Rhode Island passes anti-BDS measure with eye on energizing state’s economy
(Paul Miller/JNS.org) In a 65-4 vote, the Rhode Island House of Representatives passed legislation prohibiting the state from contracting with companies that participate in boycotts of allies and trade partners of the United States—most notably, Israel.
HB 7736 passed the Rhode Island House on June 16 and received unanimous support two days later in the state’s Senate. Governor Gina Raimondo is expected to sign the measure later this week.
Rhode Island’s measure against the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement was introduced by State Rep. Mia Ackerman (D), the House’s deputy majority leader, and received overwhelming bipartisan support in one of the country’s most Democrat-heavy states.
“Rhode Island is at a crossroads and we need to reinvigorate our economy. This is especially true of new industries such as high-tech, science and medical and other knowledge-based industry,” said Ackerman. “Today’s interdependent global economy requires that trade policy be developed both at the national and state level. One of our greatest trading allies is the State of Israel, the only democratic, non-discriminatory country in the Middle East.”
Bracha Stuart, executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of the pro-Israel education and advocacy group StandWithUs, told the Haym Salomon Center, “This measure sends a clear message that the State of Rhode Island will not support those that participate in campaigns fueled by intolerance and anti-Semitism.”
Stuart called Israel an “advantageous partner” for Rhode Island amid efforts to “jumpstart the state’s economy.” In fact, the state recently announced that it has scheduled a week-long business mission to Israel for early December.
Since 1996, Rhode Island’s economy has benefited to the tune of more than $120 million in exports to Israel. In 2015, the state saw an increase just shy of 19 percent from the previous fiscal year, as exports from Rhode Island to the Jewish state surpassed $10 million.
“This new anti-discrimination/boycott law is a matter of sound economic, public, and foreign policy,” said Stuart, who thanked the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and the Israel Allies Foundation (IAF) for “their partnership that led to passage of this crucial legislation.”
IAF, a legal resource for state legislators on anti-boycott bills, worked closely with the Rhode Island bill’s sponsors and Israel advocacy groups to make sure the legislation did not violate the First Amendment. IAF U.S. Director Joseph Sabag said, “This law does not restrain a group from boycotting Israel or advocating for the boycotting of Israel. It does not penalize any private party’s exercise of free speech.”
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3 Israelis hurt in rock-throwing attack, IDF mistakenly kills Palestinian bystander
(JNS.org) Three Israelis were lightly wounded overnight Tuesday when terrorists hurled rocks and firebombs at vehicles on Route 443, a main highway linking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. While responding with gunfire at the suspected perpetrators of the attack, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops mistakenly killed a Palestinian bystander. At least one other Palestinian was wounded.
“After an initial inquiry, it appears that uninvolved bystanders were mistakenly hit during the pursuit,” an IDF spokesperson said.
The mistakenly killed Palestinian was identified as 15-year-old Mahmoud Badran.
Two Palestinian suspects were apprehended by the IDF. According to the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, the suspects are believed to have poured oil on the road, in addition to throwing rocks and firebombs.
Two of the three Israeli victims were wounded as boulders smashed into the windows of their vehicle. Another man was hurt in a separate vehicle.
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Israel intercepts wet suit shipment bound for Gaza terrorists
(JNS.org) Israel announced Monday that it has foiled an attempt to smuggle dozens of professional wet suits into the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.
It is believed the wet suits were intended to be used by terrorists in Gaza, including members of the Hamas naval commando unit. The illicit shipment was discovered and seized by security guards and Shin Bet security agency personnel at the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza.
The wet suits were hidden among sports equipment and clothing that had been imported by a supplier in a Palestinian Authority-ruled part of the West Bank, and were reshipped to Gaza.
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EU foreign ministers back France’s Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative
(JNS.org) The foreign ministers of the European Union’s 28 member states have issued a joint declaration backing the recently launched French-led Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative.
“The Council welcomes the Joint Communiqué on the Middle East peace initiative adopted at the Ministerial meeting in Paris on 3 June 2016,” the ministers said after a meeting in Brussels, adding, “The Council reiterates its support for a just, sustainable, and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and peace and stability in the region.”
Additionally, the EU Foreign Affairs Council said it will provide economic incentives to promote an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.
“The EU is determined…to bring a concrete and substantial contribution to a global set of incentives for the parties to make peace with a view to an international conference planned to be held before the end of the year,” said the ministers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly opposed the French peace initiative, saying that he prefers direct negotiations with the Palestinians.
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Southern Baptist Convention passes resolution in support of Israel
(JNS.org) The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) adopted a resolution reaffirming the church’s support and prayers for Israel as well as condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
“We support the right of Israel to exist as a sovereign state and reject any activities that attack that right by promoting economic, cultural, and academic boycotts against Israel,” the resolution said.
Mat Staver, founder and chairman of the Liberty Counsel religious freedom non-profit and a member of the SBC Resolutions Committee, said, “Frankly, with Israel as a world leader in technological and medical inventions, it is foolish to boycott Israel.”
SBC’s move comes amid a debate among its Christian counterparts in mainline Protestant churches over whether to adopt resolutions supporting the BDS movement. SBC—the country’s largest Protestant denomination with an estimated 15.3 million members—recently held its an annual meeting of church delegates in St. Louis.
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U.S. and Israel reportedly close to finalizing military aid package
(JNS.org) The United States and Israel are close to finalizing a new 10-year military aid package, according to reports.
According to an unnamed senior Israeli official, Israel wants to reach the deal as soon as possible, but an announcement will not come in the next few days because there are a number of outstanding issues to resolve. Additionally, the official denied claims that Israel is slowing down the talks and considering not reaching the agreement until the next U.S. president takes office in 2017.
The U.S. and Israel have been negotiating a new military aid package to replace the existing package of $3.1 billion in annual aid that is set to expire in 2018. Israel has reportedly asked for up to $4 billion per year in the new package.
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Israeli rhythmic gymnastics team wins historic gold medal at European Championships
(JNS.org) The Israeli rhythmic gymnastics team on Sunday won its first-ever gold medal at the European Championships.
The team’s five female members—Yuval Filo, Alona Koshevatskiy, Ekaterina Levina, Karina Lykhvar, and Ida Mayrin—took gold in the clubs and hoops category with a score of 18.316. They also won silver for their ribbon routine and bronze in the all-around competition.
“We are so proud. We really enjoyed performing here. The crowd was amazing,” said team captain Koshevatskiy, the Times of Israel reported. “It is a realistic target to win a medal in Rio, but we are not thinking about it.”
More than 30 countries participated in the three-day competition, which Israel hosted for the first time.
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