Proposed US legislation further restricting “freedom of speech” is on its way to a vote – Americans risk 20 years in prison if boycotting Israel

Published May 6, 2025 | By NewsJive.com

It may soon become illegal to participate in boycotts against Israel and other US allies, if a new bill is passed. Those who violate the law could now face up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

The controversial bipartisan bill, the IGO Anti-Boycott Act (House Resolution 867), which has been jointly introduced in the US Congress by both Democrats and Republicans and is also believed to be supported by the Trump administration, is intended to expand existing anti-boycott laws to include boycotts initiated by international intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), such as the UN or the EU.

Previous legislation, such as the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018, prohibited U.S. citizens and companies from participating in boycotts initiated by foreign countries against U.S. allies. This new proposal would extend those prohibitions to also apply to boycotts promoted by IGOs.

The proposal has been criticized by some politicians and organizations who argue that it would restrict “freedom of speech” and the right to participate in political boycotts for ordinary Americans.

Opponents claim that the bill risks criminalizing peaceful protests and expressions of political opinions, particularly those related to boycotts against Israel, as this has been a prominent issue in recent months amid widespread protests across the US against Israel and its war in Gaza.

Many critics argue that this is precisely why the bill was introduced in the first place — to shield Israel from criticism.

Israeli influence over the US and its politicians has, as is well-known, been evident for decades, with the so-called “Israel lobby,” particularly the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), being considered to have enormous influence over both sitting US presidents and politicians in general within both the Democratic and Republican parties.

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