The proposed Ohio HR 188 funds the current Israeli genocide in Gaza

Ohio lawmakers will vote this Wednesday October 29 on Ohio House Bill 188 which calls for investing $10 million of our tax money into Israeli bond. That means if the bill passes, Ohio taxpayers would have effectively loaned Israel $10 to use how it sees fit.

Therefore, I want my Ohio State Rep. to vote against Ohio House bill 188 that could be used to fund the current Israeli genocide with my tax money.

I should note here that on November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Crime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the former War Minister of Israel, for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder.

The Republicans who control state government in Ohio have a deep political and ideological affinity for Israel. Ohio politicians regularly get free propaganda trips to Israel paid by the Israeli lobby to meet with Israeli officials and offer statements of support for Israel.

The state legislature has passed bills that target the nonviolent Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment (BDS) movement. It is ironic that Republican lawmakers can boycott American companies, but they don't have the courage to boycott or divest from Israel?

Instead of investing $10 million of our hard-earned tax dollars in Israeli bonds, the money should be used at home to help:

• 12,000 people experiencing homelessness in Ohio.
• Thousands of Ohioans who otherwise will die every year from lack of access to healthcare because they can't afford it.
• It will force the state to cut school lunch programs for children, which would impact more than 280,000 kids in our state.
• Investing in Israeli bond is unethical and exposes Ohio to liability for funding genocide including the killing of 20,000 children and injuring 170,000 more.

Mahmoud El-Youseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email: [email protected]