Senate Bill 1260, aimed at safeguarding state investments in "Israel", was passed by the Pennsylvania Senate on Thursday.

This bipartisan legislation, sponsored by Senators Steve Santarsiero and Kristin Phillips-Hill, underscores the US state's unwavering support of "Israel" despite international scrutiny amid the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

"The United States and our Commonwealth have long stood in support of Israel and the Jewish people,” said Santarsiero.

Waving the antisemitism card, he added, "Now, at a time when antisemitism is on the rise here at home and around the globe, we must remain steadfast in our support for our democratic ally in the Middle East and reject calls to boycott or divest from Israel."

Senate Bill 1260 aims to reaffirm Pennsylvania's strong backing of "Israel" by preventing Pennsylvania State Treasury and Commonwealth pension funds from boycotting or divesting from "Israel" or businesses engaged with "Israel", as per a press release published on the Pennsylvania Senate Republicans' website.

Additionally, the legislation would withhold state funding from any higher education institution that participates in boycotts or divestments targeting "Israel", it added.

“Our nation’s number one ally in the Middle East has been and will continue to be a critical partner in commerce and trade,” said Phillips-Hill. “This legislation is a much-needed protection to avoid divestiture due to rampant antisemitism we are seeing across our country. We will not be detracted from our steadfast support for the State of Israel and its people.”

The legislation will not influence investment decisions made solely to enhance the financial standing of the funds, the website claimed.

Santarsiero initially introduced comparable legislation in 2015 to prevent the state from providing funds to any Pennsylvania university that divests from "Israel".

Senate Bill 1260 will next proceed to the state House for review, as per the website.

The big picture

Pro-Palestine protests have lately swept university campuses across the United States, amid calls for the alienation from "Israel" or Israeli-affiliated institutions.

As student protests and movements increasingly gained momentum, hundreds of arrests were made as police tried to thwart their efforts, and the government mobilized to introduce legislation that would ultimately punish those participating. 

Israeli lobbyists and the Israeli government are relentlessly pressuring US government officials to take more action against such movements in an effort to silence the criticism targeted toward "Israel" and demands to divest from the occupation.

However, pro-Palestinian voices have not been silenced despite all attempts to muffle their calls. In this context, it is worth mentioning the significant and prominent steps some student movements and university organizations have recently taken to divert from "Israel" and its web of affiliations.

Weaponization of 'antisemitism'

It's important to recognize that "Israel" has frequently used accusations of "antisemitism" to portray itself as a victim while engaging in what critics see as oppressive occupation practices. This narrative serves to deflect attention from actions perceived as massacres and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, often framed as mere "clashes" or "conflicts" under the guise of safeguarding Jewish identity and self-defense.

This strategic manipulation extends beyond political and military realms, aiming to stifle criticism of Zionism, redirect scrutiny from Israeli actions deemed as war crimes, and unfairly label dissenters, including Jewish critics, as anti-Jewish or antisemitic, even when those critics are themselves Jewish!