the Jewish people and does not bring either side closer to peace.
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Friends,
The proposed Israel Anti-Boycott Act will protect U.S. companies from coercion to boycott Israel from foreign governments or organizations. It would not impermissibly restrict constitutionally protected speech, nor would it change U.S. policy on settlements. Remember
Airbnb's decision to stop operating in the West Bank? Had the Israel Anti-Boycott Act been in effect, Airbnb's decision
would have been legal because it was not made with the intent to comply with a boycott organized by a foreign government or organization. In fact, if Airbnb had decided to cease operating in Israel itself, its decision (which I think is misguided) would have been legal.
The Israel Anti-Boycott Act is very narrowly drafted to protect against foreign intimidation of U.S. companies and to help prevent foreign interference that contradicts U.S. policy toward Israel. It does not ban boycotts of Israel or the West Bank, nor does it ban advocacy for boycotts of Israel. It extends existing law (on the books since Jimmy Carter signed it into law) prohibiting participation in boycotts organized by foreign governments to include boycotts organized by foreign organizations (such as the EU or the UN).
The choice between fighting BDS and opposing settlements is a false choice. The Act
specifically states that its inclusion of the West Bank is not designed to alter U.S. policy on final status negotiations. The economies of the West Bank and Israel are so intertwined that it would not make sense to separate them for this purpose. Also, many of the large settlement blocs will become part of Israel under any conceivable two-state solution--that's what President Obama meant by borders based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed-upon land swaps.
We should oppose the Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment (BDS) movement
. The Israel Anti-Boycott Act would not make the BDS movement illegal, but just as supporters of BDS have the right to advocate for their position, so too we have the right to stand up against the hatred and bigotry that lies at the heart of the BDS movement.
The BDS movement denies the national identity of the Jewish people. It denies
my
identity. BDS is not about getting Israel out of the West Bank. BDS is about eliminating Israel as a Jewish state. We cannot support the right of Israel to exist as a Jewish, democratic state
and
support the BDS movement. The issue is not whether we support boycotts generally; boycotts can be used for good or evil. The issue is whether we support the goals of this particular boycott, and we cannot remain neutral on a moral issue this important.
We must remain united in our opposition to the BDS movement and treat it as seriously as we treat other forms of hatred and bigotry. The
Democratic Party
opposes "any effort to delegitimize Israel, including at the United Nations or through the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement."
The ADL notes
that "While there are people who support BDS but are not anti-Semitic, the campaign is founded on a rejection of Israel's very existence as a Jewish state. It denies the Jewish people the right to self-determination - a right universally afforded to other groups. In ADL's view, this differs from legitimate criticism of Israel and is anti-Semitic."
Yossi Klein Halevi
concludes that "BDS takes one of the world's most complex and heartbreaking conflicts - between two traumatized peoples - and turns it into a morality play between darkness and light. The movement to criminalize Israel is itself a crime. Rather than Israel, it is the BDS movement that must be exposed and ostracized for its bigotry and hatred."
It is legal to support BDS, but that doesn't make it right. True progressives must continue to reject the "Greater Israel" supported by the extreme right and the "one-state solution" supported by the extreme left, both of which are opposite sides of the same coin and both of which mean the end of Israel as a Jewish, democratic state. The two-state solution is a compromise, but it's the only solution that offers the hope of two states for two peoples, living side by side in peace and security--the only just and lasting solution.
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The Fine Print
: This newsletter usually runs on Sunday mornings. Unless stated otherwise, my views do not necessarily reflect the views of any candidates or organizations that I support or am associated with. My views might not even be my views tomorrow; I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more, and sometimes I make myself mad too. Intelligent, well-informed people may disagree with me; seek out opposing views and decide for yourself. When I link to an article, it doesn't mean that I agree with everything its author has ever said or that I even agree with everything in the article; it means that the article supports or elaborates on the point I was making. Advertisements reflect the views of the advertisers, not necessarily of me, and advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements. I read, value, and encourage replies to my newsletters, but I don't always have time to acknowledge replies or to engage in one-on-one discussion. Don't expect a reply if your message is uncivil or if it's clear from your message that you haven't read the newsletter or clicked on the relevant links.