Debbie Schlussel: Dubai Ports Deal May Violate U.S. Anti-Boycott Laws; the ICE Connection
As has been documented in a number of sources, including today's Jerusalem Post, Dubai not only abides by the Arab boycott, they insist upon it. They won't do business with Israel, and won't do business with companies that do.
What's less prominent in the article is that this practice is against American law, specifically U.S. anti-boycott laws that were 1977 amendments to the Export Administration Act and the Ribicoff Amendment to the 1976 Tax Reform Act. The federal statute citation is 15 CFR 760 et seq.
Clearly, Dubai's compliance with the Arab boycott against Israel is a violation of U.S. law, and clearly, for this reason alone, DP World should not be allowed to do business here, as it is a wholly-owned Dubaian government entity, and JPost reports that DP World abides by the boycott. In fact, Dubai even has the official Dubai Customs Department's Office for the Boycott of Israel.
I'm familiar with the anti-boycott laws, because a certain "former" terrorist and Midwest Muslim leader, Imad Hamad (who is tight with Michigan and Ohio Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) leader Brian Moskowitz (a/k/a "Abu Moskowitz"), himself engaged in boycotts of Israel and compelled several Detroit area banks to do the same. At the request of clients, we've considered filing complaints with the office against Mr. Hamad for encouraging banks to boycott Israel.
We have an Office of Antiboycott Compliance of the Bureau of Industry and Security in the U.S. Department of Commerce. This used to be part of the domain of current ICE chieftess Julie Myers (a/k/a the "ICE Princess"). DP World should be reported to this office, and we'll see if the Bush political appointee who got the job--after crony Myers got sick of it--will do anything about it. Don't hold your breath.
For more on the Arab Boycott against Israel, check out my friend Fred Taub's site, Boycott Watch. He is the expert on this and was recently quoted in the Wall Street Journal.
Posted by Debbie on February 28, 2006 11:56 AM to Debbie Schlussel