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January 7, 2019

Intercept: Senate Set to Vote on Anti-Israeli Boycott Bill
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The Intercept is reporting that the Senate, in its first legislative
act, will take up a bill that aims to prevent opposition to the Israeli
government by allowing state and local governments to boycott any U.S.
companies which are engaged in a boycott against Israel. The Combating
BDS Act is part of multiple foreign policy measures contained in bill
S.1. It's sponsored by Florida Republican Senator Marco Rubio and is
similar to, though reportedly less extreme than, a measure introduced
last year by Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, which was met with
condemnation from free speech advocates. The Intercept reports that 26
states currently have laws sanctioning entities which support a boycott
of Israel, which can entail punishment of individuals working for
employers subject to anti-boycott laws.


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