Rep. MTG Says House Bill to Criminalize EU and UN-Backed Boycotts of Israel with $1 Million Fines and 20-Year Sentences Has Been PULLED

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Bear Wallace
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Photo By: D. Myles Cullen

The U.S. House of Representatives has reportedly pulled H.R. 867, the IGO Anti-Boycott Act, following fierce opposition from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), and former Rep. Matt Gaetz.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), aimed to expand the 2018 Anti-Boycott Act to include international governmental organizations (IGOs) like the United Nations and European Union, targeting efforts to boycott U.S. allies, particularly Israel.

The Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 is a U.S. federal law that prohibits U.S. individuals and companies from participating in or supporting foreign-led boycotts against countries that are friendly to the United States, unless such boycotts are sanctioned by U.S. law.

This legislation is particularly aimed at countering boycotts initiated by foreign entities, such as the Arab League’s boycott of Israel.

The Arab League’s boycott of Israel—originally initiated in 1945—still exists on paper, but only a few member countries continue to actively enforce it in a comprehensive way.

  • Iraq
  • Kuwait
  • Lebanon
  • Libya
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Syria
  • Yemen

Violations can result in civil penalties up to $300,000 or twice the value of the transaction, whichever is greater, and criminal penalties up to $1 million and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years.

In recent years, several companies have faced penalties for antiboycott violations:

  • Quantum Corporation was fined $151,875 for 45 alleged violations involving requests from a distributor in the United Arab Emirates to refrain from importing Israeli-origin goods.

  • Wabtec Corporation was hit with a $153,175 fine for 43 violations after failing to report requests from a Qatari customer to participate in a foreign boycott by avoiding Israeli-origin goods.

  • Pratt & Whitney was penalized $48,750 for 13 violations tied to similar unreported requests from a Qatari customer urging the company to refrain from importing products from Israel.

The new bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and several others, will expand the 2018 law’s scope to include international governmental organizations (IGOs) such as the United Nations and its affiliates.

According to the legislative text, the bill will:

  • Add “international governmental organization” alongside “foreign country” throughout the 2018 law;

  • Extend existing reporting requirements to include boycotts fostered or imposed by IGOs;

  • Mandate the President to submit an annual public report listing the foreign countries and IGOs involved in boycotts, along with descriptions of the nature of those boycotts.

But some conservative lawmakers cried foul, slamming the measure as an overreach that threatens Americans’ freedoms.

Greene took to X, declaring, “I will be voting NO. It is my job to defend American’s rights to buy or boycott whomever they choose without the government harshly fining them or imprisoning them.”

“But what I don’t understand is why we are voting on a bill on behalf of other countries and not the President’s executive orders that are FOR OUR COUNTRY???”

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) echoed her stance, pledging to vote against the bill.

Former Congressman Matt Gaetz didn’t hold back either:

“MTG is making a quality point. If this bill becomes law, how many Israeli products do I need in my home to avoid fines or prison? If I leave an Israeli-made product outside my home, is it the 2025 version of lambs blood that keeps my family safe?” Gaetz wrote.

He added, “Antisemitism is bad and should be categorically rejected. Not every idea cooked up to respond to Antisemitism is a good one. There’s a real danger in passing bills like this. Somewhere Democrats are writing a bill to imprison the rest of us for 20 years if we boycott countries who sign the Paris Climate Accords…or join the UN…or bribe the WTO/WHO. And they may get power again. Which is why we shouldn’t use ours to punish dissent or “thought crimes” with prison. Antisemitism is a real problem. It deserves a response far more serious and thoughtful than this dangerous and unconstitutional Lawler virtue signal.”

One X user responded on Matt Gaetz’s comment on X: “The bill isn’t about punishing free expression or “thought crimes.” It’s about defending American sovereignty and blocking foreign and international pressures from organizations like the UN or WHO, which often push political agendas through economic coercion.”

“This is a bill designed to protect American citizens and businesses from being forced into boycotts, especially those targeting our allies like Israel. You talk about the potential for Democrats to misuse such laws—but this bill doesn’t expand government power to punish dissent; it simply defends against foreign and international influences trying to dictate U.S. commerce. It doesn’t target individuals for exercising their rights; it stops international actors from leveraging economic boycotts to influence U.S. policy.”

Rep. Lawler fired back on social media: “The bill applies already existing federal law to IGOs like the United Nations. Who knew you were such a fan of defending the UN?”

However, in an updated post, Greene announced on X that the bill was “pulled” from the House vote scheduled for Monday.

“I’m told we are no longer voting on this. It’s been pulled. Now let’s vote on the promises we made the American people, the agenda that gave us the historic victory in November 2024, President Trump’s EOs, and make DOGE cuts permanent with recessions!!!”

The post Rep. MTG Says House Bill to Criminalize EU and UN-Backed Boycotts of Israel with $1 Million Fines and 20-Year Sentences Has Been PULLED appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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