Cruz: Universities that boycott Israel should lose federal funding

Washington Post ^ | May 28, 2105 | Katie Zezima

[SoConPubbie]

NEW YORK -- Sen. Ted Cruz said Thursday that universities that boycott Israel should lose their federal funding.

Cruz's remarks were aimed at the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which is gaining traction on college campuses. It calls for U.S. companies and universities to divest from Israel. Cruz has spoken against BDS but sharpened his tone Thursday.

The nation needs a president who will ensure that "if a university boycotts the nation of Israel then that university will forfeit federal taxpayer dollars," Cruz said at the Champion of Jewish Values International Awards Gala here, where he received the Defender of Israel Award. "BDS is premised on a lie and it is antisemitism plain and simple."

Cruz never mentioned his presidential candidacy but sure talked a lot about what America's next president needs to do when it comes to Israel and Iran. That includes imposing sanctions on Iran, transferring bunker bombs to Israel if "Iran has not stopped marching toward nuclear weapons," moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and no longer fund the Palestinian Authority "as long as its engages in incitement" and is in a unity government with Hamas.

"If Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons that president in 2017 should stand up to the world and explain very simply either Iran will stop or the United States of America will stop it," Cruz said.

Cruz continued to call the prospect of Iran securing a nuclear weapon the greatest threat to the security of the United States and Israel.

"The next 19 months are going to be perilous," he said. "But I commit to you to do everything in my power to speak out and stop any deal that will allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons."

Cruz praised Sheldon Adelson, who spent $92 million on Republican candidates in 2012, and his wife Miriam

[SoConPubbie]

"If we must have an enemy at the head of Government, let it be one whom we can oppose, and for whom we are not responsible, who will not involve our party in the disgrace of his foolish and bad measures." - Alexander Hamilton "We don't intend to turn the Republican Party over to the traitors in the battle just ended. We will have no more of those candidates who are pledged to the same goals as our opposition and who seek our support. Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldn’t make any sense at all." -- President Ronald Reagan "A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice." - Thomas Paine 1792 "It does not take a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men." - Samuel Adams "If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or your arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen." - Samuel Adams

[SoConPubbie]

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[Smedley]

I would gladly vote for Cruz, but I disagree with him on this issue. I would never send my children to a university that boycotted Israel, but I am a believer in letting people follow their values

[Jack Hydrazine]

[SoConPubbie]

I would gladly vote for Cruz, but I disagree with him on this issue. I would never send my children to a university that boycotted Israel, but I am a believer in letting people follow their values

Why should my taxes paid to the Feds be used to support this type of Marxist nonsens?

Nobody, including Ted Cruz, is trying to limit the ability of anyone to "follow their values".

[rockinqsranch]

Under the current circumstances I agree with Cruz, but I really don’t think ANY school should be subsidized by the Federal Government. It’s NOT their job.

[The_Media_never_lie]

The left trashed South Africa and Rhodesia the same way in the late 80s, and made life worse for generations of Africans. They were never held accountable for the damage they wrought.

[Texas Eagle]

Cruz: Universities that boycott Israel should lose federal funding

Texas Eagle: Universities should lose federal funding.

[allendale]

How about defunding universities that limit free speech.

[kvanbrunt2]

yes rescind all taxes to any college or university

[ConstantSkeptic]

Name one college or university which is boycotting Israel.

A tempest in a teapot.

It just isn’t happening.

The most I can find is that some students at California universities are calling on their universities to divest themselves of their investments in Israel, but, really, how much would they have invested in Israel? And what possible difference would it make if they are invested in Israel versus invested in a biotech ETF fund in the U.S.?

From what I can see, this is a non-issue.

[Gator113]

Hating Jews is not a value!!!

[Dave W]

Smedley - I think you misunderstand. People and institutions are free to follow their beliefs. It's just that if the institution boycotts Israel, then they lose fed tax dollars, but the institution can practice its beliefs all it wants.

[going hot]

And the rest of them MFrs

[Pontiac]

I will go Ted one better.

ALL Universities should lose their Federal Funding.

The Federal government should not be funding education period.

[Erik Latranyi]

Scott Walker is weaning the Wisconsin University system off state money over time, giving the schools time to adjust budgets and seek other funding sources.

[ExCTCitizen]

Ted Cruz, I agree... 👍

[wastedyears]

Why do universities get federal funding in the first place?

[CyberAnt]

I think Cruz is well aware that he doesn’t have the power to stop these universities .. but he can surely talk about it, loudly enough, to cause some parents to rethink sending their children to those universities; just like you.

[Jack Black]

The left trashed South Africa and Rhodesia the same way in the late 80s, and made life worse for generations of Africans. They were never held accountable for the damage they wrought.

Good point. There is a group of South African's petitioning the EU for "rights of return", meaning guaranteed immigration to the nation of Europe that they claim heritage from (mostly Holland and England), similar to the rights that Jews enjoy in Israel.

Given that Whites are a persecuted minority in South Africa this seems a reasonable request. Right of Return Petition