Lawmakers this week hosted business groups in a briefing that sought to reframe the movement to boycott Israeli-owned companies as a threat to the American economy.
At Tuesday’s briefing, organized by the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., opened the event by saying that since the U.S.-Israel Free Trade Agreement was signed in 1985, trade between the countries has “multiplied tenfold to over $40 billion annually.”
The boycott movement would not only impact the Israeli economy, but also the U.S. economy and “should be confronted by all means,” he said.
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is a global campaign calling on Israel to end its occupation of internationally recognized Palestinian territory and restore full equality to its Arab and Palestinian citizens.
The BDS movement has faced a huge backlash from pro-Israel activists and Western governments. In October, France’s highest court ruled that activists handing out BDS fliers were guilty of “inciting hatred and discrimination.” The U.K. government announced last month that it will be illegal for local city councils, public bodies, and student unions to boycott goods from Israeli settlements. In Israel, a 2011 law effectively banned any call for a boycott of Israeli goods.
Congress and state legislatures in the U.S. have also tried to curtail boycotts of Israel. Last week, the Arizona Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill prohibiting the state government from doing business with companies boycotting Israel, and encouraged Arizona businesses to do the same. Similar bills have already passed in New York and Illinois, and have been introduced in dozens of states.
President Obama also signed legislation last month requiring the administration to compile reports on boycott efforts and make opposing them a “principle trade negotiating objective” of the United States. A few weeks earlier, a bipartisan group of senators and members of Congress introduced the “Combating BDS Act of 2016,” which would protect states that pass anti-BDS legislation from discrimination lawsuits.
At the Tuesday meeting, a representative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a business lobbying group, dismissed concerns about Palestinian human rights, saying they are not a factor in its opposition to boycotts of Israel. “The economic relationship overshadows the security relationship in monetary aspects,” said Josh Kram, the executive director of the Chamber of Commerce’s Middle East Commercial Center.
He referred to the BDS movement as a “poison pill of the U.S.-Israel economic relationship.”
The effort to shield Israel from boycotts by citing not just the security relationship, but also the economic relationship, is similar to arguments made during the 1980s campaign for divestment in the apartheid regime of South Africa. In a 1981 interview with CBS’s Walter Cronkite, President Reagan explained that part of his opposition to tougher sanctions on South Africa was because it “strategically is essential to the free world in its production of minerals.”
Over 30 years later, these same arguments are being repeated.
“I think for a lot of different reasons that have been discussed, you know, human rights issues do come up in lots of different markets,” Kram said, in response to a question from The Intercept. “And frankly those are issues for political leaders to hammer out, in a foreign policy approach.”
“Do Palestinian human rights issues ever come up in how you determine whether to get involved in this?” The Intercept asked.
“No,” Kram concluded.
Listen to the full exchange:
Asked if the organization considers Israeli settlements part of the state of Israel and opposes boycotts of Israeli businesses in the occupied territories, Kram responded, “We have no position on that issue.”
Additional reporting: Lee Fang
Top photo: An pro-Palestinian demonstration in Paris, France on October 10, 2015 calling for a boycott of Israel and the recognition of the state of Palestine.
I’m not really a fan of Israel, it’s an odd pseudo-European founded state founded on biblical nonsense and 19th century Utopian thinking, but BDS is ridiculous and it will never make any difference. You’ve already got most of the Muslim world boycotting Israel, you really think adding like Swathmore is going to make a difference? No. Boycotts never really work anyways. They didn’t really put any economic pressure on South Africa and Israel would be even harder as their exports are more technology than natural resources like gold. They are too smart to box in.
You might care to research the boycott and divestment movement’s effects on the apartheid government of the Republic of South Africa. It was very effective. The key was that large international corporations were successfully pressured into stopping the marketing of their products, and closing down their offices, in that country. When in addition people refused to purchase their exports, the loop was closed, and the regime collapsed in relatively short order. An interesting footnote to this is that one of the very few countries not to participate in the BDS movement of the time was Israel.
If the BDS movement did not pose a threat to Israel, you would not see their agents in the US, Canada and Europe lobbying so strongly to legitimize it.
” When in addition people refused to purchase their exports”
You see this is where it never really worked out. You don’t want to buy S African gold? Well there’s plenty of people who did. Economists like Ivo Welch who studied the divestment campaign will tell you that it didn’t have almost any impact at all. And Israel has a much more sophisticated economy. If you want to make Alan Dershowitz mad, well mission accomplished, he seems pissed, but you’re not going to really hurt Israel.
Free trade is dead because “WE the PEOPLE” can not boycott anymore. The Congress of TRAITORS no longer require imports to have their country of origin – If you do not know where it is from how do you boycott?.?
