Opposing Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement Targeting Israel

Floor Speech

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Mr. SCHNEIDER. Mr. Speaker, I proudly rise today in support of H. Res. 246, of which I am the sponsor.

This resolution does four things.

First, it affirms the vital relationship between the United States and Israel, our most important ally in a complicated region of the world.

Second, it reiterates our unbreakable commitment to Israel's security.

Third, it restates Congress' strong, bipartisan support for a negotiated two-state solution.

Lastly, it makes clear that Congress opposes the global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, or BDS, movement that seeks to delegitimize Israel; opposes a two-state solution; and pushes the cause of peace for both Israelis and Palestinians further out of reach.

It has been our country's long-held policy that the best path to ensuring Israel's long-term security as a democratic and Jewish state, and realizing the Palestinian people's aspirations for a state of their own, is through a negotiated two-state solution.

The global BDS movement, on the other hand, denies the Jewish people's connection to the land of Israel; refuses to accept the basic idea of a Jewish state; and seeks to delegitimize Israel in international forums, on college campuses, and in global commerce.

But don't take my word for it. The founder of the global BDS movement, Omar Barghouti, has said as much: ``We oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine. No Palestinian, rational Palestinian, not a sellout Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in Palestine.''

When global BDS movement supporters chant, ``From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,'' these are not words of peace. This is a call for the destruction of the entire State of Israel and the elimination of the Jews from the land--all the land, not just Gaza and the West Bank.

That is why it is so important that we take a stand today and vote to condemn the global BDS movement.

Let me also be clear: This resolution explicitly recognizes that boycotts have a long tradition in this country, including the civil rights movement, efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, and other matters. However, not all boycotts seek just ends.

Such is the case of the BDS movement against Israel and its fundamental aims: the delegitimization of Israel and the destruction of the Jewish state.

I am proud that this resolution has gained 350 cosponsors, including more than three-quarters of the Members of both parties. I would like to thank the leadership of my Democratic colead Congressman Jerry Nadler as well as the efforts of our Republican coleads, Representatives Lee Zeldin and Ann Wagner.

This strong, bipartisan support sends a clear, united message that this Congress not only supports the Jewish, democratic State of Israel and two states as the path to peace for both Israelis and Palestinians but that at the same time we condemn efforts to delegitimize and block the path to peace.

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