WJC welcomes U.S. Senate’s stand against BDS
The World Jewish Congress (WJC) today hailed the United States Senate’s decision to approve a strong stand against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement included in the Fast Track trade bill.
Ronald S. Lauder
“The Senate today took a strong stand against the growing vilification of Israel. American values such as freedom and openness have triumphed over the blatant hypocrisy and bias of the anti-Israel campaigners. This vote marks a major defeat for BDS,” said WJC President Ronald S. Lauder.
Lauder added: “The amendment by Congressman Peter Roskam targeting BDS in the Fast Track legislation approved today throws a wrench in the works of the campaign to boycott Israel. It upholds the principle that those who seek to harm the Jewish state cannot subvert free global commerce for their own perverse political agenda.
“America’s elected representatives today made it again clear that they stand with Israel and against BDS. This was a good day not just for Israel, but for the United States too.”
The BDS amendment discourages actions by potential US trading partners such as the European Union that prejudice or discourage trade between the US and Israel, in particular “politically motivated actions to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel and to seek the elimination of politically motivated nontariff barriers on Israeli goods, services, or other commerce imposed on the State of Israel.” It also seeks “the elimination of state-sponsored unsanctioned foreign boycotts against Israel or compliance with the Arab League Boycott of Israel by prospective trading partners.”
The legislation was already passed by the House of Representatives and can now be signed into law by President Barack Obama.
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry’s Alex Ryvchin told J-Wire: “We applaud the commitment of the US Senate to combating the BDS campaign and welcome any constructive efforts that expose BDS for the hateful and dishonest enterprise that it is.
In truth, BDS has had no discernible economic impact on Israel. Israel’s trade with the EU has never been greater, its expansion into new markets in east Asia shows immense promise and investors from James Packer to the Chinese government are committing enormous amounts into Israel.
The real and toxic purpose of BDS is to smear, isolate and delegitimise Israel and to vilify anyone who stands up for Israel. The slander its activists peddle creates a hostile environment for Jews and indeed all people of moderation and tolerance in our campuses, the academy, trade unions, NGOs and every other civil society forum strategically targeted by BDS. BDS has given cover to antisemites to vent their hatreds, often openly, and sometimes by masking it in a perversion of human rights discourse. For these reasons, it must be fought at every turn.”
Good news!