JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Even though the attacks against Israel happened one year ago, Mississippi’s policy towards the Middle East goes back much further.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas militants stormed from the blockaded Gaza Strip into nearby Israeli towns, killing hundreds of civilians. Israel declared war on Hamas the next day. Since then, the deadly war now involves more parties. For instance, Israel is also fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria, Iran and terrorists in Judea and Samaria.
Typically, states are generally preempted by the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause from making policy regarding foreign nations. Congress may grant states to power to do so in certain circumstances.
Iran
In 2010, then-President Barack Obama signed a law that expressly authorized states and local governments to divest from companies tied to Iran’s energy sector. The goal was to disincentivize individuals or companies from making financial decisions that directly or indirectly supported Iran’s efforts to achieve nuclear weapons capability.