White House opposes bipartisan trade bill because it is anti-BDS
Despite being overwhelmingly passed with bipartisan support, the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 is being opposed by the White House because it contains provisions strengthening U.S.-Israel ties. Adam Kredo writes in the Washington Free Beacon:
…a portion of the bill that seeks to enhance U.S.-Israeli economic ties drew criticism from the White House, which announced that it would not support these new provisions.
The White House did not explicitly express its opposition to any other part of the comprehensive trade legislation. (snip)
The White House, in its latest statement, expressed opposition to certain congressional efforts aimed at combatting the Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment movement, also known as BDS, which aims to wage economic warfare on Israel.
“As with any bipartisan compromise legislation, there are provisions in this bill that we do not support, including a provision that contravenes longstanding U.S. policy towards Israel and the occupied territories, including with regard to Israeli settlement activity,” the White House said, referring to efforts to stop the labeling of Jewish goods. (snip)
The bill seeks to combat the BDS movement.
Congress “supports the strengthening of United States-Israel economic cooperation and recognizes the tremendous strategic, economic, and technological value of cooperation with Israel,” the legislation states.
It goes on to support “efforts to prevent investigations or prosecutions by governments or international organizations of United States persons on the sole basis of such persons doing business with Israel, with Israeli entities, or in Israeli-controlled territories,” according to the legislation.
President Obama will not veto the bill, but apparently will simply ignore his constitutional mandate to make sure that laws are faithfully executed and “announced that it would not support these new provisions.”
It should be clear by now that President Obama is no friend of Israel.