Today, U.S. Representatives Tim Burchett (TN-02), Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27), and Greg Steube (FL-17) are calling for an investigation into the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel's (PACBI) financial ties to foreign terrorist organizations affiliated with the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
In a letter sent to the leaders of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's Counterterrorism Division and the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the members raised alarm that American donations to the pro-BDS PACBI could be funneled to the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), an umbrella organization for terrorists like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
"Some Americans donate to organizations like the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), which supports the BDS movement, but appears to coalesce under BNC," the members wrote. "If PACBI is financially linked to BDS, BNC, and terrorist organizations, donations by Americans to PACBI would be a federal crime under 18 U.S.Code § 2339B."
The members also highlighted the economic damage and hardship the BDS movement causes Palestinians, which is fueled entirely by hatred towards Israelis.
"Unfortunately, BDS unapologetically engages in discrimination against Israeli-owned businesses, discouraging individuals and organizations from working with these companies or purchasing their goods," the members wrote. "The movement ultimately hurts thousands of innocent Palestinians employed by Israeli businesses while simultaneously claiming to be their advocates."
Source: https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/burchett-colleagues-call-investigation-pacbis-financial-links-terror-groups
