Congress has dealt the first of two heavy blows aimed at the Arab boycott of Israel and blackmail of Jewish-owned or managed firms and its second blow is soon to follow. On Ford’s desk is the omnibus tax reform act passed by the House and Senate last Thursday that includes provisions denying tax benefits to American companies that comply with economic blackmail demands by Arabs to do business with them.
Despite intense opposition from the Administration and oil corporations and overseas contracts to the provisions, Ford is expected to sign the legislation within the next few days. It is to go into effect 30 days after his signature makes it law.
The second blow is the Export Administration Act which contain provisions lifting the lid of secrecy from companies that comply with the boycott but are not now required to make that public knowledge. The Senate has already passed the act and the House is due to vote on it Wednesday with even stiffer provisions that include a prohibition against agreeing with the Arabs not to do business with Israel or with U.S. firms that trade with Israel.
The Senate, like the House, approved the anti-boycott measure without opposition in voting for the tax bill as a whole 84-2. Senators Dewey Bartlett (R.Okla.) and Ernest Hollings (D.SC) voted against the many-faceted bill as a whole. Aides to both Senators said the solons di
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