Arkansas A.G. Joins Multi-State Coalition Condemning Hamas Attacks on Israel

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On Thursday Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin joined a multi-state coalition of attorneys general condemning the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel.

The coalition includes attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The joint statement reads as follows:

“We are outraged by the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas against Israel. Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organization, decided to violate the laws of nations and nature in its bloody, pre-planned massacre of civilians.

Hamas murderers slaughtered hundreds of innocents—homebodies and concertgoers, Holocaust survivors and newborns. The dead are not just Israelis, but Americans and citizens of countries around the world. The images, videos, and stories still coming out since that raid are heartbreaking. Many of those videos and images were released by the perpetrators themselves. Kidnapping, torture, and rape violate the laws of all societies, of civilized states, and of war. Innocents both in Israel and in territory occupied by Hamas continue to pay the price for Hamas’s terrorist operations in Gaza and invaded Israeli territory. No sovereign nation can tolerate such terrorist operations within its borders.

We stand with Israel as it defends itself from this inexplicable and obscene violence. Israel’s remarkable resilience and restraint are exemplified by its longstanding commitment to minimizing civilian casualties while defending its people. We regret that Israel’s pursuit of justice and self-defense will cost lives. But responsibility for every life lost in this conflict can be laid at the feet of the cowardly Hamas leadership, residing in comfort in Doha, and their murderous servants. We pray for peace and safety for Israel and the rest of the Middle East.”

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Circuit Court Upholds Law Preventing State of Arkansas from Doing Business With Companies That Boycott Israel

Current Events

On Thursday the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a law prohibiting the State of Arkansas and its public entities from doing business with companies that boycott Israel.

In 2017 the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 710.

The law generally prohibits public entities in Arkansas from contracting with or investing in businesses that boycott Israel.

The law applies to state government, state agencies, state boards and commissions, political subdivisions of the state, public retirement systems, and public colleges and universities.

As a result of the law, any state contract valued over $1,000 must contain a clause stating that the contractor will not boycott Israel.

Following Act 710’s passage, Arkansas Times and the ACLU sued, arguing that the law places an unconstitutional condition on government contracts and compels speech.

U.S. District Judge Brian Miller in Little Rock dismissed the lawsuit, but the case was appealed to the Eighth Circuit.

On Thursday the circuit court upheld the law as constitutional.

The decision said the law did not violate the First Amendment, noting that, “[Act 710] does not ban Arkansas Times from publicly criticizing Israel, or even protesting the statute itself. It only prohibits economic decisions that discriminate against Israel.”

You Can Read The Decision Here.

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U.S. Recognizes Jerusalem as Capital of Israel

Current Events,

Today President Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Below is a statement from our friends at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) about this historic event:

Today is a historic day for the U.S.-Israel relationship. For the first time, the United States officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

AIPAC has always supported American recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s undivided capital city, and we commend President Trump’s momentous announcement and decision to initiate relocating the U.S. embassy there.

This recognition is a long-overdue step to implement U.S. law. The Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 declared that Jerusalem “should remain an undivided city,” and “the United States Embassy in Israel should be established in Jerusalem.” AIPAC strongly supported passage of that act, which Congress overwhelmingly adopted on a bipartisan basis.

Importantly, relocating the embassy to Jerusalem does not in any way prejudge the outcome of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, to include establishing two states for two peoples and resolving Palestinian claims to the eastern portion of the city and the disposition of holy places. Rather, this announcement acknowledges that Jerusalem will continue to be Israel’s capital as part of any conceivable final status agreement.

The Jewish people have maintained a constant presence in Jerusalem, their holiest city, for more than 3,000 years. Israel declared the city its capital following its reestablishment in 1948. When the United States ultimately relocates its embassy to Jerusalem, it will treat Israel as it does every other country with which we have diplomatic relations.

Today’s action by President Trump is an important, historic step for which we are grateful. We urge the president to quickly relocate our embassy to Israel’s capital.

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