1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Recess Travel to Israel & West Bank (to show support for/solidarity with Israel & Greater Israel)
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 8/15/25: “No Way But Forward”: Life in the Gaza Strip — ft. guest interviewer Matt Duss (former FMEP President, now Executive Vice President of the Center for International Policy) in conversation with professor & author Brian Barber, author of the recently published book, No Way But Forward: Life Stories of Three Families in the Gaza Strip.
• 8/13/25 – “Palestinian Citizens of Israel, the Future, and Inconsequential Palestinian State Recognition“– ft. FMEP fellow Hilary Rantisi in conversation with Palestinian-Canadian lawyer and analyst Diana Buttu.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(LEGISLATING IRAN SANCTIONS & EXPANDING THEM TO MEDIA) HR 4923: Introduced 8/8/25 by Gonzales (R-TX), “To impose sanctions on persons who knowingly provide content or media services to sanctioned foreign propaganda outlets, and for other purposes,” aka the “Stop Foreign Propaganda Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, along with the Committees on the Judiciary, Financial Services, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means. This legislation would (1) codify into law Trump’s 8/6/17 Executive Order Executive Order 13846—”Reimposing Certain Sanctions With Respect to Iran“; and (2) impose sanction on “any person who knowingly provides material support or media services, and receives compensation, barter, or any other form of consideration therefor, to a covered foreign media entity“.

(TARGETING THE UN, INCL ICC & PALESTINIANS) HR 4941 [bill text] Introduced 8/8/25 by Steube (R-FL), “To direct the Secretary of State to implement certain travel conditions for officials of certain countries, entities, and United Nations organizations for attending any official meeting of the United Nations at the United Nations Headquarters Building in New York City,” aka the “Limiting Extremist Travel to the U.N. Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary. This legislation would impose restrictions — or codify and expand existing restrictions — on some officials coming to the US for UN meetings, putting geographic limits on where they can go (no leaving a 25-mile radius of the UN HQ), restricting their time in the US to the UN meeting plus one day before/after, and with respect to officials working for UN orgs the US & Congress hate, barring their presence at universities even within the 25-mile radius of the UN [apparently to protect vulnerable student brains at New York-area universities from being exposed to these purveyors of evil…]. The first 2 restrictions apply to “(1) Any official of Iran. (2) Any official whom the Secretary of State certifies maintains any official association or membership with any Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), to include any political wing of such organization.” All 3 restrictions apply to ” Any official of a United Nations organization to which the United States is not a member” — a category comprising officials of the ICC, UNESCO (as of 12/31/26, when US withdrawal takes effect), the UN Human Rights Council, and UNRWA.   Also see: press release – Rep. Steube Introduces Limiting Extremist Travel to the U.N. Act

