Sanders, Feinstein seek to divorce anti-BDS legislation from spending bill

Democratic Senators Bernie Sanders and Dianne Feinstein have asked US senate leaders not to vote on anti-BDS legislation as part of a spending bill.

“While we do not support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement, we remain resolved to our constitutional oath to defend the right of every American to express their views peacefully without fear of actual punishment by the government,” the two wrote in a joint letter.

The bill — called the Israel Anti-Boycott Act — would prohibit American companies from participating in Israel boycotts, including those promoted by international organizations like the United Nations. The measure was advanced through the House Foreign Affairs Committee in June but later put on the back-burner after liberal advocacy groups and civil liberties groups objected to the legislation on grounds that it violated America’s speech rights.

Democratic Senator Ben Cardin was reportedly working to include the controversial anti-BDS legislation in a spending bill this month, as US lawmakers rush to finalize the package in a last-minute push during a lame duck session.

The Sanders and Feinstein letter was hailed by left-wing US Jewish groups J Street and the New Israel Fund.

— With Eric Cortellessa