Ohio lawmakers will vote this Wednesday October 29 on
Ohio House Bill 188 which calls for investing $10 million of
our tax money into Israeli bond. That means if the bill
passes, Ohio taxpayers would have effectively loaned
Israel $10 to use how it sees fit.

Therefore, I want my Ohio State Rep. to vote against Ohio
House bill 188 that could be used to fund the current
Israeli genocide with my tax money.

I should note here that on November 21, 2024, the
International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants
for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the
Crime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the former War
Minister of Israel, for the war crime of starvation as a
method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of
murder.

The Republicans who control state government in Ohio
have a deep political and ideological affinity for Israel.
Ohio politicians regularly get free propaganda trips to

Israel paid by the Israeli lobby to meet with Israeli officials
and offer statements of support for Israel.

The state legislature has passed bills that target the
nonviolent Boycott, Sanctions, and Divestment (BDS)
movement. It is ironic that Republican lawmakers can
boycott American companies, but they don't have the
courage to boycott or divest from Israel?

Instead of investing $10 million of our hard-earned tax
dollars in Israeli bonds, the money should be used at
home to help:

* 12,000 people experiencing homelessness in Ohio.
* Thousands of Ohioans who otherwise will die every year
from lack of access to healthcare because they can't
afford it.
* It will force the state to cut school lunch programs for
children, which would impact more than 280,000 kids in
our state.
* Investing in Israeli bond is unethical and exposes Ohio to
liability for funding genocide including the killing of 20,000
children and injuring 170,000 more.

I am here with urging my Ohio state representative and
other lawmakers to vote no on Ohio HR188, which
practically funds the current Israeli genocide in Gaza.

Mahmoud El-Youseph is a Palestinian freelance writer
and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S.
foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email:
elyousseph6@yahoo.com