Aid for Texas residents who don’t boycott Israel

A city in Texas is demanding that residents who apply for disaster relief after Hurricane Harvey also promise they will not boycott Israel.

Critics have condemned the demand, calling it a breach of Americans’ constitutional right to free speech.

But city officials in Dickinson say they are bound by a Texas law, introduced in May, that bans public money being spent on anti-Israel causes.

Amid the legal jargon about indemnities, liabilities and reimbursements in the fourpage application form is one condition – “By executing this agreement below, the applicant verifies that the applicant does not boycott Israel, and will not boycott Israel during the term of this agreement.”

The funding is for residents applying for money to help rebuild homes or businesses.

The city, 48 kilometres south of Houston, was one of the worst hit when Harvey swept through the state in August.

The police department said more than 7,000 homes and 88 businesses were damaged. Half of the 20,000 population were affected by the category 4 hurricane that dumped record amounts of rain – up to 129 centimetres in places.

The storm has been blamed for at least 80 deaths and rebuilding could cost as much as $180 billion (Dh661bn), the state governor said.

Dickinson began accepting bids for grants this month, but it took until now for details of the clause to emerge.

Andre Segura, Texas legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the condition was reminiscent of the McCarthy witchhunts of the 1950s when prominent figures had to disavow membership of the Communist Party and other “un-American activities”.

“The First Amendment protects Americans’ right to boycott, and the government cannot condition hurricane relief on a commitment to refrain from protected political expression,” Mr Segura said.

The clause is based on the Boycott, Divestments and Sanctions bill, which bans Texas from doing business with anyone boycotting Israel.

It was introduced by Greg Abbot, Texas governor, who outlined his plan to Benjamin Netanyahu when they met in Jerusalem last year.

The clause is based on a bill that bans Texas from doing business with anyone who wants to boycott Israel