House Passes Bill Blocking Pentagon Contracts for Companies Engaging in Anti-Israel Boycotts

House Passes Bill Punishing "Politically Motivated" Boycotts of Israel The House of Representatives passed a massive defense budget on Wednesday that includes an amendment barring companies engaged in politically motivated boycotts of Israel from Pentagon contracts. The bill, which would effectively ban contractors boycotting Israel from tapping most federal contract dollars, still needs to pass the Senate. According to Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., who sponsored the anti-BDS provision, "This amendment is designed to protect American companies and taxpayers from being forced to participate in discriminatory boycotts against our ally Israel." The ban would apply to more than half of the $755 billion the U.S. government spent on contracts last year, which flowed through the Defense Department. Critics, however, predict a court challenge if the anti-boycott provision makes it into law. "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 Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel's human rights violations, or BDS, has been a contentious issue in Congress for years. The latest legislative attempt to target BDS is part of a larger defense budget bill that aims to provide funding for the military and national security initiatives. While supporters argue that the amendment is necessary to protect American companies and taxpayers from discriminatory boycotts, opponents claim it infringes on free speech rights and targets those who speak out against Israel's human rights record. "This provision would have a chilling effect on peaceful protest and would undermine our country's commitment to freedom of expression," said Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. The Senate is currently debating its own version of the budget bill, which does not include an anti-BDS provision. If the House-passed amendment makes it into law, it could have significant implications for companies that engage in boycotts of Israel and for those who advocate for Palestinian rights. In a statement, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) expressed concerns about the potential impact on free speech rights. "This provision would be a clear infringement on the First Amendment rights of Americans to express their opinions and participate in peaceful protest," said ACLU spokesperson Anthony D. Romero. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration, where it is expected to face opposition from lawmakers who argue that the anti-BDS provision is an overreach of government authority. *Reporting by Theintercept.*