Zoha Khalili in the Houston Chronicle
/The following opinion piece, by staff attorney Zoha Khalili, was published in the Houston Chronicle on December 21, 2018. Click here to view the full article.
To protect Israel, Texas sacrifices the Constitution
By Zoha Khalili
What do a speech pathologist, a freelance writer, a reporter and university students in Texas have in common with a weekly paper in Arkansas, a lawyer in Arizona, and a math teacher in Kansas? They have all had to choose between signing a loyalty oath to Israel and forgoing payment for their services from state agencies. And they have all fought back.
This month, two lawsuits have challenged the constitutionality of a Texas law that requires anyone doing business with a state entity — including cities, school districts and public universities — to affirm that they do not boycott Israel and will not boycott Israel during the term of the contract.
Rather than Texas fighting a losing battle in court, the Legislature should repeal the law in the upcoming session.