Trump allegedly withhold disaster funding for states, cities that boycott Israel

[CriticalStinker]

Title is a little wonky with limiting length, and I wanted to insert allegedly as this is being reported by news outlets who have reviewed preliminary paperwork, and an official announcement hasn’t been made to my knowledge.

The Trump administration said states and cities will not receive funding to prepare for natural disasters if they choose to boycottIsraeli companies, according to an agency statement.
States must certify that they will not cut off “commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies” to receive the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, according to the agency’s terms for grantees.

The condition applies to at least $1.9 billion that states rely on to cover search and rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries, and backup power systems, among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters.

https://www.jpost.com/bds-threat/article-863220

So, I see a couple of issues with this. For one, there has been a strong position by this admin of “America First”. This has included sweeping tariffs, which they claim is to incentivize the consumption from domestic companies.

Second, we can boycott any other foreign nations even if they are allies, hell, we can boycott American companies. 

But primarily, the biggest issue to me is that this is disaster aid, and this isn’t the first time something like this has been an issue. Some states have withheld aid, or barred contractors from providing services to local/state governments if they boycott Israel.

I guess I struggle to see how this is America First. America is built on a free market, which gives consumers the right to decide who they do business with. I suppose the counter would be that local/state governments don’t have the same rights, but I’d counter that they shouldn’t be able to bar contractors from doing services for their beliefs if that’s the case, as that’s equally political, and could cost taxpayers more since there is less competition.

I’m not anti Israel, nor have I ever boycotted them or their goods. To be honest, I’m not sure what goods or services I’ve used that were Israeli, because it just isn’t a concern of mine. But I don’t like the trend of my nations government imposing punishment to those who do take such positions, as it’s their right.

There have been threads to boycott American companies for political reasons. Surely if we can do that, we can do it for any company of any nation.

[Bootless]

I’m not anti Israel, nor have I ever boycotted them or their goods. To be honest, I’m not sure what goods or services I’ve used that were Israeli, because it just isn’t a concern of mine. But I don’t like the trend of my nations government imposing punishment to those who do take such positions, as it’s their right.

There have been threads to boycott American companies for political reasons. Surely if we can do that, we can do it for any company of any nation.

There's a pretty good article in Wikipedia on the history of Anti-BDS laws. To quote just one little section:

Free speech argument

Critics claim that anti-BDS laws are unconstitutional because participation in political boycotts is protected speech and the government cannot require citizens to relinquish First Amendment rights in exchange for government contracts. To show this, critics refer to NAACP v. Claiborne Hardware Co. which was about an NAACP-initiated a boycott against white merchants in Claiborne. The goal of the boycott was to pressure city officials to meet demands about racial integration. The Supreme Court in its decision found that boycotts to bring about political change occupy "the highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values".

So far no cases specific to anti-BDS laws have been taken up by the SCOTUS. All they've got to do at this point is to continue not taking cases. Malign Neglect, that's called.

[DontTreadOnMe]

There's a pretty good article in Wikipedia on the history of Anti-BDS laws. To quote just one little section:

Wiki's accuracy is iffy at best....but W.T.F. are Anti-BDS laws?


Looks like....an anti-Israeli movement of the Palestinians...
https://bdsmovement.net/

Because those in power refuse to act to stop this injustice, Palestinian civil society has called for a global citizens’ response of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.

[Bootless]

Wiki's accuracy is iffy at best....but W.T.F. are Anti-BDS laws?

Laws that restrict companies from government contracts or government fund investment if they boycott, divest, or sanction Israel based companies or products, especially Israeli companies in occupied Palestinian territories. So far 37 US States have those laws in effect.

For comparison, think the BDS of South Africa back in the day. Imagine if that had resulted in anti-BDS laws.

[CriticalStinker]

There's a pretty good article in Wikipedia on the history of Anti-BDS laws. To quote just one little section:

So far no cases specific to anti-BDS laws have been taken up by the SCOTUS. All they've got to do at this point is to continue not taking cases. Malign Neglect, that's called.

It’s very wild to me to see. We’ve seen US state politicians openly harp on other states. That’s OK, but there could be ramifications for speaking out against one nation on earth. You can openly criticize the US government. You could say the UK is a failed state and boycott them… But Israel is becoming the only nation we have to walk on eggshells over.

Even more odd, is this is coming after the campaign of America first, free speech, state rights, and anti DEI.

The sad part is, this will only feed into the tropes for people who are actually antisemitic, which I assume is what we’re trying to combat. 

You can see generational gaps in support of Israel, arguably the only democratic country in the region, and certainly the only one with a similar society. But as the older generations get replaced by younger, policies like this are only going to push Americans away from Israel, the exact opposite of the aim.

[Bootless]

You can see generational gaps in support of Israel, arguably the only democratic country in the region, and certainly the only one with a similar society. But as the older generations get replaced by younger, policies like this are only going to push Americans away from Israel, the exact opposite of the aim.

Former Evangelical Zionist Christian Kayse Melone has a couple of videos out:
Christian Zionism EXPLAINED (part 1: an origin story)
Christian Zionism EXAMINED (part 2: from pulpits to politics)
She did a very good research.

Briefly, Christian Zionism is an attempt to bring the end of the World, accelerationism. I remember the last sermon I heard from a proponent of Christian Zionism. Their interpretation of prophecy includes all Jews being in Israel as part of the rapture. 

Here's an irony. If White Nationalist Zionist Christians succeed in supporting genocide of Palestinians for the making of Greater Israel Jewish only, they may very well end up rounding up Jewish Americans and deporting them to Israel. That seems like the real definition of antisemitism to me.

Why pray tell should a multi ethnic multi cultural country like the U.S. favor an ethno-state? Makes no logical sense.

