President Obama claims he doesn’t support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which seeks to turn Israel into an international pariah — but he’s sure acting like he does.
Specifically, he’s refusing to enforce parts of two new laws — passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress — that would force US trade partners to sever ties to the BDS movement.
That has six top senators from Obama’s own party breaking with the White House and all but accusing it of lying.
In signing the Trade Promotion Authority and Customs Enforcement bills, Obama issued a rare statement declaring that he wouldn’t enforce sections aimed at strengthening US-Israeli trade ties.
According to the White House, those sections “contravene longstanding US policy” by inherently endorsing Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank.
Nonsense, say six senior Senate Dems — including Minority Leader Harry Reid and his likely successor, New York’s Chuck Schumer, adding:. “This simply is not the case.”
Indeed, they note, refusing to act against trading partners that engage in boycotts itself “runs counter to longstanding US policy opposing politically motivated boycotts.”
Besides, say congressional Republicans, the bill doesn’t give Obama a laundry list of provisions he can choose to enforce.
He signed the bill — and now it’s his responsibility to enforce the whole thing.
Funny: Democrats often accuse Republicans of not obeying laws they disagree with — but now top Dems have the same gripe with the Democratic president.
Obama seems to want to have it both ways on the Israel-boycotters — tough talk against it, but tacit support in action.
Cheers to Schumer & Co. for calling him on at least this hypocrisy.
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