It is ILLEGAL for American citizens to boycott Israel!

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2003-08-14 01:24am

http://www.bxa.doc.gov/news/2002/antibo ... _14_02.htm

Commerce Official Urges Compliance
with Regulations Opposing Boycott of Israel

Commerce Under Secretary for Industry and Security Kenneth I. Juster today reiterated to U.S. companies that the Department will vigorously enforce its regulations prohibiting U.S. persons from taking any action in support of foreign government boycotts against Israel.

"The U.S. Government stands firm in its policy of opposing restrictive trade practices or boycotts against Israel," Juster said. "The Commerce Department is committed to using all of its resources to oppose economic boycotts against Israel and corporations that do business with Israel."

The Commerce Department's antiboycott regulations are administered by its Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Those regulations prohibit U.S. persons from taking actions in support of unsanctioned foreign government boycotts, including the Arab League boycott of Israel. Prohibited actions include refusing to do business with Israel, refusing to employ citizens on the basis of race or religion, or furnishing to foreign governments information about an employee's race or religion, when taken in support of the boycott.

BIS is closely monitoring recent reports of renewed calls by certain foreign governments for boycotts of Israeli businesses and U.S. companies that do business with Israel. BIS has a long record of aggressive enforcement of the antiboycott regulations with over $26 million in civil penalties imposed, a criminal conviction, and denials of export privileges where violations have been found.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2003-08-14 01:28am

Huh. Last I checked, one of the main points of a free market economy was that a business or individual could do business with anyone they pleased, which includes not doing business with a particular group. After all, a great many people and businesses boycotted French products based on political differences and the reasoning was that people had the right to chose who they did business with. The same standard should apply to Israel as well.

Still naturally, the pro-Israel people will think this is a great idea automatically.

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2003-08-14 01:30am

Gil Hamilton wrote:Huh. Last I checked, one of the main points of a free market economy was that a business or individual could do business with anyone they pleased, which includes not doing business with a particular group. After all, a great many people and businesses boycotted French products based on political differences and the reasoning was that people had the right to chose who they did business with. The same standard should apply to Israel as well.

Still naturally, the pro-Israel people will think this is a great idea automatically.

Actually, Im sure they'll just call you, and anyone who shares your position an anti-semite. If they're Jewish they'll call them a "self-hating" Jew.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-08-14 01:57am

Actually, this law just exists as cover to prevent companies which do business in Arab countries from being intimidated into not doing business in Israel as well--they can point to the law and say, "see, look, we can't abide by your boycott because our government won't let us."

Also, it says absolutely nothing about domestic boycotts, just foreign ones.

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2003-08-14 02:08am

Too bad that a domestic boycott can be defined as "taking actions in support of foreign government boycotts", and since when are Americans not allowed to support a boycott, regardless of who is the driving force behind it?. Never mind this little tid bit

The Commerce Department is committed to using all of its resources to oppose economic boycotts against Israel and corporations that do business with Israel

Post by **Edi** » 2003-08-14 04:43am

The provisions that prevent discrimination on basis of religion/ethnicity in hiring and so forth are okay, but the rest of those regulations are utter bullshit.

Edi

Darth Fanboy · Post by **Darth Fanboy** » 2003-08-14 10:05am

Get the ACLU's blank legal checkbook then and fight the good fight!

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-08-14 03:46pm

I see Marina's point and if I'm not mistaken that's what the laws are intended for.

Sounds thought that they're abusing the laws somewhat, but what other than "urging" have they done? Because I don't think urging matter one damn bit in the larger scheme of things.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2003-08-16 02:29am

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:Actually, this law just exists as cover to prevent companies which do business in Arab countries from being intimidated into not doing business in Israel as well--they can point to the law and say, "see, look, we can't abide by your boycott because our government won't let us."

Also, it says absolutely nothing about domestic boycotts, just foreign ones.

So it's OK to pass an unjust law if it's ostensibly done for the right reasons? I love the way you work so hard to make excuses. Tell me, have you ever heard of any US foreign policy that you don't agree with?

Arthur_Tuxedo · Post by **Arthur_Tuxedo** » 2003-08-16 03:46am

I'm waiting with eager anticipation to hear what the rest of the neo-cons have to say about this, considering their stances on the boycott of the Dixie Chicks.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-08-16 06:08am

Darth Wong wrote: So it's OK to pass an unjust law if it's ostensibly done for the right reasons? I love the way you work so hard to make excuses. Tell me, have you ever heard of any US foreign policy that you don't agree with?

Yes, quite a lot--the Administration's foreign policy has been inept and blundering in several areas and applications; but it is far better than the appeasement of the Clinton era, so I am, as it were, "taking what I can get" out of the situation. This is just an example of something which has been there for a long time, anyway, taking on a sort of relevance due to unrelated issues which affect it.

ArmorPierce · Post by **ArmorPierce** » 2003-08-16 08:57am

chip chip chip goes your rights.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2003-08-16 09:08am

YOU MUST PURCHASE FROM ISRAEL! JEW BEANIES AND LITTLE TOPS FOR ALL!!!

Tribun · Post by **Tribun** » 2003-08-16 10:39am

I really don't know WTF they want to archive with this whole shit. Do some idiots in the US think, boycotting Isreal (i.e. not trading with them) is similar to this?:

I really wonder, if these guys think so. If yes, then I'm really sorry for thier idiocy.......

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-08-17 05:54pm

Obviously no one here's ever heard of the Coke/Pepsi debacle over Israel...

Grand Admiral Thrawn · Post by **Grand Admiral Thrawn** » 2003-08-17 07:59pm

Vorlon1701 wrote:Obviously no one here's ever heard of the Coke/Pepsi debacle over Israel...

Huh?

MKSheppard · Post by **MKSheppard** » 2003-08-17 08:01pm

Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote: Huh?

Heh, Pepsi was THE drink in the Middle East because Coke refused Arab demands for a Boycott of Israel, and set up a bottling plant in Israel.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2003-08-17 08:28pm

[Ranting mode on]Funny its illegal to boycott Israel,but after Canada`s prime minister Jean Cretin was against the US intervention in Iraq,and let two of his cocksucking bitches insult the Americans,then it was ok to boycott Canadian goods cause of the attitude of a couples of retards.[Ranting mode off]

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-08-17 08:54pm

MKSheppard wrote:
Grand Admiral Thrawn wrote: Huh?
Heh, Pepsi was THE drink in the Middle East because Coke refused Arab demands for a Boycott of Israel, and set up a bottling plant in Israel.

Then some fucktard Egyptian official mistook Amharic for Hebrew, raised a stupid fuss, and blew the whole thing up

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2003-08-17 10:01pm

What did O'Rourke say?

'The unfree market is just as stupid as free market, except there's nothing in the market and they shoot you if you don't go'