Anti-Israel bill

Introduced by Palestinian-American legislator bill calls for blocking supply and sale of weapons to the Jewish state

It is news, at least, on the Capitol Hill that anti-Israel sentiments are now making inroads. The bill to be introduced by Palestinian-American legislator Ilhan Omar that calls for blocking supply and sale of weapons to the Jewish state is a first of its kind. A baby-step, though. Its ramifications, however, are far-reaching and can be corresponded from the fervour against Gaza carnage that is generating in the US and in the western countries at large.

Anti-Israel social media postings have touched an all-time of 78 per cent, and the media savvy non-Muslim community is leading from the front. In such a scenario when the aggression on Gaza Strip has entered its 40^th day, and there is no recourse to a complete ceasefire, the legislation from Minnesota Democrat aims to deny the Zionist state a $320 million package of bombs and other auxiliary gadgets. Not sure of what amount of conscious-alive House Representatives will support the bill, or to what extent it will resonate at the Committee of Foreign Relations, the smart move has stirred public opinion for the cause of dispossessed Palestinians, and will go on to expose the bias of White House towards Tel Aviv.

The bill comes in the wake of strong protests across the US and, especially, at the academia-level. Josh Paul was the first to resign from the coveted State Department position, and has vowed to campaign for Omar’s bill. This is a first Congressional challenge to US foreign policy, and could scuttle uninterrupted supply of arms to an aggressor state from American tax-payers’ money. Similar bills in the past have acted as a catalyst in cowing down American allies, compelling them to behave and recraft their course of action. The bill must be read and heard by the full house as it espouses the standards of liberty, emancipation and human rights cherished by the Americans. It goes without saying that an overwhelming populace is ready to put its foot down against intransigence of Israel in US public affairs.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2023.

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