Under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. House of Representatives recently voted overwhelmingly to pass bipartisan legislation in support of Israel, but Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R) doesn’t think Speaker Pelosi has gone far enough to defend Israel against the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement being led by “radical” and “anti-Semitic” House progressives.
Rubio has called on Pelosi to take a firm position against the BDS movement, citing that Democrats have voted against the BDS movement in the past, but have refused to put forth “substantive legislation” that would support Israel, saying that Pelosi has conceded her party’s agenda to a “radical” minority of progressives, which include Rep. Ishan Omar.
“For months, Speaker Pelosi has refused to bring my bipartisan bill to combat the BDS movement’s discriminatory conduct and strengthen America’s security in the Middle East to the House floor,” Rubio said. “Out of fear of retaliation from the far-left wing of her conference, it’s clear that Speaker Pelosi has allowed the radical, anti-Semitic minority in the Democratic Party to dictate the House floor agenda.
“The BDS movement seeks to eliminate any Jewish state between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, and Congress should condemn it,” said Rubio Words alone are not enough. It is time for action.”
Omar, one of two Muslim women in the House, recently introduced legislation to in support of the BDS. Omar’s colleague, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) is cosponsoring the bill.