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A chilling article by Glenn Greenwald of The Intercept regarding the BDS Movement and American Government efforts to criminalise it.
From:
https://theintercept.com/2017/07/19...-support-for-boycott-campaign-against-israel/
Is it wise to create a law which prohibits US citizens and foreigners in the USA from participating in a movement which enables those people participating from withholding their investment and patronage to a foreign state which those people believe is violating their personal ethical code? Can one investor/consumer not advise other investor/consumers to not invest in what they consider to be an immoral enterprise? Can the US state criminalise the choice by consumers and investors to withhold support to the Israeli state and economy? Is this proposed law attempting to criminalise a non-action rather than an action? Finally, why are the penalties for participating in the BDS Movement so high? Many murderers face less sanctions under US law.
Please, let's try to keep the discussion civil and limited to the legal issues and implications of creating such a law. The morality or immorality of Israeli policy is not the question here. What is at issue is the freedom of consumers and investors to act in accordance with their own conclusions about the ethics of Israeli policy in and around Israel and their freedom to participate in a movement which may help them act or not act in accordance with their ethical compass.
Cheers.
Evilroddy.
.... On U.S. campuses, punishment of pro-Palestinian students for expressing criticisms of Israel is so commonplace that the Center for Constitutional Rights refers to it as “the Palestine Exception” to free speech.
But now, a group of 43 senators — 29 Republicans and 14 Democrats — wants to implement a law that would make it a felony for Americans to support the international boycott against Israel, which was launched in protest of that country’s decades-old occupation of Palestine. The two primary sponsors of the bill are Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland and Republican Rob Portman of Ohio. Perhaps the most shocking aspect is the punishment: Anyone guilty of violating the prohibitions will face a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison.
From:
https://theintercept.com/2017/07/19...-support-for-boycott-campaign-against-israel/
Is it wise to create a law which prohibits US citizens and foreigners in the USA from participating in a movement which enables those people participating from withholding their investment and patronage to a foreign state which those people believe is violating their personal ethical code? Can one investor/consumer not advise other investor/consumers to not invest in what they consider to be an immoral enterprise? Can the US state criminalise the choice by consumers and investors to withhold support to the Israeli state and economy? Is this proposed law attempting to criminalise a non-action rather than an action? Finally, why are the penalties for participating in the BDS Movement so high? Many murderers face less sanctions under US law.
Please, let's try to keep the discussion civil and limited to the legal issues and implications of creating such a law. The morality or immorality of Israeli policy is not the question here. What is at issue is the freedom of consumers and investors to act in accordance with their own conclusions about the ethics of Israeli policy in and around Israel and their freedom to participate in a movement which may help them act or not act in accordance with their ethical compass.
Cheers.
Evilroddy.