AIPAC lauds Senate for additional foreign aid, anti-BDS action for Israel
The Combat BDS Act smoothed the wheels for state and local governments to legislate against the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of the Jewish state.
By MICHAEL WILNERA man waits for the start of the evening's speeches at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington(photo credit: REUTERS)
WASHINGTON - The American Israel Public Affairs Committee lauded the approval of additional foreign aid to Israel on Thursday— an increase it lobbied for— by the Senate Appropriations Committee.The committee included provisions in next year's Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill which provide "$3.4 billion in security assistance to Israel, a $300 million increase over last year’s funding," the lobby said in a statement."Importantly, at the urging of Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL), the Committee also voted to include in the measure the Combating BDS Act of 2016, which he co-authored along with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), to provide critical protection for states that take action to oppose boycotts against Israel," the statement added.The Combat BDS Act smoothed the wheels for state and local governments to legislate against the boycott, divestment and sanctioning of the Jewish state.The bill now proceeds to the Senate floor for full approval.