Washington, July 24 (RHC)-- In the U.S., the House of Representatives has passed a bill opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions -- or BDS—movement, a global solidarity campaign with the Palestinian people.

The nonviolent movement seeks to use economic and cultural pressure to force Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian lands. Tuesday’s 398-17 vote saw just one Republican and 16 Democrats oppose the resolution. One of them was Michigan Congressmember Rashida Tlaib, who in November became the first Palestinian-American woman elected to Congress.

Rep. Rashida Tlaib: “I stand before you, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, parents who experienced being stripped of their human rights, the right to freedom of travel, equal treatment. So I can’t stand by and watch this attack on our freedom of speech and the right to boycott the racist policies of the government and the state of Israel.”

The House resolution passed just days after hundreds of Israeli troops demolished Palestinian homes in a village at the West Bank-East Jerusalem border, clearing the way for Israel to build more illegal settlements.  International observers have said the demolitions amounted to a war crime.