New US bill to expand anti-boycott law to combat BDS

A new US bill aimed at stopping US companies and individuals from engaging in boycotts of countries considered friendly to the US has been introduced in Congress this week. If passed, it would bring the US closer to having an anti-BDS law at a federal level.

The bipartisan bill, the IGO Anti-Boycott Act, introduced by Representatives Mike Lawler, a Republican from New York state, and Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from New Jersey, aimed to be an amendment of the 2018 Anti-Boycott Act, to apply the provisions to international governmental organisations.

"I'm proud to introduce this bipartisan piece of legislation aimed at preventing international governmental organizations from discriminating against our allies," said Congressman Lawler in a press release issued by his office on Friday.

"This has been spurred on by bad actors that have sought to embargo Israel using BDS, which is an absurd and antisemitic policy."

Currently, US law prohibits US companies and individuals from boycotting countries "friendly to the United States" organised by other countries that could provide information to help these boycotts, and also requires them to report when asked to comply. 

The new legislation would go a step further and would include boycotts organised by international governmental organisations. Though not specified in the bill, Lawler and Gottheimer said the change was in response to the BDS movement, also known as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, according a report on Friday by online newsoutlet Jewish Insider.

"This new bipartisan legislation is a key step to counter anti-Israel bias in international organisations like the biased United Nations, which has a deep history of singling out the Jewish state," said Gottheimer in a public statement. 

"International governmental organizations should not be alienating Israel — it’s unacceptable," Gottheimer said.

"Here in Congress, both Democrats and Republicans will continue working together to combat antisemitic efforts to isolate, delegitimize, and demonize our historic ally Israel."