An amendment introduced by Republicans denouncing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement was defeated in a resolution that passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, calling for the end of U.S. support for the coalition led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen within 30 days.
The tally was 228-194.
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), who co-introduced a resolution last month condemning BDS, denounced the GOP amendment as a political tactic.
“While I agree with the sentiments expressed in the motion to recommit [MTR], I strenuously object to the Republicans’ cynical ploy of weaponizing support for Israel for partisan political gain,” he said in a statement. “Support for the U.S.-Israel relationship must remain bipartisan.”
“But today’s MTR was not about these issues. Instead, it was a transparent effort to derail an important resolution striving to end the war in Yemen—the single greatest humanitarian crisis facing the world today,” he continued in explanation. “As was demonstrated when the House previously voted on this matter, accepting this unrelated motion would procedurally kill the Yemen resolution, stall Congress’s efforts to bring an end to the horrific Saudi-led war and prolong an already unparalleled humanitarian disaster, leading to more unnecessary death and suffering.”
Schneider added that while it’s hard to vote against an anti-BDS amendment, “in these circumstances, we have an immediate responsibility to help the people of Yemen.”
U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to veto the resolution.
