U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) spearheaded a letter, along with colleagues Neal Dunn (R-Fla.), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), and Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), criticizing the Biden Administration for considering reversing a Trump Administration decision on the labeling of select Israeli goods.
The reversal would be economically damaging to Israel by encouraging the antisemitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Movement to target the country even more, according to the congress members.
“It’s completely wrong that the administration is considering taking an official trade action to hurt Israel. The U.S. is Israel’s single largest trade partner, and the Biden Administration should not do anything to jeopardize our robust relationship,” said Rep. Steube.
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“It is common sense for goods produced in certain areas of Judea and Samaria, also known as the ‘West Bank’ to labeled as ‘Made in Israel’ because Israel exercises relevant authorities in these areas. President Trump was right to make that designation. If Biden goes through with reversing this trade policy decision, it will legitimize antisemitic efforts to weaken and isolate our closest ally in the Middle East,” said Steube.
The letter is supported by: Coalition for Jewish Values, Republican Jewish Coalition, and Zionist Organization of America (ZOA).
“Labeling Jewish products from Judea as anything other than products of Israel should remind us that the Nazis began their campaign of hate by labeling Jewish stores and products. It endorses the patently antisemitic narrative that Jews returning to property from which they were ethnically cleansed by rioting mobs and the Jordanian Army are ‘occupiers.’ The United States must always strive for honesty and decency,” said Rabbi Steven Pruzansky, Israel Regional Vice President, Coalition for Jewish Values.
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Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) National President Morton A. Klein said, “The only reason to change the labeling requirements for goods produced in Judea and Samaria is to enable the evil goals of the BDS movement. These products are “Made in Israel,” and that has been the way they have been labeled for the entire tenure of President Biden. Changing this now can only be a tactic to bring additional pressure on Israel, but with no benefit to any American economic or national security interest. This change is designed only to make Israel’s enemies happier, and ZOA strongly praises Rep. Steube for his leadership in fighting this proposed change.”
The letter states, “We urge you to stand with Israel and not undermine our important trading relationship in ways which empower Israel’s adversaries. We must stand with Israel in its fight against Hamas. That includes maintaining a healthy and robust trade relationship. Any policy to the contrary both undermines the security of the United States and Israel, and legitimizes anti-semitic efforts to weaken, isolate, and delegitimize our closest ally in the Middle East.”
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