Lavine opposes ‘anti-Israel’ bill in Assembly

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Nassau Assemblymember Charles Lavine (D-North Shore) is speaking out against a proposed bill in the New York State Assembly that would prohibit not-for-profit corporations from supporting Israel’s settlement activity as an example of demagoguery

Assembly Bill A6943, also known as the “Not on our dime!: Ending New York funding of Israeli settler violence act,” is being sponsored by Assemblymember Zohran Kwame Mamdani (D-Astoria) and co-sponsored by Assemblymembers Sarahana Shrestha (D-Esopus), Phara Souffrant Forrest (D-Fort Greene) and Marcela Mitaynes (D-Sunset Park).

If passed, it would allow the New York State attorney general and private individuals to sue for damages anyone that sends money to Israel, Lavine said.

“The bill is designed to punish those who are sending money or providing help to establish the settlements on the West Bank,” Lavine said. “That is however a ruse.”

He provided an example that if he were to donate to the Jewish National Fund, which supports not-for-profits in Israel, that means anyone could sue him for upwards of $1 million.

Lavine compared the bill’s allowance for anyone to sue others for monetarily supporting Israel to Texas’ law that allows individuals to file civil lawsuits against those involved in providing or assisting in an abortion.

“These private rights of action are very dangerous precedents to set,” Lavine said.