US House Defeats Bill Targeting Pro-Palestine Non-Profits
On November 12, a bill that could have given the US government, in particular the presidency, sweeping powers to target pro-Palestine organizations failed to pass the US House of Representatives. Although 256 representatives voted in favor of the bill, and 145 opposed, H.R. 9495, titled the “Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act” required two thirds of the House to pass, which it did not receive. The bill, which would have stripped the tax-exempt status from nonprofit organizations designated as “terrorist supporting organizations” and raised significant alarm within the Palestine solidarity movement, has been defeated for now.