Trump administration links US$1.9 billion federal disaster funding to Israel boycott stance
Israeli companies, according to an agency statement. States must certify that they will not cut off 'commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies' to receive the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), according to the agency's terms for grantees.
Advertisement
The condition applies to at least US$1.9 billion that states rely on to cover search and rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems, among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters.
It is the latest example of
US President
Donald Trump 's administration making use of routine federal funding to advance its political message at the state level. Fema said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority.
The Israel requirement takes aim at the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and
Israel invaded Gaza in response.
'DHS will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism,' a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement.
Advertisement
The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. Fema will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of US$553.5 million set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas, according to a grant notice posted on Friday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
2 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Ukraine war: Trump threatens India with higher tariffs over Russian oil
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would substantially raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,' Trump said in a social media post. 'Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.' He did not elaborate on what the tariff would be. India's trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, Trump said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods imported from India and added that the world's fifth-largest economy would also face an unspecified penalty but gave no details.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Trump administration links US$1.9 billion federal disaster funding to Israel boycott stance
The Trump administration said states and cities will not receive funding to prepare for natural disasters if they choose to boycott Israeli companies, according to an agency statement. States must certify that they will not cut off 'commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies' to receive the money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), according to the agency's terms for grantees. Advertisement The condition applies to at least US$1.9 billion that states rely on to cover search and rescue equipment, emergency manager salaries and backup power systems, among other expenses, according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. It is the latest example of US President Donald Trump 's administration making use of routine federal funding to advance its political message at the state level. Fema said in July that US states will be required to spend part of their federal terrorism prevention funds on helping the government arrest migrants, an administration priority. The Israel requirement takes aim at the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, a campaign designed to put economic pressure on Israel to end the occupation of Palestinian territories. The campaign's supporters grew more vocal in 2023, after Hamas attacked southern Israel and Israel invaded Gaza in response. 'DHS will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism,' a spokesperson for Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement. Advertisement The requirement is largely symbolic. At least 34 states already have anti-BDS laws or policies, according to a University of Pennsylvania law journal. Fema will require major cities to agree to the Israel policy to receive a cut of US$553.5 million set aside to prevent terrorism in dense areas, according to a grant notice posted on Friday.
South China Morning Post
3 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Trump threatens India with ‘substantially' higher tariffs over Russian oil amid Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would substantially raise tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. 'India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil, they are then, for much of the Oil purchased, selling it on the Open Market for big profits. They don't care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine,' Trump said in a social media post. 'Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA.' He did not elaborate on what the tariff would be. India's trade ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, Trump said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods imported from India and added that the world's fifth-largest economy would also face an unspecified penalty but gave no details.
