Should Congress continue requiring that goods produced in Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank be labeled as “Made in Israel"?
H.R. 5179 maintains the current U.S. policy on labeling goods produced in the West Bank or Gaza. The bill ensures that products made in Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank continue to be labeled as originating from "Israel," while those from Palestinian-controlled regions must be marked as from "Gaza" or the "West Bank." The bill prohibits the use of federal funds to change this policy, aiming to counteract efforts to pressure Israel economically, such as through the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Sponsor: Rep. Claudia Tenney (Republican, New York, District 24)
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Opponents say
• "This legislation seriously interferes with the prerogatives of the President to ensure labeling of imported products is consistent with U.S. foreign policy. The bill would also hinder the U.S. Department of State's ability to carry out other foreign policy priorities, including the support of a viable two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian territories. The legislation does not provide the flexibility necessary to permit the administration to align policy with respect to country of origin marking for imported goods with adjustments in U.S. foreign policy in the future. The U.S. Department of State has identified policy flexibility as critical to ensuring both peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians." Source: Rep. Richard Neal (Democrat, Massachusetts, District 1)
Proponents say
• "For years, the anti-Semitic BDS movement has sought to cripple the Israeli economy and arbitrarily discriminate against goods made in Israeli-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria. Ways and Means Republicans reinforced existing U.S. policy that prevents federal funds from being used to support the BDS movement. By passing this bill out of Committee, we reiterate our support for our greatest ally in the Middle East and the lone beacon of freedom and democracy, Israel." Source: Rep. Claudia Tenney (Republican, New York, District 24)
- Congresswoman Tenney’s Anti-BDS Bill Passes Ways and Means Markup (Press Release)
- H.R. 5179 Cost Estimate (Congressional Budget Office)
- What’s BDS, the movement to boycott Israel with a new social media following? (Washington Post)
- US plans to label goods from Jewish settlements in occupied West Bank (Financial Times)
- Rep. Claudia Tenney’s Largest Donors (OpenSecrets)
