US bill to ban Israel boycotts faces right-wing backlash over free speech
Al JazeeraMAY 15
US House Scraps Vote on Bill to Ban 'Anti-Israel' Boycotts
Above: U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) arrives for a news conference following a meeting of the House Republican Conference on Capitol Hill on April 29, 2025. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
This bill would be un-American as the right to disagree and protest is foundational to the United States, and counterproductive, creating more antisemitism and fueling narratives that Israel is running the U.S. government. It's great news that this legislation has been pulled.
Left narrative
Make no mistake, MAGA Republicans would love to criminalize compliance with boycotts against Israel if they had enough support for it. House GOP leadership canceled the vote simply because public sentiment in the country is now negative towards Israel.
Pro-Israel narrative
The bill would simply expand existing U.S. anti-boycott laws for individuals and entities that comply with or facilitate compulsory boycotts of U.S. allies that are enforced by international organizations such as the United Nations. There are no First Amendment violations here, only far-left and far-right actors blocking legislation to fight antisemitism.