On the recordJuly 23, 2019
I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge the House to pass this resolution which opposes efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel through the global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement. This resolution reiterates that there is a viable pathway to peace: through direct negotiations to achieve two states for two people. If implemented, the BDS movement would blacklist Israeli businesses, devastate the Israeli economy, and create doubt about Israel's legitimacy among the next generation. That undermines any possibility of achieving a lasting peace. The global rise of anti-Semitism is manifesting itself in many terrifying ways, and we must remain vigilant. This resolution is paramount in ensuring that BDS supporters cannot utilize this movement to promote an anti-Semitic agenda. BDS does not seek and will not help achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace. In fact, it pushes the hope for a two-state solution even further away. BDS only gives fodder to Israel's enemies who seek to destroy her and isolate her from the rest of the world. Direct, bilateral negotiations between the parties is the only option for a viable, long-lasting peace.