40 billion in trade? Big deal. What is that, a couple of over-priced bombers? The fascists will be whining about divesting from Saudi Arabia next. Religious states are fundamentally undemocratic and Israel is no exception.
How long is this war between the Palestinians and Israelis going to continue? Each side claims the land is theirs. One has support and backing of the US govt that allows them to do as they please. The other wants some land of their own but support from, for lack of a better term, especially after propaganda has its say, nefarious sources. Really!! War is the only outcome which is good for business bad for people. When both are tired of endless wars and killings they’ll make peace; but after 1,000’s of years I’m not holding my breath.
He’s an Ol’ timer but has not learnt much!
It is NOT a war, but an illegal takeover and occupation by Israel, with WMD, huge arms, US (im)moral support in the UN using its veto against any criticism of the State of Israel. Boycotting is voluntary, non-violent and is NOT against Israel or Jews in general, but to stop the illegal occupation and stealing of Palestinian land (or the little that remains).
the world is run by terrorists who believe that a constant state of war is a good thing, I hate reservations anywhere on the planet…what is the difference between what we did to native americans and what those in the ME are doing to those in Gaza? nothing, we just don’t blow up native americans any more is all, not after killing 150 million of them…kill kill kill that’s all we know, it is insane, it is insanity
Pretty funny stuff. The US corporate interests will be hurt bu a boycott of Israeli products? Right. But not hurt by the total boycott on doing business with Iran….you know, the boycott implemented by the very same people pushing the idea the USA depends on the tiny welfare colonial settler project in the ME? How did we allow such a group of crazy, radicalized, folks loyal to a foreign nation take over America?
If anyone has any doubts on how this works, this video should remove them:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgAVkByQndg
Nothing new here. Anyone knows that Israel controls all three branches of the US government, just as they have done for the past 50 years. Which explains why the US government has been waging war against Israel’s enemies for the past 50 years.
This is an issue where the details are very important. Sometimes opposition to BDS is wrong, but sometimes it is justified.
For example, France is obviously wrong in prosecuting anyone for “inciting hatred”. The Europeans have been looking down their noses at us here in the U.S. for not having a law against “hate speech” for decades… but we’re the one with a black president and an admitted surfeit of political correctness at the private/individual level, while they’re out there writing new laws to exclude Roma and ban headscarves and giving the British Home Secretary the right to deport any Jewish citizen of Britain who engages in “prejudicial conduct” on the basis that he might be able to apply for Israeli citizenship.
However, it should be nearly as clear that banning student unions from joining BDS actually makes sense. If student unions in Britain work anything like in the U.S., students are compelled to pay a fee to support a general suite of student activities. If the union takes that fee and intentionally does business with a non-lowest bidder in order to make a political point that the members don’t agree with, their rights are being violated. And the same is true of local government bodies, whose officials may have been elected but who need more input from the public than an occasional choice of names – this law is such an input.
As for Israel banning its people from boycotting it … that sounds amazing, and silly (can you really even do it?), but it scarcely seems like a bellwether for anything we do in the U.S. or in the U.K or France, etc.
According to your logic no government has the right to make any political decisions without holding a referendum on the issue first. They were elected but according to you they cannot make any political decision that has financial implications without a specific and direct mandate to do so.
What the UK government has done is subvert the democracy, if elected officials, be they local government or union officials, make a decision to support BDS then the electorates have a choice, they can vote them out and make it clear why they are and vote in someone who does not support BDS. Particularly in student unions where the elections are held every year.
Basically what the government is saying is you are not allowed democracy unless you agree with us. It is part of a much wider agenda from the UK government who have been systemically been criminalising descent since they got into power. It is especially pernicious as they only managed to get 25 % of eligible voters to vote for them and due to our out dated voting system were handed an absolute majority to do as they please.
Well; I’d say if you do business with a nation that’s broken every treaty it’s ever signed…. your business already knew there was risk.
“That’s just the cost of business”
Israel by itself is nothing. But for the majority of American Jews it is everything. Never has such a minority held so much sway over American and global finance and foreign policy. BDS is necessary but not sufficient. Apartheid fell for multiple reasons, not just disinvestment. Consider the Cuban military commitment. There is no similar military pressure being put on the Israel.
“Critics of Israel boycott warn of harm to US corporate interests”. I’d call that killing two predatory birds with one stone.
Jesus had a problem with lawyers.
Lk:11:46: And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
Total American aid to Israel since 1949 exceeds $121 billion (in non-inflation-adjusted dollars).
