A federal lawsuit filed in Texas is challenging the Biden administration's sanctions against Israeli citizens, alleging the measures violate constitutional rights. Four Israeli-Americans claim the sanctions are discriminatory, with their attorney arguing that the president cannot punish those with whom he politically disagrees.
Last week, four Israelis with American citizenship filed a lawsuit against the US government in the Northern District of Texas federal court, challenging sanctions imposed on them. The plaintiffs argue that the sanctions violate the US Constitution and have given the government 90 days to respond.
Michael Isley, a Texans for Israel worker; Meir Deutsch, the CEO of pro-settler NGO Regavim; Ari Abramowitz, a victim of a stabbing attack by Palestinians; and Yosef Ben Chaim, the husband to the founder of Tzav 9, a movement to stop humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, brought the lawsuit. It details the case of Yosef Ben Chaim: "The plaintiff has suffered significant financial harm from the sanctions imposed on his wife, as he received his monthly salary from her business. Their bank accounts, including her business account in Israel, were frozen, preventing the couple from carrying out essential daily activities," the lawsuit states.
The complaint provides context for Tzav 9 activities, emphasizing the organization's opposition to violence and outlining the impact of the sanctions. "The order is discriminatory, and its enforcement violates the constitutional rights of American citizens," writes Jerome Marcus, one of the attorneys on the legal team. In an interview with Israel Hayom, Marcus added that the administration has supported other protests that employed tactics similar to those employed in Tzav 9.
לא מכניסים סחורה לחמאסנאצים !
נמשכת מניעת כניסת משאיות לרצועת עזה.
משאית ירדנית נעצרה והסחורה הושמדה.גם המשאיות שבמעבר גורביץ פורקו מסחורה
11 משאיות של סחורה !!!כל הכבוד
🇮🇱💪🇮🇱💪🇮🇱💪🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/ghkzmtsDg8— דבורה 🐝🇮🇱 (@devorah555) May 13, 2024
What exactly is the problem with the sanctions?
Marcus explained, "The order is worded to apply to 'anyone who, in the US President's opinion, interferes with the peace process between Israel and its Arab neighbors.' However, in practice, sanctions were only imposed on Jews, while Palestinian Authority officials who committed violence against Jews faced no such measures." He argued that the conclusion about Israeli settler violence is based on biased statistics.
Marcus further contended, "The administration targeted individuals for engaging in legitimate protest activities. This is the kind of protest that the Biden administration has praised when it involved organizations they support. The administration's order gives the president the authority to punish people who act contrary to his opinion. This is unusual and, in our view, illegal."
Regarding the impact on US citizens, Marcus emphasized, "The fact that these sanctions target US citizens makes the executive order far more problematic legally. US citizens have constitutional rights that non-citizens do not. This is particularly relevant to the First Amendment, which protects every American citizen's right to free speech and to hear others speak freely."
Why is the proceeding taking place in Texas?
Marcus explained, "One of the plaintiffs, Texans for Israel – a group of Christian supporters of Israel who bring Israelis from Judea and Samaria to the US to speak and meet with American government officials – is based in Texas."
Deutsch filed the petition against the sanctions and commented: "Friendship and democracy are proven through actions, not words. The recent actions of the US raise serious questions about its commitment to both democracy and true friendship. At Israel's most challenging hour since its establishment, the American administration has withheld critical ammunition. For the first time in history, our ally has imposed sanctions on us – not to influence government policy but to sway public opinion in Israel. This is not how a democracy behaves, nor how a friend acts."
