Why are these Montgomery County Senators supporting Israel's illegal settlements?

The four Montgomery County Senators who co-sponsored the pro-Settlement bill.

From left: Cheryl Kagan, Brian Feldman, Craig Zucker & Rich Madaleno

Remember last December when the Obama Administration abstained from voting on United Nations
Security Council Resolution 2334 that said the Israeli settlements in the West Bank had "no legal validity"? Sure you do. Republicans had a massive freakout against President Obama for this completely reasonable position. They threatened to defund the UN and kick it out of America. They even passed a resolution in the US House (supported by most Democrats, sadly) condemning 2334.

Well that same fidelity to Israel's settlements has now filtered down to our local politics. Four Montgomery County state senators have just co-sponsored a bill (Senate Bill 739). Under the guise of opposing BDS (the movement to apply boycotts and sanctions to end the occupation of Palestine) these four senators have co-sponsored a noxious bill that is actually designed to insulate the illegal settlements from political pressure like UN Resolution 2334.

Map of Israeli-occupied West
Bank with illegal settlements
shown in black

SB 739 purports to oppose discrimination against Israelis. But actually, it has nothing to do with discrimination and everything to do with Israel's occupation and illegal settlements. You see, some companies opposed to the occupation don't do business in the West Bank settlements. For example McDonalds has restaurants in Haifa, Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities. But it doesn't open restaurants in any of the settlements. SB 739 says that any company (or person or church or other organization) that boycotts Israel or "Israeli controlled territories" (that means the settlements) should be blacklisted. Entities on that blacklist will be denied contracts with the State of Maryland and divested from our state pension fund. McDonald's could be blacklisted because it avoids the settlements.

The way this bill has been used in other states makes it's real intent very clear. In Illinois, where it passed, Governor Bruce Rauner is warning European companies that if they follow the UN Resolution, they might lose business with Illinois's government. Several companies that currently do business within Israel's pre-1967 internationally-recognized borders were blacklisted simply because they don't operate in the settlements. 

Creepy attempts by our politicians to kowtow to Israeli settlers are unfortunately pervasive in Maryland. Last month Jamie Raskin was doing it. Ben Cardin has been at it his entire career. But it really should raise some very serious eyebrows. Can you imagine any other foreigners enjoying this level of support for their violations of international law from our local elected officials? Just imagine if Ike Leggett came out in support Russia's annexation of Crimea. Or if Larry Hogan announced his support for China's aggressive actions in the South China Sea. Wouldn't we erupt in outrage and mockery? Of course we would. What Kagan, Feldman, Zucker and Madaleno are doing here is no less bizarre.

President Obama condemned Israel's illegal settlements. These four senators support them. Side with Obama, not with them.

<New Development> President Donald Trump just yesterday condemned Israel's settlements which goes to show just how far out on a limb these senators are.

Ask them to withdraw their support for the pro-settlements bill using the contact information below:

• Senator Cheryl Kagan (D-Rockville)
  • cheryl.kagan@senate.state.md.us
  • (410) 841-3134
• Senator Brian Feldman (D-Potomac)
  • brian.feldman@senate.state.md.us
  • (410) 841-3169
• Senator Craig Zucker (D-Olney)
  • craig.zucker@senate.state.md.us
  • (410) 841-3625
• Senator Rich Madaleno (D-Kensington)
  • richard.madaleno@senate.state.md.us
  • (410) 841-3137