Latest news with #anti-Texas
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Abbott threatens Texas city over consideration of resolution targeting Israel
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued a stark warning to the San Marcos city council regarding its consideration of a resolution calling for the transfer of 'permanent sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories' and an 'Embargo on the State of Israel.' In a letter to San Marcos, Abbott said that the city is required to comply with state law when entering into a grant agreement with the state of Texas, which includes laws that prohibit a local government from supporting the boycotts of Israel. 'Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas,' reads the letter. 'I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies. Over a year ago, following Hamas's cowardly attack and campus disruptions openly celebrating terrorism, I issued an executive order addressing antisemitism in higher education. I have proudly signed legislation prohibiting government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel. That remains the law here.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas universities required to punish antisemitic rhetoric in free speech policies If San Marcos adopts the resolution, Abbott said 'the Office of the Governor will immediately terminate all active grants not in compliance with state law.' KXAN reached out to the city of San Marcos for a statement regarding Abbott's warning. A spokesperson for the city said, 'City of San Marcos staff members do not provide interviews or public comments on items that are scheduled for consideration by the full City Council. The item is expected to be considered at the May 6 council meeting.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republican gov slams city for considering 'antisemitic' resolution, threatens to pull funding
A city in Texas could lose its state funding over a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, wrote a letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson admonishing the City Council, which voted to bring the resolution to a formal vote on May 6. In his letter, Abbott pointed out that while the council was considering a resolution for a "permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine," it had not done the same to condemn Hamas following the Oct. 7 massacre. Ut Austin Anti-israel Agitators Freed After Governor Said They 'Belong In Jail' "Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas. I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies," Abbott wrote. The governor said he was "proud" to have signed a law banning Texas government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from and sanction (BDS) Israel. The BDS movement argues that Israel should not receive financial support due to its actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Abbott Signs Executive Order To Curb Antisemitism On Texas Campuses, Demands 'Appropriate Punishments' Read On The Fox News App Texas law, specifically Code § 2271.002, states that government entities are prohibited from entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more without a written guarantee that the contracting entity does not boycott Israel. Under the law, "boycott Israel" is defined as "refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel..." Government entities that violate the law put their funding at risk. Abbott wrote in his letter that his office had already begun "reviewing active grants with San Marcos to determine whether the city has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law." Additionally, he said that if the city moves to pass the resolution, his office would not enter into future grant agreements with the city and would terminate active grants. Ut Austin Protests Descend Into Chaos, Anti-israel Students Yell At Police: 'Pigs Go Home!' The City Council agenda description of the April 15 discussion read: "Hold a discussion regarding a possible resolution calling for the immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and the protection of constitutional rights for all people under national and international law." San Marcos City Council member Alyssa Garza, who apparently put the resolution on the agenda, spoke at the April 15 meeting, framing the resolution as a way to fight big government. Garza listed the ways in which she believes larger government entities are threatening smaller ones and insisted that Texans could not rely on the same government "to stop a genocide." "[It's] clear to me that when they fund bombs, but cut aid for housing and education and so on here, that's connected. When they silence protests here and crush dissent abroad, that's connected. When they defund local governments and nonprofits and they call us 'distractive' for standing up, that's absolutely connected," Garza said. Gaza Ceasefire Negotiations Seeing 'Significant Breakthrough' In Cairo: Sources Another council member, Amanda Rodriguez, said the resolution wasn't political, but rather a "moral litmus test." She also described the war in Gaza as a "genocide." Additionally, Rodriguez made a plea to Jews who did not attend the meeting because "there has been such a conflation with this resolution being compared to antisemitism." As part of the plea, she then said, "You cannot tell me that Judaism as a religion supports this." In just five days, the San Marcos City Council is set to vote on the resolution and if it passes, Abbott's office is expected to evaluate its grants to the city. Hughson, Garza and Rodriguez have yet to respond to a Fox News Digital request for article source: Republican gov slams city for considering 'antisemitic' resolution, threatens to pull funding
Fox News
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Republican gov slams city for considering 'antisemitic' resolution, threatens to pull funding
A city in Texas could lose its state funding over a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and an arms embargo against Israel. Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, wrote a letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson admonishing the City Council, which voted to bring the resolution to a formal vote on May 6. In his letter, Abbott pointed out that while the council was considering a resolution for a "permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine," it had not done the same to condemn Hamas following the Oct. 7 massacre. "Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas. I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies," Abbott wrote. The governor said he was "proud" to have signed a law banning Texas government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from and sanction (BDS) Israel. The BDS movement argues that Israel should not receive financial support due to its actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Texas law, specifically Code § 2271.002, states that government entities are prohibited from entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more without a written guarantee that the contracting entity does not boycott Israel. Under the law, "boycott Israel" is defined as "refusing to deal with, terminating business activities with, or otherwise taking any action that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations specifically with Israel..." Government entities that violate the law put their funding at risk. Abbott wrote in his letter that his office had already begun "reviewing active grants with San Marcos to determine whether the city has breached terms by falsely certifying compliance with Texas law." Additionally, he said that if the city moves to pass the resolution, his office would not enter into future grant agreements with the city and would terminate active grants. The City Council agenda description of the April 15 discussion read: "Hold a discussion regarding a possible resolution calling for the immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and the protection of constitutional rights for all people under national and international law." San Marcos City Council member Alyssa Garza, who apparently put the resolution on the agenda, spoke at the April 15 meeting, framing the resolution as a way to fight big government. Garza listed the ways in which she believes larger government entities are threatening smaller ones and insisted that Texans could not rely on the same government "to stop a genocide." "[It's] clear to me that when they fund bombs, but cut aid for housing and education and so on here, that's connected. When they silence protests here and crush dissent abroad, that's connected. When they defund local governments and nonprofits and they call us 'distractive' for standing up, that's absolutely connected," Garza said. Another council member, Amanda Rodriguez, said the resolution wasn't political, but rather a "moral litmus test." She also described the war in Gaza as a "genocide." Additionally, Rodriguez made a plea to Jews who did not attend the meeting because "there has been such a conflation with this resolution being compared to antisemitism." As part of the plea, she then said, "You cannot tell me that Judaism as a religion supports this." In just five days, the San Marcos City Council is set to vote on the resolution and if it passes, Abbott's office is expected to evaluate its grants to the city. Hughson, Garza and Rodriguez have yet to respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment.
