(WBFF) — As Maryland lawmakers consider a slate of bills involving Israel, Jewish leaders in the state said the measures unfairly target Israel and its American supporters and are creating a hostile atmosphere in Annapolis.
One of five bills drawing opposition is House Bill 1184, known as the “Not on Our Dime” Act. The proposal would empower the Maryland Office of the Attorney General to file civil lawsuits against charities that give to Israel. The bill summary calls out Israel specifically.
ALSO READ | Baltimore Jewish community says synagogue attack echoes past violence, won’t break faith
“The Jewish community feels particularly now under threat,” Howard Libit, Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, said.
Libit also criticized lawmakers for focusing on international issues instead of local concerns. “Quite frankly, legislators ought to be more focused on things like electricity prices, affordability and not so much on foreign policy,” he said.
Delegate Gabriel Acevero, a Democrat from Montgomery County and the bill’s chief sponsor, told our media partners at The Baltimore Sun the measure is not aimed at a particular nation or religion. In a statement to the newspaper, Acevero said, “The intent of the bill is to ensure that our state is not indirectly supporting actions that contribute to violence, displacement, or the destruction of Palestinian homes and communities.”
Libit said he believes the legislation is directed at Israel.
“It is clearly about Israel because there’s no mention of the destructive efforts that Palestinians have made against Israelis and charities based in Maryland that have donated to support Hamas or have donated to support Hizballah,” Libit said.
Libit said the bill would harm humanitarian efforts in Israel that help residents and Palestinian citizens. Although he said he does not believe the bill is likely to pass, he said the accusations being made about Israel are harmful for Maryland’s Jewish communities.
“The optics of, you know, people coming forward and making baseless, vicious accusations about Israel, about the Jewish community, it creates an uncomfortable atmosphere around Annapolis from time to time when these bills are being heard,” Libit said.
The other four bills include measures that would bar the state’s pension system from investing in Israeli interests.
Local Story
