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Israel anti-boycott bill becomes partisan casualty in first vote of new Senate

Senate Republicans’ first bill in the new Congress draws AIPAC into a partisan political squabble while forcing a Democratic reckoning over the Israel boycott movement.
A sign declares the National Archive is closed due to a partial federal government shutdown in Washington, U.S., December 22, 2018.      REUTERS/Joshua Roberts - RC1AE6EAC290

Republicans’ very first bill in the new Senate is highlighting divisions among Democrats over boycotts of Israel and its West Bank settlements while drawing the traditionally nonpartisan pro-Israel lobby further into a partisan political quagmire.

The Senate failed 56-44 to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to clear a procedural hurdle on the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act, introduced by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. Rubio’s legislation consists of four Middle East-related bills that had been held up in the last Congress, including a provision taking aim at the pro-Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. 

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