Bill that would punish Americans boycotting Israel pulled from US Congress

An anti-boycott, divestment and sanctions bill scheduled for a vote on Monday has been pulled from the US Congress after severe backlash from several “America First” Republican lawmakers and social media podcasters.

“I’m told we are no longer voting on this. It’s been pulled,” Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted on X on Monday, in reference to the bill that particularly targets Israel.

Congressman Thomas Massie, a libertarian Republican who is critical of Israel’s influence on Capitol Hill, also confirmed the bill "has been pulled from the schedule for this week”.

The bill, dubbed the International Governmental Organization (IGO) Anti-Boycott Act, would effectively criminalise boycotting Israel.

It was drafted by Republican Mike Lawler and Democrat Josh Gottheimer in January, and co-sponsored by 22 other lawmakers from the Republican and Democratic parties.

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