Int'l Business Times
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Texas Gov. Accuses San Marcos of Antisemitism, Threatens to Terminate Grants for Plan to End $4M in Funds to Israel
Greg Abbott called San Marcos City Council's proposed resolution divesting from Israel "antisemitism." Texas Governor Greg Abbott has accused the San Marcos City Council of antisemitism and of violating a state law prohibiting government entities from boycotting Israel, following a proposal to halt over $4 million in funding directed to the country. Next week, San Marcos City Council will vote on a resolution to stop sending "$4,434,675 [that] came from San Marcos residents' taxes" to Israel. Instead of spending taxpayers' money on "Israel's military," the money would be put "towards essential domestic priorities." The resolution also called for an "immediate, permanent and sustained ceasefire in occupied Palestine" and "permanent sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories." Abbott released a letter on Tuesday that called the council's resolution "pro-Hamas," adding that "Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies" and "Texas will not tolerate antisemitism." He then stated the City of San Marcos is violating a Texas law that prohibits governmental entities entering into a contract worth $100,000 or more from boycotting Israel during the term of the contract. In addition to reviewing current grants with the city to determine whether San Marcos violated the agreement, Abbott wrote his office "will not enter into any future grant agreements with the City and will act swiftly to terminate active grants for non-compliance" if the resolution passes. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas a letter to the City of San Marcos today condemning its proposed antisemitic resolution openly flouting Texas state law. Texas will NOT tolerate antisemitism. — Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 29, 2025 Social media users responded to Abbott's letter with confusion, questioning the state's close ties to a foreign nation and its criticism of Texas taxpayers seeking more control over how their money is spent. "It's really worth reading this letter. The city of San Marcos, Texas has suggested that they could use the $4.4 million in tax money their residents sent to Israel to instead manage domestic problems (addiction, education etc) and now the governor is calling them antisemites," one X user noted. It's really worth reading this letter. The city of San Marcos, Texas has suggested that they could use the $4.4 million in tax money their residents sent to Israel to instead manage domestic problems (addiction, education etc) and now the governor is calling them antisemites — Sean Padraig McCarthy (@SeanMcCarthyCom) April 30, 2025 "I'm confused...a city in Texas with 67k people doesn't want to send $4.4 million of their taxes to Israel and the governor is saying it's antisemitism... Am I missing something here?" another wondered. I'm confused…a city in Texas with 67k people doesn't want to send $4.4 million of their taxes to Israel and the governor is saying it's antisemitism… Am I missing something here? — MARK MORAN™️ (@itsmarkmoran) April 30, 2025 "this story is even funnier/sadder/more egregious because 42% of San Marcos is Hispanic," @realChrisBrunet shared. "so it's a town full of Mexican people (99% of whom can't find Israel on a map) being being forced to pay taxes to Israel under the threat of force." "this is just slavery with extra steps," he continued. this story is even funnier/sadder/more egregious because 42% of San Marcos is Hispanicso it's a town full of Mexican people (99% of whom can't find Israel on a map) being being forced to pay taxes to Israel under the threat of force this is just slavery with extra steps — Chris Brunet (@realChrisBrunet) April 30, 2025 One individual was completely taken aback after learning cities across Texas send taxpayer dollars to Israel. "WHAT THE F--K DO YOU MEAN A CITY IS GIVING ISREAL 4.4 MILLION DOLLARS???" @Grug13766697 wrote. Since President Trump took office in January, his administrations has sent $12 billion to Israel. Originally published on Latin Times © Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Abbott threatens Texas city over consideration of resolution targeting Israel
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Gov. Greg Abbott on Tuesday issued a stark warning to the San Marcos city council regarding its consideration of a resolution calling for the transfer of 'permanent sovereignty over the occupied Palestinian territories' and an 'Embargo on the State of Israel.' In a letter to San Marcos, Abbott said that the city is required to comply with state law when entering into a grant agreement with the state of Texas, which includes laws that prohibit a local government from supporting the boycotts of Israel. 'Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas,' reads the letter. 'I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies. Over a year ago, following Hamas's cowardly attack and campus disruptions openly celebrating terrorism, I issued an executive order addressing antisemitism in higher education. I have proudly signed legislation prohibiting government entities from supporting efforts to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel. That remains the law here.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Texas universities required to punish antisemitic rhetoric in free speech policies If San Marcos adopts the resolution, Abbott said 'the Office of the Governor will immediately terminate all active grants not in compliance with state law.' KXAN reached out to the city of San Marcos for a statement regarding Abbott's warning. A spokesperson for the city said, 'City of San Marcos staff members do not provide interviews or public comments on items that are scheduled for consideration by the full City Council. The item is expected to be considered at the May 6 council meeting.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