Religion+Politics+Money= bad news all around

[CriticalStinker]

Former Evangelical Zionist Christian Kayse Melone has a couple of videos out:
Christian Zionism EXPLAINED (part 1: an origin story)
Christian Zionism EXAMINED (part 2: from pulpits to politics)
She did a very good research.

Briefly, Christian Zionism is an attempt to bring the end of the World, accelerationism. I remember the last sermon I heard from a proponent of Christian Zionism. Their interpretation of prophecy includes all Jews being in Israel as part of the rapture. 

Here's an irony. If White Nationalist Zionist Christians succeed in supporting genocide of Palestinians for the making of Greater Israel Jewish only, they may very well end up rounding up Jewish Americans and deporting them to Israel. That seems like the real definition of antisemitism to me.

Why pray tell should a multi ethnic multi cultural country like the U.S. favor an ethno-state? Makes no logical sense.

Religion+Politics+Money= bad news all around

I’ve been to some of those churches as a kid in the south. It always bothered me the Christians who focused on Revelations more than the rest of the Bible. Especially since most view it more of a book of metaphors, not necessarily literal. 

There are some in the government who openly subscribe to the end times, and possibly embracing foreign policy to at least preserve that outcome. I like to think they’re in the minority though. I don’t think most people have the appetite for such things, even Christians.

I was raised very traditional Christian, more agnostic now. I always found it cocky some people thought they could help accelerate God’s plan. I don’t see how on one hand you could say he’s all powerful, while on the other saying he needs your help. But again, I believe most Christians don’t think that way. Why would an end time even matter if you live your life well and go to heaven?

[DontTreadOnMe]

I was raised very traditional Christian, more agnostic now. I always found it cocky some people thought they could help accelerate God’s plan. I don’t see how on one hand you could say he’s all powerful, while on the other saying he needs your help. But again, I believe most Christians don’t think that way. Why would an end time even matter if you live your life well and go to heaven?

I was raised Roman Catholic.  
God is all powerful, and doesn't need our help.   I don't even remember Revelations being mentioned in Church.

[Bootless]

There are some in the government who openly subscribe to the end times, and possibly embracing foreign policy to at least preserve that outcome. I like to think they’re in the minority though. I don’t think most people have the appetite for such things, even Christians.

I was raised very traditional Christian, more agnostic now. I always found it cocky some people thought they could help accelerate God’s plan. I don’t see how on one hand you could say he’s all powerful, while on the other saying he needs your help. But again, I believe most Christians don’t think that way. Why would an end time even matter if you live your life well and go to heaven?

It's a fairly common human thing to fear death. I have heard people say they would much prefer to be alive still and go to heaven rather than die first. "Please! Make it happen in my lifetime!"

Mike Johnson (speaker of the house) just went to a West Bank illegal Jewish settlement to give his blessing. See: Speaker Mike Johnson visits occupied West Bank to support Israeli settlers And what about "the opposition party?" There is no opposition party when it comes to Israel. Cory Booker may hold the record for AIPAC funding.

Cory Booker has consistently been one of the Democratic Party's most vocal supporters of Israel. His dedication is evident through frequent trips to Israel and participation in AIPAC's policy conferences. Booker even took to the Senate floor to commend Israel during the intense 2014 Gaza conflict. Notably, he was the sole Democratic co-sponsor of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act, a controversial bill that aimed to criminalize support for the BDS movement in specific scenarios, drawing criticism from free speech advocates.
 
As one of AIPAC's bought politicians, Booker continues to insist on Israel's right to exist while never speaking about the rights of Palestinians with statements such as, "...we must redouble our efforts toward achieving a lasting peace that guarantees Israel's right to exist as Jewish and democratic state." 

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) Bought for the Total Amount of: $ 893,998

A little fact checking here. He co-sponsored the S.720 bill of 115th Congress. I don't see him listed as co-sponsor of H.R. 6940 of 117th Congress.

S.720 Summery

Introduced in Senate (03/23/2017)

Israel Anti-Boycott Act

This bill declares that Congress: (1) opposes the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution of March 24, 2016, which urges countries to pressure companies to divest from, or break contracts with, Israel; and (2) encourages full implementation of the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 through enhanced, governmentwide, coordinated U.S.-Israel scientific and technological cooperation in civilian areas.
The bill amends the Export Administration Act of 1979 to declare that it shall be U.S. policy to oppose:

• requests by foreign countries to impose restrictive practices or boycotts against other countries friendly to the United States or against U.S. persons; and
  
• restrictive trade practices or boycotts fostered or imposed by an international governmental organization, or requests to impose such practices or boycotts, against Israel.
  

The bill prohibits any U.S. person engaged interstate or foreign commerce from supporting:

• any request by a foreign country to impose any boycott against a country that is friendly to the United States and that is not itself the object of any form of boycott pursuant to United States law or regulation, or
  
• any boycott fostered or imposed by any international governmental organization against Israel or any request by any international governmental organization to impose such a boycott.
  

The bill amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to include as a reason for the Export-Import Bank to deny credit applications for the export of goods and services between the United States and foreign countries, opposition to policies and actions that are politically motivated and are intended to penalize or otherwise limit commercial relations specifically with citizens or residents of Israel, entities organized under the laws of Israel, or the government of Israel.

115th-congress-senate-bill-720

Wasn't brought to the floor for a vote

For anyone who cares, 

Here is a link to a pdf Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 24 March 2016 31/36 referenced to in the Israel Anti-Boycott Act mentioned above.

[RichardHurt]

[Image: https://denyignorance.com//images/addsmi...plause.gif]
I was raised Roman Catholic.  
God is all powerful, and doesn't need our help.   I don't even remember Revelations being mentioned in Church.

Hope not fear