US House of Representatives passes bill to crack down on university boycotts of Israel

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The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Thursday to block federal aid for universities that boycott Israel, the latest Republican-backed ​pro-Israel measure amid growing Democratic criticism of the Israeli government over ‌the assault in Gaza. The Republican-majority chamber voted 237-169 in favour of the “Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act”, which would have to pass the Senate in order to become law. The ​Israeli onslaught in Gaza has devastated much of the Palestinian enclave since October ⁠2023. Israeli attacks since then have killed more than ​73,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. The conflict sparked protests and calls ​for boycotts at many US campuses. In response, President Donald Trump targeted colleges and universities with probes and federal funding suspension threats. The administration and many Republicans in Congress allege ​that the protesters were anti-Semitic and supported extremism. Protesters deny this, saying advocacy ​for Palestinian rights and objections to the devastation in Gaza should not be equated with ‌antisemitism or ⁠support for extremism. Thursday’s House vote was mostly along party lines, with just two Republicans voting nay and 33 Democrats voting in favour. US Representative Jerrold Nadler, a New York Democrat, said in a statement before the vote that he opposed the global ​Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) ​movement but would ⁠vote no because he supported Americans’ right to free expression. “It is the only way to ensure speech I do ​agree with is equally protected,” Nadler said. The BDS movement seeks ​to isolate ⁠Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. The bill’s sponsors said it was not intended to hinder academic speech or debate, but to prevent the targeting of Israel and ⁠Judaism.

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