Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) Last week, the House of Representatives introduced a bi-partisan resolution condemning the boycott of Israeli academic institutions or professors. Resolution 318, introduced by Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), carries support from both sides of the aisle with two Republicans, and three Democrats. The resolution recognizes that boycotting Israel, as the resolution states, “hinders the possibility of achieving a fair and just solution and a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” This push at the federal level to knock out the Boycotts, Divestment, and Sanctions(BDS) Movement against Israel follows several successful state level efforts. Last month, the Illinois State Senate, incorporating the State Department’s Definition of Anti-Semitism, passed an anti-BDS bill that is slated to pass the House. Next, the Tennessee State Assembly overwhelmingly approved an anti-BDS resolution, stating that BDS is “one of the main vehicles for spreading anti-Semitism and advocating the elimination of the Jewish State.” The Indiana General Assembly followed suit two days later, unanimously condemning BDS, stating BDS promotes “a climate of hatred, intimidation, intolerance and violence against Jews.” Just this month, the New York State Assembly rejected BDS through a resolution that opposes attempts to delegitimize and apply double standards to, the Jewish State. The full text of the bill can be read below. RES. 318: Condemning resolutions or policies calling for or instituting a boycott of Israeli academic institutions or scholars by institutions of higher learning and scholarly associations. Whereas the United States and the State of Israel enjoy an affinity and a strategic partnership based on shared democratic values, friendship, and respect; Whereas the President signed the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act, declaring Israel to be a Major Strategic Partner of the United States; Whereas Israel’s institutions of higher education have played a crucial role in the significant global contributions made by the Jewish state in the fields of science, medicine, and technology, as well as safeguarded principles of academic freedom in providing a forum for the presentation and debate of political and philosophical ideas, including discourse that both supports and opposes the policies of Israel’s Government; Whereas academic exchanges between Israeli institutions of higher education and institutions of higher education in the United States and around the world redound to the greater benefit of those institutions and the societies of which they are a part through exchange of ideas, sharing of expertise, and providing exposure to diverse perspectives and experiences; Whereas the BDS (Boycott Divestment Sanctions) movement unfairly and misleadingly singles Israel out for criticism and economic pressure, and disregards the moral and legal responsibility of other parties to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; Whereas the BDS movement seeks to draw institutions of higher learning and scholarly associations into its damaging ambit by pressing for adoption by such institutions and associations of resolutions or policies that formally call for or establish the restriction of discourse, cooperation, exchange, or any other involvement with Israeli academic institutions and scholars; Whereas resolutions or policies that would limit the freedom to teach, do research in, or otherwise cooperate with academic institutions or scholars from particular countries or regions are themselves contrary to principles of academic freedom; and Whereas the particular calls directed at boycott of Israeli academic institutions and scholars are part of a campaign that hinders the possibility of achieving a fair and just solution and a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and applies a double-standard to Israel by singling Israel out for boycott while ignoring the myriad of nation-states whose human rights records fall well short of Israel’s: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns as contrary to principles of academic freedom the adoption by any institution of higher education or scholarly association of a resolution or policy that formally calls for or establishes the restriction of discourse, cooperation, exchange, or any other involvement with academic institutions or scholars on the basis of the connection of such institutions or such scholars to the State of Israel; (2) condemns any such resolution or policy by any institution of higher education or scholarly association as part of a campaign to hinder the possibility of achieving a fair and just solution and a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; (3) praises the university presidents and institutions that have opposed academic boycott and have shown dedication to the free and open exchange of ideas; and (4) encourages institutions of higher education, both in the United States and abroad, to enhance and accelerate their engagement in academic exchanges with counterpart Israeli institutions, including through missions, exchanges of visiting professors, and joint research, and educational programs.