In 2007, President George Bush and Israel entered into a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding that would give Israel $30 billion in Foreign Military Assistance.
At the completion of this 10-year-plan in 2018, the U.S. will have given Israel $30 billion in unconditional military aid. The United States awards this grant in one lump sum, unlike other foreign recipients, which receive their payments in installments. Israel uses the interest it earns on this amount to pay down its debt to the United States, valued at $455 million in January 2013. In his March 2013 visit to Israel, President Barack Obama pledged to continue multi-year aid packages to Israel through 2028.
Under the terms of the agreement, Israel will be able to spend 26 percent of these U.S. funds on Israeli-manufactured military equipment. (This is known as Off-Shore Procurement.) This agreement, which is unique only to Israel, has allowed Israel to grow to be the world’s 7th largest exporter of military weaponry and equipment.
Israel also receives aid in other ways such as loan guarantees, refugee resettlement assistance, and reduced cost or free military equipment.
In addition to $3.1 billion per year in Foreign Military Assistance issued through the US Department of State, Israel also receives funds through the Defense Department appropriations bills for missile defense programs, like Iron Dome.
Here is a breakdown of some of US Aid to Israel:
Israel is the largest recipient of US Foreign Military Financing.
For FY2015, President Barack Obama’s funding request for Israel would account for more than 55% of FMF worldwide.
Annual FMF grants account for up to 25% of Israel’s defense budget.
Israel is allowed to use FMF to purchase weapons produced in Israel. No other country receives this benefit.
In 2010, the US and Israel agreed to allow Israel to purchase 19 F-35s at a cost of $2.75 billion. Israel will pay for this entirely using FMF grants supplied by the United States.
Under negotiated agreements, Israel may purchase an additional squadron of F-35s, up to 75 aircraft, costing a total of $15.2 billion.
As part of the deal, the U.S. has pledged to spend $4 billion purchasing equipment from Israel’s defense industries.
In the summer of 2012, the Department of Defense and Lockheed Martin finalized a $450 million agreement to modify the baseline F-35 model to accommodate electronic warfare and munitions systems for Israel’s future F-35 squadrons.
For FY2015, the Administration is requesting $3.1 billion in FMF to Israel and $10 million in Migration and Refugee Assistance. The Missile Defense Agency’s FY2015 request for joint U.S.- Israeli programs is $96.8 million. The Administration also is requesting $175.9 million for Iron Dome.
The US-Israel Strategic Partnership Act
Passed in March 2014, the Strategic Partnership Act will (among other things):
Authorize annual funding for a U.S.-based Joint Energy Research Center
Authorize $3 million to be spent on research pilot programs between Israel and the Department of Homeland Security
Require the Administration to submit biennial reports on maintaining Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge. Current law requires the Administration to report on a quadrennial basis
Israel, not an honest broker
Israel has not always been an honest foreign aid recipient, breaking both U.S. and international laws by the misuse of American weaponry, espionage and selling sensitive military equipment and knowledge to countries unfriendly to the United States.
Weapons use violations
Cluster munitions – In 1982 the Reagan administration found that Israel ‘may’ have violated its 1952 Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement with the U.S. by using U.S.-supplied cluster bombs against civilians in Lebanon.
Israel also may have violated several American laws by its use of American-made Apache helicopters, F-16 fighter jets and other U.S.-produced ammunition on the civilian population of Gaza during Operation Cast Lead in December 2008 and January 2009, according to a report by the National Lawyers Guild.
Questionable deals
In 2000, Israel sought to sell the Airborne Early Warning System to China, which could threaten “the forces of democratic Taiwan and the United States in the region surrounding the Taiwan Straights.”
In 2005, because of Israeli plans to sell American information or technology to China, the US suspended Israel from the development of the Joint Strike Fighter and imposed other restrictions on them.
In 2006, Israel froze a $100-million contract with Venezuela to upgrade its U.S. manufactured F-16 fighter jets due to U.S. pressure.
In 2009, an Israeli defense company partnering with Swedish manufacturer Saab backed out of a bidding competition to sell Swedish-designed fighter jets to India because U.S. officials worried U.S. technology would be integrated into the jets.
In December 2013, the head of Israel’s Defense Export Control Agency resigned after a joint US-Israeli investigation concluded that an Israeli miniature cooling system that can be used for missiles, and that had been licensed for sale to a French company, had been retransferred to China.
Interesting that the USA military can commit TREASON by SELLING WEAPONS TO HOSTILE NATIONS! F**K ISRAEL I wish it would CRASH & BURN! Palestinians are human beings, Israelis are like American military, murders and terrorist! Think they are God’s chosen! BULL S**T! Just like American lemmings Out to lunch, brain dead FOOLS!
