Lee Zeldin: “I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so that the House may take up H.R. 5595, the Israel Anti- Boycott…”

“I urge my colleagues to defeat the previous question so that the House may take up H.R. 5595, the Israel Anti- Boycott Act, that would help fight back against the BDS movement. This bill would prohibit boycotts or requests for boycotts imposed by international governmental organizations against Israel and would protect American companies from being coerced to provide information to those organizations for the purpose of furthering boycotts against Israel. This bill holds individuals who attempt to violate this protection accountable. Additionally, it establishes Congress' opposition to the BDS movement and condemns the United Nations' Human Rights Council's creation of a blacklist of companies doing business in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights as an act of BDS. This legislation does not impede the right of any individual American to boycott or criticize Israel. It is okay to have reasonable, legitimate concerns with any government, including our own and allies like Israel, but this hate-fueled movement is not all about affirming the rights of Palestinians. The BDS movement has fueled anti-Semitism across college campuses and in our country's politics. I hear from Jewish students on college campuses across America who are being subjected to blatant anti- Semitism under the guise of BDS.…”