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Senate Democrats Split with White House on Israel Trade Provisions
(The Hill) Vicki Needham - Six Democratic senators on Thursday broke with the White House in saying that they support provisions in two laws ensuring free trade with Israel. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) was joined by Sens. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Ben Cardin (Md.), Michael Bennet (Colo.) and Richard Blumenthal (Conn.) in urging the Obama administration to implement the provisions in the recent trade laws, arguing that they are consistent with U.S. policy. "While the Obama administration has reiterated its opposition to boycotts, divestment campaigns and sanctions targeting the State of Israel, it has mischaracterized the TPA (trade promotion authority) and customs bill provisions as making a U.S. policy statement about Israeli settlements," the senators said in a statement. "This simply is not the case. These provisions are not about Israeli settlements." They argued that the provisions in the two laws are in line with U.S. policy and are about discouraging commercial actions "aimed at delegitimizing Israel and pressuring Israel into unilateral concessions outside the bounds of direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations."