Just one day after President Obama signed the fast-track trade bill into law, his administration publicly criticized language found in one provision of the measure that appears to discourage boycotts of Israel. A bipartisan amendment added into the legislation instructs U.S. trade negotiators to prioritize discouraging foreign partners from supporting the "boycott, divestment and sanctions" movement against Israel, reported The Associated Press. The so-called "BDS" movement aims to apply economic pressure to Israel to encourage it to change how it deals with the Palestinians.
The amendment, which drew little attention while the trade bill was still in Congress, was backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and several pro-Israel lawmakers, according to Politico.
Critics take issue with the provision because it refers to commercial activity inside not just Israel, but also "Israeli-controlled territories," which they say clearly refers to Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Codifying such a reference into U.S. law suggests that the federal government agrees that those disputed lands should be under Israeli control, according to the Obama administration.
State Department spokesman John Kirby released a statement Tuesday regarding the matter, but made sure to first clarify that the U.S. opposes BDS campaigns against Israel.
"However, by conflating Israel and 'Israeli-controlled territories,' a provision of the Trade Promotion Authority legislation runs counter to longstanding U.S. policy towards the occupied territories, including with regard to settlement activity," Kirby said, according to the Huffington Post. "Every U.S. administration since 1967 - Democrat and Republican alike - has opposed Israeli settlement activity beyond the 1967 lines. This administration is no different. The U.S. government has never defended or supported Israeli settlements and activity associated with them and, by extension, does not pursue policies or activities that would legitimize them.
