Obama Faces Backlash Over Boycott Decision

A decision announced last week by the Obama Administration in the US not to enforce provisions of the Congressional guidelines for trade with Europe designed to discourage trade partners from participating in boycotts of Israeli businesses in the West Bank led to a chorus of protest from across the political spectrum in Washington. Senior Senators from Obama’s own Democratic Party joined Republican colleagues in issuing a stern rebuke to the Administration over the announcement Friday, although Obama maintained that the law allows him wide latitude in interpreting the Congressional guidelines.