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| Maloney (D-NY)
Leads Congressional Effort Against Boycott Of Israel |
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Press Release
For Immediate Release
March 13, 2003
Contact: Phil Craft
212-860-0606
Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), together with Congressman Mike
Pence (R-IN), recently organized a letter to President Bush urging the
Administration to make clear that the United States will take a strong stand
against countries who boycott Israel. Congresswoman Maloney led the effort in
reaction to growing indications that the boycott is being revived around the
world. In June 2002, the 57 members of the Organization of the Islamic
Conference agreed to reactivate the boycott. In October 2002, 18 members of the
Arab League agreed to strengthen the boycott. Most recently, in February 2003,
the 114 member nations of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) agreed to take
concrete measures against certain Israeli products.
Congresswoman
Maloney said, "I am pleased that a strong, bipartisan group of House members
has expressed concern about this important issue. The Administration has done a
good job of reinforcing the idea that America will take strong action against
those who participate in the boycott. By sending this letter, we are expressing
our hope that the Administration will continue to send the message that the
United States has very strong laws against those who participate in the
boycott, and that those laws will be enforced."
The letter, which was
signed by a bipartisan coalition of 33 members, expressed appreciation of the
Administration's "prior efforts to vigorously enforce US anti-boycott statutes
and regulations, and we hope that you will continue to take a strong position
against efforts to reinvigorate and expand the boycott."
A copy of the
full text of the letter follows:
Dear President Bush,
We are writing to urge you to take action to prevent the spreading
boycott of Israeli goods and services, and the secondary boycott of companies
who do business with Israel. As you are aware, in October 2002, 18 members of
the Arab League pledged to tighten the boycott of Israel. This followed a June
2002 agreement by the 57 members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference
to reactivate the boycott. Recently, the 114 member nations of the Non-Aligned
Movement (NAM) agreed to take "concrete measures" against products from Jewish
settlements in Palestinian areas.
For decades, the United States has
taken a strong stance against the boycott. We are pleased that your
administration has been very vocal in warning US companies and individuals that
they would face serious consequences if they implement secondary boycotts
against Israel. We hope that you will use all diplomatic means possible to
notify the NAM members that the United States will view a renewal of the
boycott negatively, and that there are serious consequences under United States
laws for US participants in the boycott.
We appreciate your
administration's prior efforts to vigorously enforce US anti-boycott statutes
and regulations, and we hope that you will continue to take a strong position
against efforts to reinvigorate and expand the boycott.
Signed:
Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Rep. Mike Pence
Rep. Jon C. Porter
Rep.
Jim Cooper
Rep. Anthony Weiner
Rep. Pete Sessions
Rep. Martin Frost
Rep. Mark Souder
Rep. Howard L. Berman
Rep. Michael R. McNulty
Rep. Maurice Hinchey
Rep. Johnny Isakson
Rep. Jerrold Nadler
Rep. Joseph Hoeffel
Rep. Robert Matsui
Rep. Barney Frank
Rep.
Gary Ackerman
Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr
Rep. Shelley Berkley
Rep.
Joseph Crowley
Rep. Henry Waxman
Rep. Major R. Owens
Rep. Peter
Deutsch
Rep. Steve Israel
Rep. Sue Kelly
Rep. Steve Rothman
Rep. Brad Miller
Rep. Peter King
Rep. Tom Lantos
Rep. Alcee
Hastings
Rep. Sylvestre Reyes
Rep. John Sweeney
Rep. Mark Foley
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