Right to boycott should be protected

By Emma Johnson
Midland Daily News, 10 Apr 2018: 6A.
https://www.ourmidland.com/opinion/voices/article/Right-to-boycott-should-be-protected-12818625.php

A sign points to the Israeli settlement Pisgat Ze'ev located in East Jerusalem. Pisgat Ze'ev houses 50,000 of the 700,000 Israeli settlers illegally residing in the occupied Palestinian territories. Photograph by Emma Johnson.

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Do you think it should be illegal to compile public information? To participate in a boycott? U.S. Republicans and Democrats seem to think so.

In fact, they are currently trying to make it law. The bill currently has 269 co-sponsors; 225 in the House (H.R.1697) and 51 in the Senate (S.720). This includes our own Republican Rep. John Moolenaar and Democratic Sen. Gary Peters.

The Israel Anti-Boycott Act is a direct response to the BDS movement, which stands for “Boycott. Divestment. Sanctions.” The Israel Anti-Boycott Act would make it illegal for U.S. businesses to cease doing business with Israel, or companies that operate on illegal Israeli settlements, if it is — or is only perceived to be — for political reasons.