House Passes Bill to Block Pentagon Contracts for Companies Supporting Israel Boycotts

The House of Representatives Passed a Bill Punishing "Politically Motivated" Boycotts of Israel On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed a massive defense budget amendment that would bar companies engaged in politically motivated boycotts of Israel from Pentagon contracts. The bill, which aims to prevent contractors boycotting Israel from tapping most federal contract dollars, still needs to pass the Senate. The amendment, sponsored by Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., would effectively ban contractors boycotting Israel from accessing more than half of the $755 billion the U.S. government spent on contracts last year, which flowed through the Defense Department. This move is part of a broader legislative effort to target the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel's human rights violations, or BDS. "This amendment is really designed to shield Israel from any accountability by penalizing those who protest its violations of Palestinian human rights," said Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., a vocal critic of the bill. "It's a clear attempt to silence critics and protect Israel's interests." Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to prevent anti-Israel boycotts from undermining national security. "This amendment is a crucial step in protecting our allies and preventing the spread of anti-Semitic ideologies," said Rep. Boebert. "We must stand with Israel and against those who seek to harm its people." The bill's passage marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over the BDS movement, which has been criticized by some as an attempt to delegitimize Israel. Background on the issue is complex, with proponents of the bill arguing that it is necessary to prevent anti-Israel boycotts from undermining national security. Critics, however, see it as an attempt to suppress free speech and silence critics of Israel's human rights record. The Senate was debating its own version of the budget bill on Thursday, which does not include an anti-BDS provision. If the House-passed amendment makes it into law, critics predict a court challenge. "This is a clear overreach by Congress," said Omar Baddar, executive director of the Arab American Institute. "We will continue to fight for our right to free speech and to criticize Israel's human rights record." The bill now heads to the Senate, where its fate remains uncertain. If passed, it would mark a significant shift in U.S. policy towards Israel and the BDS movement. In related news, the House-passed amendment has sparked widespread debate among lawmakers, with some calling for further action against the BDS movement. The issue is expected to continue to be a contentious one in the coming weeks and months. *Reporting by Theintercept.*