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Schumer Announces Support for Federal Anti-BDS Bill

WASHINGTON – Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) announced on Wednesday that he would co-sponsor the Combating BDS Act, a bill aimed to combat the BDS movement. The bipartisan bill, introduced by Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), would protect states who choose to divest themselves from businesses who boycott Israel.

The bill now has 31 cosponsors and has been referred to the Senate’s Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee.

“By protecting states and local governments that dissociate with companies that participate in BDS, we send the message loud and clear that we will not stand for those who unfairly target and boycott Israel,” Schumer said in a statement.

As the top Senate Democrat, Schumer’s support will likely play an important role in convincing other Democrats to back the legislation. Manchin and former Senator Mark Kirk (R-IL) introduced a similar version of the bill last year, but the legislation did not successfully pass the Senate.

On another note, Jewish Insider asked Schumer on Wednesday if he would back David Friedman, President Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to Israel. The New York Senator responded, “I’m waiting until I see him” and declined to comment further.

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