Senator Tom Cotton urged President Trump to change US Customs Policy
Our authentic source has indicated that a group of Republican senators has sent a letter to President Trump asking him to change U.S customs policy because “Made in Israel” labels are put on products coming from the West Bank. Point to be noted that it is a territory much of the world says is illegally occupied by Israeli settlements. The letter shared on Wednesday signed by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Cruz (Texas), Marco Rubio (Fla.), and Kelly Loeffler (Ga.). The GOP senators also called on Trump to reverse a 2016 Obama administration move to reestablish a 1995 policy that required products produced in Judea and Samaria, the Israeli government’s term for the West Bank territory, to be labeled, “Made in West Bank”.
The letter also says, “We appreciate your leadership and many achievements in support of Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East. Unfortunately, the United Nations and some prominent members of the Democratic Party are working to oppose Israel and to support the anti-Semitic BDS (Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions) movement, which seeks to isolate and damage Israel economically”. The senators also added, “While it is our understanding that this labeling policy is not enforced by U.S. authorities, we are concerned that a future administration could choose to enforce these rules and thereby differentiate Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria, making them prime targets for BDS boycotts”.
Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria should be allowed to be labeled ‘Made in Israel.' https://t.co/0nBZeEZrzC
— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) November 18, 2020
The senator also wrote in the letter, “Your administration should continue its string of pro-Israel policy changes by undoing these misguided Clinton-era guidelines, thereby allowing Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria to be labeled as ‘Made in Israel’”. It is noteworthy that the letter was also sent to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf. All previous U.S administrations had considered the West Bank and Golan Heights occupied territory since 1967, instead of the part of Israel. Pompeo is expected to visit an Israeli settlement in the West Bank on Thursday. It will make him the first U.S secretary of State to do so.