Opponent Testimony to House Bill 291 Before the House Development Committee

Summary

Opponent testimony on House Bill 291 before the House Development Committee, addressed to Chairman Hoops, Vicechair Lorenz and Ranking Member Abdullahi, with no author named in the text. The author says HB 291 has potential and that its core is to make Ohio thrive on international collaboration, but opposes it as introduced. The testimony says the bill is a revision of House Bill 188, which sought a trade alliance with only Israel, and that it now includes Japan, Ireland, and two other countries. It argues against partnering with Israel and asks that Israel be removed from the bill's language.

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          OPPONENT TESTIMONY TO HOUSE BILL 291
                  Before the House Development Committee


Chairman Hoops, Vicechair Lorenz, Ranking Member Abdullahi, and the rest of
the respectable members of the House Development Committee: I sincerely
thank you for the chance to present my opponent testimony and proposed
changes to House Bill 291.

THE CORE OF THE BILL
In theory, HB 291 has potential. Before submitting this testimony in opposition, I
wanted to extensively review the proponent testimony and the bill itself to
understand what is being proposed. What is it that makes this bill desirable?
What is the “core” of this bill, what principles and ideals do Ohioans feel they
need?

After my review, I have found that at its core, this bill seeks to make Ohio a
strong state which thrives on international collaboration and partnerships to
create a diverse job market, expand current technology research, and help local
Ohio businesses reach out to larger client bases globally. I do see this bill’s
potential, and I must agree it would certainly help assist Ohio in creating a
diverse future with an expanding job pool and strengthened economic growth and
security. Yet, I stand before you today to oppose this bill as introduced.

WHY OPPOSE THE BILL AS IT HAS BEEN INTRODUCED?
This bill is a revision of House Bill 188. It no longer seeks to only create a trade
alliance with only Israel, as 188 did, but it now includes Japan, Ireland, and two
other countries as indicated by the director of development. I must be
forthcoming in saying I am generally supportive of the idea of a foreign trade
alliance, but as legislators, you know better than most that we must be careful
with what we codify, when we do it, and why we do it.

In 1939, during the Holocaust, Alfred Sloan Jr., then the acting chairman of
General Motors, stated: “According to my belief . . . an international business
operating throughout the world should conduct its operations in strictly business
terms, without regard to the political beliefs of its management, or the political
beliefs of the country in which it is operating.”1 This was how he justified
continuing to do business in Nazi Germany, thus directly supporting the Nazi
government and furthering the genocide against Jews that happened in the
1930s and 40s.

This is a morally reprehensible justification on neglecting taking adverse action
on a nation committing a genocide. I know the other testimonies of my comrades
and colleagues will detail the genocide Israel is inflicting upon Palestine, so I will
1

https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/the-us-response-to-the-holocaust-was-part-of-
a-lon
          OPPONENT TESTIMONY TO HOUSE BILL 291
                   Before the House Development Committee


not explain it in detail, but I will state it for the record in no uncertain terms: Israel
is committing a genocide in Palestine. Thus, a question I would like you all to
consider, if we were all currently gathered here today but in 1940, and our
country considered Germany its greatest ally in Europe, but this exact bill read
“Germany” instead of “Israel,” would you pass it? Would you strengthen a political
alliance with a genocidal, blood-thirsty ethno-state seeking to eliminate
“undesirables” and establish a “supreme race?” Or would you see an issue in the
timing of codifying an alliance with a nation committing some of the most horrid
crimes you have ever heard?

ISRAEL IS A SECURITY CONCERN, NOT AN ALLY
I intend to highlight Israel’s betrayal of the United States as a point of opposition
in addition to the ongoing genocide in Palestine. I would also like to discuss
Israel’s unreliable history that makes this partnership unstable and a betrayal of
your constituents' trust in you as our elected officials should you choose to pass
it.

This bill specifically focuses on “Joint research agreements on issues of mutual
interest, particularly with Israel regarding electronic and cyber warfare
capabilities.”2 This is highly concerning considering Israel’s unreliable history of
espionage, betrayal of US support, and refusal to allow NSO Group to be
adequately investigated for abuse of the Pegasus spyware system.

First, Israel’s espionage of the United States has been the most concerning
amongst any so-called “ally” of the United States. In 2014, a report on Israel
found that “[Israel]’s efforts to steal U.S. secrets under the cover of trade
missions and joint defense technology contracts have ‘crossed red lines.’" 3 This
is concerning as part of this bill intends to create more contracts in the hopes of
advancing electronic and cyber capabilities. How can we trust them with such
sensitive data and research when they are going behind our federal
government’s back to steal it anyway? This is like seeing a thief in your home
and choosing to leave your doors unlocked instead of barricading the door to
keep them out.

