At AIPAC, US Senator Announces New Legislation to Fight Anti-Israel BDS Movement
by Shiryn Ghermezian
US Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) will introduce new legislation this week to combat the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, he told attendees at the 2015 AIPAC Policy Conference on Sunday.
“There’s gonna be legislation introduced this week concerning BDS,” he told a packed auditorium in Washington, D.C.
“Israel is isolated internationally, we know that,” he continued. “Look at the UN votes. Look at how they’re discriminated against. When you have a boycott, divestment and sanctions movement you’re discriminating against Israel, and the United States should take a stance to make sure other countries that want trade agreements with the United States do not participate in BDS against Israel. And that’s what this legislation will do, and we need your help.”
US Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who joined Cardin on stage, said the BDS legislation is important to put “countries on notice.”
Additionally, in his capacity as chairman of the foreign relations subcommittee on appropriations, he issued a warning to the United Nations regarding its continued tolerance of antisemitism.
“All the money that goes to support the UN, and the State Department, and Palestinians, and every other ally and enemy we have in the world comes through my committee. I promise you as chairman of the subcommittee, I will put the United Nations on notice. If they continue to marginalize, to delegitimize and accept the antisemitism that’s running rampant through Europe, we’re gonna cut their money off too.”