I strongly oppose SB 297 and ask our lawmakers to reject it. The bill is a repressive measure as it restricts our free speech. 

 

SB 297 trumps the First Amendment right of the US Constitution.

SB 297 falsely conflates legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism.

SB 297 would criminalize individuals for daring to criticize Israeli crimes.

SB 297 is being introduced at a time when the Israeli army is committing genocide, ethnic cleansing, and using starvation as a weapon against Palestinians, which are all recognized as war crimes and crimes against humanity. 

 

While Israel is telling Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to leave, surrender, or die,

SB 297 is telling Palestinian advocates in the US, "Stay out of it. Keep your mouth shut or else!"

 

Still, people in America are free to say:

God does not exist.

There is no such thing as Palestine, and Palestinians never existed.

Calling President Biden every name in the book.

Referring to President Putin as Hitler.

Mocking the Prophet Mohammad pbuh (peace be upon him)

Insulting over 2 billion Muslims.

Calling Jesus (pbuh) a bastard and His Mother superior, Mariam, a whore, and no one will give a rat. But if you, God forbid, question the apartheid state of Israel or Crime Minister Netanyahu or condemn the Israeli genocide in Gaza, you are automatically smeared, called anti-Semitic, or get fired or forced to pay a hefty fine or make a donation to make up for what you said.

 

In March 2015, Frau Ursula  Haverbeck, an 87-year-old German grandmother and a researcher, denied the mass destruction of the Jews and discussed her critique when she described "this Holocaust" as "the biggest and most persistent lie in history."

 

How many Israeli and GOP leaders denied the Palestinian holocaust or the Israeli genocide in Gaza? How many in mainstream and pro-Israeli Jewish American organizations condemned Israeli and GOP leaders (such as Marco Rubio) who referred to Palestinians as animals or non-existent (according to Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich)?

 

Before the Apartheid Defense League (ADL) and Ohio Sen. Terry Johnson whine and complain about the rise of antisemitism, perhaps next time, they should stop treating Palestinians as subhuman and stifling free speech in Ohio. 

 

What pisses me off is the West is always eager to use free-speech arguments when insulting and degrading Muslims. However, they are too cowardly to use the defense mechanism to protect our citizens, such as student protesters across our nation, who voiced their opposition to the Israeli genocide of Palestinians with their tax money. Many lost their scholarships, were expelled, or had their names smeared.

 

If SB 297 passes, this Palestinian retired veteran may face jail time if he dares to speak out in defense of Palestine.

Meanwhile, other American citizens who chose to enlist in the IDF and take part in the Gaza genocide will be praised by MSM and public officials like Sen. Johnson, who introduced this bill, as heroes. 

 

It is worth asking Sen. Johnson at this juncture, why if any American were to join Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, or any of her seven sister organizations, he would automatically get 20 years in jail, have his/her citizenship revoked, or denied entry permit to the US, but this does not apply to Americans who enlist in the Israeli Death Forces (IDF)?

 

To imply that Palestinians are violent and hate Jews is a big fat lie. To argue Israel has the right to self-defense is like saying Jews were the bad ones and Germany was just defending itself. You do defend the land if it is yours, not if it is stolen land. 

 

Let's not forget that Palestine is occupied, and Israel is the occupier, and the only time Israel defends itself is when Palestinians fight back after being attacked.

 

Under international law, Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is illegal, and it's time for Israelis to accept that as an occupied people, Palestinians have a right to resist by whatever means they can, including " armed struggle." Therefore, it's morally absurd for Israel to label Palestinians "terrorists."

 

 

I can assure you that Israel will have long and lasting peace beginning tomorrow if it meets these three conditions.

 

1- Israel honors all UN Resolutions, not just those it likes.

2- Lifting the 17 years of strangling and inhumane siege on Gaza! 

3- Freeing the 16,000 Palestinian political prisoners (including 4 US citizens. Yes, you heard it right) held without charges or trials for years.

 

Ohio SB 297 is an un-American and anti-free speech law. I urge our lawmakers to reject it.