TITLE: Condemning anti-Semitism and expressing opposition to the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.

SUMMARY: Condemning anti-Semitism and expressing opposition to the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Around the world, incidents of anti-Semitism are increasing, and Israel and its supporters are deeply concerned about the role played by the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement as a vehicle for spreading anti-Semitism and advocating the elimination of the Jewish state; and WHEREAS, The dramatic increase in BDS campaign activities on college campuses around the country has resulted in increased animosity, and it negatively impacts student programming related to Israel and politics in the Middle East; in Texas, such campaigns are harmful to the state's relationship with Israel and its Jewish citizens, and they have a deleterious impact on the learning environment; and WHEREAS, Many of the largest academic associations in the United States have condemned the BDS campaign's call for academic boycotts; moreover, a host of university presidents and leading scholars have spoken out against such boycotts as violations of the bedrock principle of academic freedom; and WHEREAS, The United States has consistently reaffirmed the Jewish people's right to self-determination, as well as the right of Israel to engage in lawful acts of self-defense, and by failing to recognize those rights, the international BDS movement is seeking to undermine our nation's endeavors in behalf of peace, justice, and human rights; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms and express its opposition to the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward official copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.