J.A. Terranson wrote: > > Correct me if I'm wrong, but the US will happily throw Americans in prison > > for refusing to do business with Israel, because Congress has made it > > illegal to support any boycott of the Beanie-Headed Land Grabbers.
> Hrmmm.. Got a citation for this one? As far out in the land of the clueless > Shrub may in fact be, I have yet to see anything that declares Israel a > protected class. Of course, I could have missed it... > I'd really like to see a citation if you can find one. Not only is there legislation against US companies boycotting Israel, but apparently, the Jews even have their own Office of Anti-Boycott Compliance (OAC) within the US Department of Commerce. Here are the results of some Googling. ----- COMPANY : L'OREAL After being fined $1.4 million by the US in 1995 for writing a letter to the Arab League claiming that they had stopped production in Israel, they have been engaged in actively courting Israel with investments and large-scale commerce. The American Jewish Congress has expressed "keen satisfaction that L'Oreal has become a warm friend of Israel" [Or at the very least, they are toadying lest another $1.4 million be picked from their pockets. -emc] ----- In 1977, Congress prohibited U.S. companies from cooperating with the Arab boycott. When President Carter signed the law, he said the "issue goes to the very heart of free trade among nations" and that it was designed to "end the divisive effects on American life of foreign boycotts aimed at Jewish members of our society." ----- http://www.bxa.doc.gov/AntiboycottCompliance/OACRequirements.html What do the Laws Prohibit? Conduct that may be penalized under the TRA and/or prohibited under the EAR includes: "*" Agreements to refuse or actual refusal to do business with or in Israel or with blacklisted companies. "*" Agreements to discriminate or actual discrimination against other persons based on race, religion, sex, national origin or nationality. "*" Agreements to furnish or actual furnishing of information about business relationships with or in Israel or with blacklisted companies. "*" Agreements to furnish or actual furnishing of information about the race, religion, sex, or national origin of another person. "*" Implementing letters of credit containing prohibited boycott terms or conditions. The TRA does not "prohibit" conduct, but denies tax benefits ("penalizes") for certain types of boycott-related agreements. What Must Be Reported? The EAR requires U.S. persons to report quarterly requests they have received to take certain actions to comply with, further, or support an unsanctioned foreign boycott. The TRA requires taxpayers to report "operations" in, with, or related to a boycotting country or its nationals and requests received to participate in or cooperate with an international boycott. The Treasury Department publishes a quarterly list of "boycotting countries." How To Report: EAR reports are filed quarterly on form BIS 621-P for single requests or BIS 6051-P for multiple requests available from the Department of Commerces Office of Antiboycott Compliance (OAC) in Washington, D.C. To obtain these forms, telephone OACs Reports Processing Unit at (202) 482-2448. TRA reports are filed with tax returns on IRS Form 5713. This form is available from local IRS offices. Penalties: The EAR prescribe the penalties for violations of the Antiboycott Regulations as well as export control violations. These can include: Criminal: "*" The penalties imposed for each "knowing" violation can be a fine of up to $50,000 or five times the value of the exports involved, whichever is greater, and imprisonment of up to five years. During periods when the EAR are continued in effect by an Executive Order issued pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the criminal penalties for each "willful" violation can be a fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment for up to ten years. Administrative: For each violation of the EAR any or all of the following may be imposed: "*" General denial of export privileges; "*" The imposition of fines of up to $12,000 See Footnote Below [INS: :INS] per violation; and/or "*" Exclusion from practice. Boycott agreements under the TRA involve the denial of all or part of the foreign tax benefits discussed above. Footnote from Imposition of Fines (Above) The $10,000 maximum per violation specified in the EAA is adjusted periodically pursuant to law for inflation. The maximum civil penalty for any violation committed from October 23, 1996 through November 1, 2000 is $11,000 per violation. The maximum civil penalty for any violation committed after November 1, 2000 is $12,000 per violation. U.S. Department of Commerce BIS/Office of Antiboycott Compliance, Room 6098 Washington, D.C. 20230 (202) 482-2381 or by E-Mail Department of the Treasury Office of the General Counsel, Room 2004 Washington, D.C. 20220 (202) 622-1945 -- Eric Michael Cordian 0+ O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division "Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"
