The House of Representatives approved Tuesday a non-binding resolution to oppose the boycott movement against Israel in a 398 to 17 vote, amid some pushback from high-profile progressive lawmakers.
The measure was introduced earlier this year, shortly after Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar was accused of anti-Semitism for comments she made back in March. The bipartisan resolution supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, argues the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement in an attempt to delegitimize Israel and calls on “Israelis and Palestinians to return to direct negotiations as the only way to achieve an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
The resolution, co-sponsored by the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler, and Republican Representatives Lee Zeldin of New York and Ann Wagner of Missouri, likewise recognizes the right of an American citizen to “protest or criticize the policies of the United States or foreign governments.”
Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib have publicly criticized the resolution, CNN writes, calling it “unconstitutional” and an effort to “silence” those opposing Israel’s policies. They have also voiced support of the BDS movement, aims to pressure Israel in a non-violent way over its actions toward Palestinians, including calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank.
The lead co-sponsor of the resolution, Democratic Representative Brad Schneider denied Tlaib’s accusations, saying the bill “does nothing of the sort.”
“It does not stop any speech about Israel or anything else. It recognizes the legitimate purpose and just ends of boycotts through our history,” he said for CNN. “But not every boycott is legitimate or just.”
He further said the movement was anti-Semitic, adding that its followers “may not necessarily understand the intent or the expression of … the BDS movement.”
Despite the division within the Democratic party caused both by Omar’s comments and the resolution, the bill garnered widespread support. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised the resolution earlier in the year, saying “We must also be vigilant against bigoted or dangerous ideologies masquerading as policy, and that includes BDS.”
Omar and Tlaib along with civil rights icon Representative John Lewis introduced in response a resolution of their own affirming that Americans have “the right to participate in boycotts in pursuit of civil and human rights at home and abroad, as protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution.”
“If we are going to condemn violent means of resisting the occupation, we cannot also condemn non-violent means. We cannot simultaneously say we want peace, then openly oppose peaceful means to hold our allies accountable,” Omar said last week at the markup of the anti-BDS resolution.
Eight Democratic lawmakers from the House have signed on as co-sponsors to Omar’s resolution.
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