US House votes 237-169 to defund universities boycotting Israel

September 4, 2026 at 12:14 AM2 min

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The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday to strip federal funding from universities that boycott Israel, including its academic institutions in the occupied West Bank. The 237-169 vote sends the measure to the Senate, where it must pass before President Donald Trump can sign it into law. Critics say the bill violates First Amendment free speech protections.

Key Facts

The House passed the bill 237-169, with 33 Democrats joining the Republican majority and two Republicans voting against.
The bill would bar universities that boycott Israeli entities, including those in West Bank settlements, from receiving federal funds.
Jenin Younes, president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said the bill raises serious First Amendment concerns.
The International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 that Israeli settlements in the West Bank violate international law.
A Pew Research Center survey in July found 62 percent of Americans hold an unfavourable view of the Israeli government.

House Vote

The US House of Representatives passed the bill in a 237-169 vote on Thursday. Thirty-three Democrats joined the Republican majority in supporting the measure, while two Republicans broke ranks to reject it. The proposal now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate and would require President Donald Trump's signature to become law.

Bill Provisions

The legislation would bar universities that boycott entities licensed, regulated, or organised under Israeli law from receiving federal funds. This includes academic institutions in illegal West Bank settlements, which the International Court of Justice ruled in 2024 are maintained in violation of international law. Universities would be required to annually certify that they allow cooperation with Israeli universities, a stipulation critics say could compel relationships with settlement institutions. Withholding federal funding would make it nearly impossible for many universities to operate or provide financial aid to students.

Free Speech Criticism

Jenin Younes, president of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said the bill raises serious concerns for the First Amendment. Younes told Al Jazeera that the Supreme Court has made clear the government cannot condition funding on suppression of First Amendment-protected activity, and courts recognise boycotts as such activity. She said the timing of the bill reflects the Israel lobby's growing desperation amid rising opposition to US support for Israel. A Pew Research Center survey in July found 62 percent of Americans hold an unfavourable view of the Israeli government, though support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains strong on Capitol Hill.