Can’t honestly say that I want Israel to crash and burn, but I can’t wait to buy some olive oil from Palestinian farmers produced from 700 year old olive trees.
http://www.canaanfairtrade.com/products/olive-oils/
https://www.facebook.com/CanaanFairTrade?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/CanaanFairTrade
Would also prefer that the war criminals in Israel responsible for the mass murder of innocent Palestinian women and children die in prison, not an explosion.
Mr. Jilani and Mr. Emmons
“……The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is a global campaign calling on Israel to end its occupation of internationally recognized Palestinian territory and restore full equality to its Arab and Palestinian citizens…..”
The BDS campaign also seeks “full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel”. The conditions laid out for the BDS campaign would essentially lead to two Palestinian states because the demographics favor the Palestinians – in both.
Destruction of the Jewish majority state – the only one in the world – is never going to be supported by the west. The (blatant) misunderstanding of the ultimate goal of the BDS campaign is why western governments are moving to ensure that the campaign doesn’t succeed.
“……The effort to shield Israel from boycotts by citing not just the security relationship, but also the economic relationship, is similar to arguments made during the 1980s campaign for divestment in the apartheid regime of South Africa……”
The comparison the Apartheid South Africa is disingenuous at best, but it’s repeated so often that it has become just another lie promoted by the radical left. There is no comparison between Israel and apartheid South Africa.
May God curse you for lying. Israel is a terrorist state that is occupying Palestinian land. The land belongs to Palestinians.
“……The land belongs to Palestinians……”
Don’t just sit there. Take it back!
I agree.
“There is no comparison between Israel and apartheid South Africa.”
It is written…
Mt:19:18: He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.
Oops. I meant the “right of return” of the Palestinian refugees in the second paragraph.
What a liar ! I’m guessing that you are one of those chubby, pimply-faced Israeli college students who troll for college tuition …. fortunately, the rest of the world is not as ignorant or hateful as you.
Boycott Israel?? How? Where?
They sell nothing where I live. They produce no art, food or products or anything that I want.
They are a vapid militaristic culture that has nothing to offer.
Their prison system is one of the most idealistic and progressive thinking in the world. In relation to Israel’s the US’ resembles a toilet full of decades old feces that some sadistic psycho paid a child to pour gas on and burn until everybody dies from asphyxiation after he jumps head first into it.
Tell that to the 600 or so Palestinian children locked up in this “progressive” prison system….What a load of BS !
George Washington pointed out your ally today can be your enemy tomorrow.. Can you imagine what he and the other Founding Fathers would think if they realized all they fought for could simply be purchased by a foreign power through campaign contributions and Super Pacs.
Aw, po’ lil’ copoate intewests, dey feelin wuz hut…? dey done don’t have no feelin, hunny… ‘magin dat, people be sayin’ dey coul be hut… yeh, mebbe if they was got in de wallet, dat be some pain dere, fo dem copoations… an deir zecutivs… if dey even be human, t’all…
To paraphrase a famous rebel-
The more they tighten their grip, the more people will slip through their fingers.
Josh Kram’s comments are a perfect example of immorality: just do what’s economically beneficial to you and ignore more important concerns like human rights. But that attitude is typical of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mossad & Isreal > “US corporate interests”
Nice little company u got there. Sure wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to it.
Hurt corporate interests? The fucking corporations are the ones hurting public interests! To hell with them!
Spot on ????
After the Supreme Court ruled money is speech, are not efforts to ban boycotts infringement on free speech under the First Amendment?
Yes that would be the case, so it would be harder for certain legislation to pass in America.
Though I find there to be something unconstitutional about the Arizona law where the state is essentially boycotting companies involved in BDS. Isn’t that discrimination based on speech? Any individual can decide not to patronize a company as a form of speech, but can a state government? Can the federal government? Doesn’t that open a pandora’s box of the government being able to strong arm and economically injure companies they basically don’t like? Isn’t that just legalizing economic intimidation of the government within it’s own borders? A government can choose to stop engaging in economic activity with another government as a form of strong arming, but can the government in essence do the same to private corporations, in their own country no less. I don’t think this will reach a court, since BDS movements are not really with corporations per say the government would have economic ties to, so not much injury may come from this and the legislation largely symbolic. Though these laws set a very scary precedent, one that deserves some scrutiny from the judiciary IMO.
What corporate interests? Israel doesn’t make anything to trade with us do they? They don’t even benefit the economy by buying US weapons, because they make the US government pay for them.
This situation is only going to worsen. In all likelihood the next president will be wholly owned by Benyamin Netanyahu.