Jim Rosica
A bipartisan show of support for Israel has been filed in the Florida Legislature.
State Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, a Miami Republican, and state Rep. Lori Berman, a Lantana Democrat, filed their respective bills (SR 1184/HR 1001) last week.
The resolutions are intended as ceremonial shows of support from each chamber, to be sent to President Barack Obama, Congress and the Israeli embassy in Washington, for the country against the BDS movement.
As explained on its website, “In 2005, Palestinian civil society issued a call for a campaign of boycotts, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel until it complies with international law and Palestinian rights.”
“For decades, Israel has denied Palestinians their fundamental rights of freedom, equality, and self-determination through ethnic cleansing, colonization, racial discrimination, and military occupation,” the site says.
The movement appeals to “people of conscience all over the world to launch broad boycotts, implement divestment initiatives, and to demand sanctions against Israel, until Palestinian rights are recognized in full compliance with international law.”
Diaz de la Portilla and Berman disagree.
“The legislation affirms the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship and stands against those who would threaten the democratic, multiethnic state of Israel with misguided appeals to college students, businesses and others for sanctions that ultimately aim to weaken Israel,” the lawmakers said in a joint news release.
The BDS movement “seeks to delegitimize Israel and cripple its economy,” according to the release. “The movement’s proponents unfairly paint Israeli policy and action and perpetuate wrong and dangerous comparisons to authoritarian, racist regimes.”
The resolution “condemns the BDS movement and calls upon the leaders and the people of Florida to denounce hatred and discrimination whenever it appears.”
