The US House of Representatives approved legislation on Thursday that would strip federal funding from universities that participate in boycotts against Israel, including academic institutions located in the occupied West Bank. The measure passed with a vote of 237-169, drawing support from 33 Democrats alongside the Republican majority, while two Republicans dissented.
Advocacy groups have condemned the proposal as a direct assault on First Amendment rights. Jenin Younes, president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), stated that the Supreme Court has firmly established that the government cannot condition funding on the suppression of protected speech, noting that courts recognize boycotts as such activity.
Under the proposed law, universities would be required to annually certify that they permit cooperation with Israeli academic entities. Critics warn this could compel institutions to forge relationships with settlements that the International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 are maintained in violation of international law. Younes argued the legislation signals a lack of intent by the US to hold Israel accountable or support a Palestinian state.
Robert McCaw, government affairs director at the Council on American-Islastic Relations (CAIR), described the bill as an attempt to hold students’ financial futures hostage to shield the Israeli government from peaceful economic pressure. He emphasized that Congress should not threaten Pell Grants and student loans based on lawmakers’ disapproval of student and faculty advocacy.
Supporters of the bill argue it regulates commercial conduct rather than speech. Representative Tim Walberg, chair of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, said universities should not use taxpayer-funded programs to discriminate against Israeli students, faculty, or institutions. However, the BDS movement contends that Israeli universities play a central role in supporting the military and occupation policies.
The vote occurs amidst a shift in public opinion; a July Pew Research Center survey found that 62 percent of Americans hold an unfavorable view of the Israeli government. Despite this, the legislation retains strong support on Capitol Hill. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain path, before requiring President Donald Trump’s signature to become law.
Leave a Reply