Israel and Hamas measures get a look as most US state legislatures meet for first time since Oct. 7

A: The main focus of the text is on how U.S. state legislatures are responding to the Israel-Hamas conflict, including measures of support for Israel, condemnations of the conflict, and debates on antisemitism and university funding.

A: State legislatures in at least eight states have already condemned the attacks in the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some have passed resolutions in support of Israel, while others aim to encourage President Joe Biden to facilitate an end to the conflict. There are also discussions about handling protests and events at universities accused of allowing antisemitism.

A: State legislatures have introduced resolutions condemning the attack, supporting Israel, and even encouraging President Biden’s involvement in ending the conflict. Some states have considered bills related to university funding and student tuition concerning support for groups like Hamas.

A: Yes, there are divisions within some state legislatures. In Michigan, Democratic lawmakers couldn’t agree on a resolution due to differences in views on condemning Hamas and supporting Israel. Additionally, there are discussions on how to handle protests and Palestinian-oriented events on university campuses.

A: Concerns include the potential unconstitutionality of measures restricting speech and the focus on supporting Israel without addressing the Palestinian casualties and displacement in the conflict. There are calls for moral consistency in state legislatures’ responses to international incidents.

A: The Council on American-Islamic Relations has expressed concerns about the constitutionality of speech-restricting measures and the lack of focus on supporting the people of Gaza affected by the conflict. They emphasize the need for moral consistency in legislative responses.

A: Yes, the article has been corrected to remove North Dakota from the list of states where measures have been introduced for 2024; a resolution passed in 2023 in North Dakota.