Article

JDCA Supports Senate Bill on Middle East Security And Criticizes Republican Effort to Politicize Support for Israel

January 28, 2019

WASHINGTON – The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) released the following statement in response to the upcoming vote in the Senate on a package of bills related to the Middle East:

“JDCA strongly supports U.S. military aid to Israel, U.S. defense cooperation with Jordan, and U.S. sanctions against the Syrian regime. JDCA also opposes the global Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment (BDS) movement against Israel. JDCA is committed to ensuring that support for Israel remains bipartisan, supports the legislation contained in S.1, and urges senators to support the bill.

“JDCA supported the Israel Anti-Boycott Act in the 115th Congress, supports the Combating BDS Act, and supports S.1, which the Senate will vote to consider later today. At the same time, JDCA recognizes that there is no consensus as to the best way to legislate the BDS issue given legitimate free speech concerns.

“JDCA objects to Republican attempts to use S.1 to politicize issues related to Israel. Republicans brought S.1 three times during the government shutdown, knowing that Senate Democrats would oppose proceeding to the bill before reopening the government. For Democrats, ending the government shutdown was the top priority. JDCA supported this approach and strongly criticized Republicans for politicizing support for Israel.

“Now Republicans have brought up S.1 for the fourth time, despite the fact that every Senate Democrat supports aid to Israel and opposes BDS. JDCA remains concerned that Republicans continue to play politics with bipartisan support for Israel.

“JDCA strongly condemns Republican attempts to politicize the fight against BDS by creating the false impression that the U.S. Senate is divided on support for Israel or opposition to BDS, when in fact nothing could be further from the truth.”

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