The Ohio-Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership - House Bill 188
Ohio State Legislature seeks to send taxpayer finds across the Atlantic to fund a regime in the midst of perpetrating - as South Africa, the UN, and multiple national leaders say - a genocide.
The Ohio State House, seat of the legislative body of Ohio’s state government. Ohiostatehouse.org.
Columbus, OH — State representatives Thomas Hall and Eric Synenberg, the primary sponsors of House Bill 188, rally support for what the legislation calls The Ohio-Israel Trade and Innovation Partnership.
Introduced in the 136th General Assembly, HB 188 seeks to form a new partnership between Israel and the state of Ohio, focusing on industry and technology. While the architects promote their perceived benefits of the bill, including increased potential for trade and economic support, many residents are concerned about the lofty price tag in taxpayer funds being sent to an apartheid state currently involved in a genocide.
The legislation calls for an investment in the amount of $5,000,000, for fiscal years 2025 and 2026, or $10 million in taxpayer funds total.
Ohio communities are currently reeling from cuts to local infrastructure, emergency services, schools, hospitals, and benefits.
During a serious moment such as this, in the midst of a continuing government shutdown, in which 42 million Americans are at risk of losing SNAP benefits, local residents feel the betrayal of watching this legislation come to board without a hint of a stimulus or recovery package for needy families.
Local opposition groups, including Cleveland-Palestine Advocacy Community and No New Bonds are calling for Ohio residents to write their opposition to their local government and divest from this action. The deadline to make opposition voices heard is Tuesday, 10/28, at 9:45 a.m.
Advocacy groups encourage Ohioans to fill out the witness form here, then follow the steps below.