Secondly, the Trump administration is well-known for citing China as a concern
for the United States, at times seeming to indicate China is this country’s top
enemy. Yet, Israel has had multiple incidents of giving secret US technology to
China. In one instance from 1994, “[Israel] sold China the plans for the [Lavi
Fighter Bomber, a deadly air weapon] and the associated secret U.S. technology.

2

https://search-prod.lis.state.oh.us/api/v2/general_assembly_136/legislation/hb291/00_IN/
pdf/
3
  https://www.newsweek.com/israel-wont-stop-spying-us-249757
          OPPONENT TESTIMONY TO HOUSE BILL 291
                   Before the House Development Committee


This has enabled the Chinese to build their own version of this new generation of
fighter aircraft.”4 1994 was over 30 years ago, so perhaps this is not a concern for
the future...is what I wish I could say to chalk this up to being a one-off. But in
2013, Israel did it again, sending China “a miniature refrigeration system
manufactured … used for missiles and in electro-optic equipment.” Reports by
Aretz Sheva, an Israeli newspaper, cites further future concerns in which it can
foresee Israel to continue giving away our country’s secrets and information to
the United States.5

Lastly, please consider Israel’s involvement in protecting NSO Group’s spyware,
known as Pegasus. Pegasus is cyberware that is supposedly used for
counterterrorism, but has a history of being abused and targeting civilians and
journalists.6 Meta Platforms took legal action against Pegasus, filing a
high-stakes lawsuit in the United States to seek damages related to the NSO
Group’s use of the software to hack WhatsApp users. Yet Israel’s government
intervened and attempted to hinder justice by seizing documents about Pegasus
spyware in an effort to prevent the company from being able to comply with
demands made by WhatsApp in a US court to hand over information about the
invasive technology. “Documents suggest the seizures were part of an unusual
legal manoeuvre created by Israel to block the disclosure of information about
Pegasus, which the government believed would cause “serious diplomatic and
security damage” to the country.”7 Pegasus was forced to pay substantial
damages to Meta, but they were also found to target iOS and Android operating
systems, all without valid reason and as a severe abuse of their capabilities.8

I respectfully request every one of you consider the repercussions of giving Israel
increased access to our sensitive research and data at a time where, realistically,
if any other country did this, we would be decreasing our relations with them.
Think of what they have done when we draw a red line, and to now permit them
open access to the hard work, research, and technological innovations of the
innocent, trusting, and hard-working citizens of Ohio may be a reckless decision
that wantonly ignores Israel’s clear disregard for American integrity.




4

https://www.wrmea.org/1996-january/u.s.-military-technology-sold-by-israel-to-china-upse
ts-asian-power-balance.html
5
  https://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2014/06/06/how-israel-has-betrayed-america/
6
  https://us.norton.com/blog/emerging-threats/pegasus-spyware#
7

https://www.theguardian.com/news/article/2024/jul/25/israel-tried-to-frustrate-us-lawsuit-o
ver-pegasus-spyware-leak-suggests
8
  https://about.fb.com/news/2025/05/winning-the-fight-against-spyware-merchant-nso/
          OPPONENT TESTIMONY TO HOUSE BILL 291
                  Before the House Development Committee


CONCLUDING THOUGHTS AND NEXT STEPS
I understand the proponents of this bill seek to enhance the economic endeavors
of Ohio business and the jobforce of our state through international partnerships.
I am in firm support of this principle. However, I need to be unequivocal in my
condemnation of Israel, and someone must speak out about the legitimate
concern for the safety and integrity of the people of the State of Ohio. The way
we execute this is of crucial importance for what precedents we set and how we
value our people.

I respectfully demand the removal of Israel from the language of this bill. Not only
is the action of partnering with Israel so any reason morally reprehensible in the
face of Israel’s ongoing international law violations9 and genocide of the
Palestinian people, but the last thing we as a state should be doing is
encouraging relations with a state commiting an unconscionable evil.
Furthermore, as explained, Israel is a nation known for taking information and
technology from our country and giving it to non-allied nations such as China.
They do not respect our legal system nor our integrity.

Please consider these suggestions. It is wonderful for us to have our own trade
commission to continue to stabilize and grow our economy. But it is in no way
acceptable to continue to entertain strengthening alliances and permanently
codify relations with a country known for its continuous war-mongering, betrayal
of our country, and illegal practices with cyber technology.




9

https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2024/12/israels-assault-foundations-internationa
l-law-must-have-consequences-un


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