Learn about the history of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice by exploring major events in the history of their oppression on this day of the year.
23 March
US ANTI-BDS LAWS PROPOSE $1m FINES AND TEN YEARS JAIL
On this day in 2017, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act was introduced into the US Senate. The Bill proposes ten year sentences and one million dollar fines and was quickly signed by 55 US senators and 281 congressman. The criminalisation of BDS campaigning is a priority of the powerful AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). Almost half of all US states have passed measures, supported by Israel lobby groups, intended to thwart and punish Palestinian rights advocacy.
ينص القانون الأمريكي لمكافحة ب د س على غرامة مليو ن دولار وسجن مدته عشرة سنوات
23 مارس
في مثل هذا اليوم من عام 2017 ، تم ون تقديم مشروع قانون لمكافحة مقاطعة اسرائيل إلى مجلس الشيوخ الأمريكي. يقترح مشروع القانون أحكامًا بالسجن لمدة عشر سنوات وغرامات قدرها مليون دولار وسرعان ما وقع عليه 55 عضوًا في مجلس الشيوخ و 281 عضوًا في الكونجرس. يعتبر تجريم حملات المقاطعة من أولويات لجنة الشؤون العامة الأمريكية الإسرائيلية القوية (ايباك) . أقر حوالي نصف الولايات الأمريكية إجراءات ، بدعم من جماعات الضغط الإسرائيلية ، تهدف إلى إحباط ومعاقبة المدافعين عن حقوق الفلسطينيين.
The law would make it a felony for Americans to support the international boycott against Israel, which was launched in protest of that country’s decades-old occupation of Palestine. The two primary sponsors of the bill are Democrat Ben Cardin of Maryland and Republican Rob Portman of Ohio. Perhaps the most shocking aspect is the punishment: Anyone guilty of violating the prohibitions will face a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and 20 years in prison.
Twenty-six states had passed similar legislation even before this bill was introduced and drafted in the United States Congress, or had executive orders issued by their governor to restrict boycotting of Israeli goods by state contractors. The states are: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Later in 2017, while Dickinson, Texas was still devastated after Hurricane Harvey, the town Mayor invited traumatised residents to apply for federal funds to help them rebuild. He added a condition, however: applicants had to pledge in writing that they do not and will not boycott Israel. Barring recipients of relief funds on the basis of their political beliefs was condemned by the ACLU as an attack on First Amendment free speech rights.