[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 OPPOSING GLOBAL BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, AND SANCTIONS MOVEMENT TARGETING 
                                 ISRAEL

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                               speech of

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 23, 2019

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, the right to participate in boycotts, whether 
we agree with them or not, is protected by our constitution, including 
political expression aimed at Israeli policy. Americans have long used 
such tactics to influence and pressure our government and other 
governments. The only difference here is we appear to be striving to 
carve out and treat differently, even silence, those who disagree with 
the policies undertaken by our ally Israel.
  How can you support the right under the Constitution to political 
speech including boycotts and then bring this resolution to the floor?
  Let me be clear, I oppose anyone (Palestinian, Israeli, American, 
etc..) who are taking actions inimical to peace. And after nearly three 
decades, it is fair to say all sides, including the U.S., have done so 
in some shape or form.
  Any effort that has at its heart delegitimizing the State of Israel 
is doomed to fail. And the BDS movement, just like unilateral actions 
undertaken by either side, is not going to bring two states living in 
peace side by side. It was born out of frustration, that we all share, 
with a moribund peace process that harms both Israelis and 
Palestinians.
  At this time when Congress can be doing so much more to help advance 
the peace process or even to just revive it, why is the only action we 
are taking is to bring to the floor a nonbinding resolution that 
doesn't address where most of the blame for the failures lay: the 
continuing intransigence and refusal by Israeli and Palestinian 
political leaders to make the tough decisions and compromises that need 
to be made for peace.
  That refusal continues to feed the status quo. But rather than call 
out those responsible, including several actions taken by this 
Administration, for setting back the cause of peace, we have decided 
that this moment is ripe solely to attack the First Amendment rights of 
Americans?
  Again, rather than pressing the parties to make the tough decision 
and concessions that will be necessary for peace, Congress has decided 
that the top focus at the moment is the voluntary decisions by some 
Americans to exercise political expression? The First Amendment does 
not threaten Israel's right to exist. Nor does any American exercising 
that right.
  I agree with the editorial by the New York Times which warned that 
attempting to ``silence one side of the debate'' is not ``in the 
interests of Israel, the United States, or their shared democratic 
values.''
  Rather than attacking the First Amendment right of Americans to 
criticize the policies of our own government or our allies, how about 
pushing our own administration to actually say the words ``two-state 
solution'' which it refuses to do or to actually act as if its 
interested in pursuing that longstanding goal that this Congress and 
past administrations has reaffirmed is the best option for peace 
between the Israelis and Palestinians.
  I am concerned that resolutions such as this one serves no real 
purpose, certainly not to those of us interested in working as honest 
brokers to bring this decades long history of simmering tensions, 
outright war, and hostility to an end, permanently.
  I fear that this resolution is just another in a long line of 
nonbinding resolutions considered by this House that fails to actually 
advance peace between the two sides, ignores the various and complex 
factors that have made the prospects for peace in this conflict the 
worse in a generation including actions by this administration that 
have been roundly rejected by many.
  Again, in looking at this resolution, I understand that it is easier 
to blame a host of outside actors, including those who we disagree 
with, for the current damaging status quo. The reality however remains 
that it is the consistent and repeated failure of political leaders in 
Ramallah, Jerusalem, and at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue to make the tough 
decisions and concessions that peace requires and which has left us in 
this damaging status quo.
  The folly of the current situation was encapsulated by the Trump 
administration's recent Bahrain conference which neither the 
Palestinians or Israelis attended.
  Finally, I am concerned that this resolution is a slippery slope to 
actually taking up binding legislation affecting cherished First 
Amendment rights such as the bill that passed the Senate earlier this 
year which was derided in media reports as a ``political stunt.'' 
Israeli's and Palestinians alike have had enough of political stunts.
  Opportunities for progress and for peace are growing fewer and 
farther apart as the damaging status quo and divides only harden, 
waiting for the next explosion of violence. And are we surprised that 
without prospects for peace, extremists seem to be gaining ground?
  I would be far more constructive if this Congress would focus on 
finding viable solutions to the Israel-Palestinian conflict rather that 
promoting legislation that raises free speech concerns. For example, 
H.Res. 326 which was marked up in committee at the same time as this 
resolution but is curiously absent from this week's calendar.
  I firmly believe it is our responsibility as a Congress to keep 
working towards peace despite pessimism and pessimists.
  Clearly right now, what the Middle East needs is more solutions, not 
more meaningless resolutions. I said this a few years ago and I will 
repeat it again now: both peoples would gladly trade empty resolutions 
from the U.S. Congress for real progress on the ground and a sincere 
path forward.

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