Last week the Seattle teachers' union (SEA) passed a resolution endorsing the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel and standing in solidarity with “oppressed people in Palestine.”

The resolution also demands the end of all collaboration between the Seattle Police Department and the Israeli Defense Forces based on the repulsive lie that Israel trains US police forces to unfairly target minorities.

The BDS movement, which seeks to isolate Israel economically, culturally, and politically, claims to only be a movement opposing alleged “human rights abuses” by Israel. However, the founders of the BDS movement have been clear that they oppose the existence of the Jewish State and the movement also has many close ties to terrorist organizations like Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In addition, the charges of apartheid and war crimes they level at Israel are completely false.

Read more about the BDS movement, how it was founded, and its goals.

Thankfully, there are still people in our government willing to stand up and call out the movement for what it is: a discriminatory movement based on falsehoods, whose goal is the destruction of the Jewish State. On June 21st, Senators Joe Manchin and Marco Rubio reintroduced a bipartisan bill, the Combating BDS Act of 2021, which would better allow state and local governments to stand up to the anti-Israel BDS movement. The bill increases protections for state and local governments in the United States to enact laws that restrict business with firms that knowingly engage in commerce or investment related BDS activities aimed at Israel, according to a press release.

“The bipartisan Combating BDS Act is a step towards ensuring individual states have the right to pass laws that prevent business transactions with the anti-Israeli BDS movement,” said Senator Manchin. “I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join this bipartisan legislation to support individual states and our valued ally, Israel.” Senator Marco Rubio said that the BDS movement is "the single most destructive campaign of economic warfare facing the Jewish state of Israel today,” and that “amid a rising tide of anti-Semitism, it’s critical that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our closest democratic ally in the Middle East. This bipartisan bill, which previously passed the Senate, would mark an important step toward bringing an end to the BDS movement’s discriminatory efforts.”

Related: Who’s actually stealing land in Judea and Samaria?

As supporters of Israel, it's important that we do all that we can to combat the BDS movement. Get involved by calling your local and state officials and urge them to stand against the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement. Buy products from Judea and Samaria, and educate others about BDS and the need to stand with Israel.

The boycott movement is well-funded and relentless, but there are many opportunities for lovers of truth to make a difference. Blessed Buy Israel exists to provide you with a way to directly invest in the families of Judea and Samaria BDS wants to destroy. Join us in making an impact! »