2. Letters

• (SETTLER VIOLENCE) 8/15/25: Zeteo reports – EXCLUSIVE: Centrist Ruben Gallego Circulating Letter Pushing Trump to Investigate Israeli Settler Violence
• (WE STAND 100% WITH ISRAEL & URGE ISRAEL TO AID GAZA BECAUSE IT IS GOOD FOR ISRAEL) 8/14/25: Moulton, Houlahan, Ryan, Panetta, Deluzio, Vindman Urge Israel to Expand Humanitarian Aid to Gaza [letter text]
• (US & INTL NGOS TO CONGRESS – SUSPEND MILTARY AID TO ISRAEL!) 8/13/25: NGO sector – More than 80 Organizations Call on Congress to Uphold US Law and Suspend Security Assistance to Israel [letter text & signers embedded in the press release, which was released by multiple groups that signed the letter]
• (TEXAS SCHOOLS MUST PREVENT ANTISEMITISM – EG, STUDENTS WEARING KEFFIYEHS, ALLOWING NON-PRO-ISRAEL MATERIALS, & PERMITTING STUDENT FREE SPEECH) 8/6/25: Rep. Fallon (R-TX) X-post 8/12/25: “Antisemitism holds no place in America, especially in our school systems. In light of many reports of hateful behavior across numerous campuses, @RepKeithSelf [R-TX] and I demand that the Plano ISD swiftly stand up to this hateful ideology in North TX schools. Read our full letter here:” [letter text: page 1, page 2, page 3]. Excerpts from letter: “Many of the antisemitic actions center around the wearing of the keffiyeh. The origins of the keffiyeh are as a traditional article of clothing covering the head while outside to protect from the intensity of the Middle Eastern sun [Nope. It’s been a political symbol since at least the 1930s]. But, it has increasingly become a political statement among those with no ties to Middle Eastern culture. Especially prevalent is the black and white version, often referred to as the ‘Arafat scarf,’ [Nope. Literally NOBODY calls it that (except, based on a quick google search, some foreigners/racists selling them online)] which has close ties to Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine [Nope. It is a symbol of Palestinian identity, not affiliation with any particular group. Also, you’re calling it an “Arafat Scarf” and now saying it is closely linked to two groups that were at odds with Arafat? Seriously? ], both organizations which the United States has designated as terrorist organizations. Since this attire has only become widespread on your campuses after the attacks of October 7, 2023, it is clear that these are meant as a symbol and violate the district’s dress code policy against attire that is demeaning or inciting of violence.” But wait, there’s more! “Several instances have been reported of instructors presenting materials that can be considered non-neutral in nature and insisting that students take a pro-Palestinian viewpoint as the correct response. When contacted about this material, the administration repeatedly responded that the material was not approved. It is, however, the duty of the administration to verify that the approved curriculum is the one being taught. Beyond the curriculum, state-sponsored pro-Palestinian walkouts were permitted, where the students chanted ‘From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.’ The documentation for these protests indicates that school would provide ‘excused absences’ for the involved students rather than enforcing the Student Code of Conduct.” Also see: GOP lawmakers warn Texas school district over ‘anti-Israel’ curriculum, students wearing ‘Arafat scarf’ (Christian Post 8/12/25); No swastikas, no hoods, no keffiyehs (Jewish News Syndicate 8/13/25); X-post from Sen. Cornyn (R-TX) 8/13/25: “Antisemitism has no place in Texas or anywhere else. I applaud the @TheJusticeDept for investigating these allegations so Jewish students & families in Plano ISD & across the Lone Star State can feel safe as they begin a new school year.“

3. Recess Travel to Israel & West Bank & beyond

Media

• Jewish Insider 8/15/25: Freshman House Republicans discuss their recent trip to Israel [“Both Reps. Julie Fedorchak and Randy Fine slammed European leaders, saying they are making it harder to get hostages released“]
• Mondoweiss 8/14/25: The Shift: House Democrats take summer vacation with AIPAC in Israel
• Politico 8/14/25: Pou takes heat over Israel trip
• Zeteo journalist Prem Thakker on X 8/14/25: “‘Reject AIPAC’ says AIPAC now ‘definitively’ a pariah: —One of smallest groups of freshman Dems on Israel trip —Foushee & Dexter, who AIPAC spent millions on, want to block arms to Israel; Foushee now rejects AIPAC —Majority Senate Dems oppose arms sales to Israel for first time” [Reject AIPAC statement – Page 1, Page 2]; Thakker further quotes: “As the Democratic Party looks towards regaining majorities in 2026 and 2028, it is clear that for many of its voters, an AIPAC endorsement will be a political liability.”
• Jewish Insider 8/14/25: Democrats discussed Gaza aid, day-after plans with Israeli leadership, Schneider says [“Rep. Brad Schneider told JI that a recent Democratic delegation to Israel conveyed continued bipartisan U.S. support as well as concerns about Israel’s conduct“]
• Baltimore Sun 8/13/25: Elfreth among Dems to bail on trip to Israel amid hunger crisis in Gaza
• Spokesman.com 8/12/25: Back from weeklong trip to Israel, Baumgartner reflects on ‘misery’ of ongoing conflict and what it would take to end it
• The Center Square 8/11/25: Arizona congressman visits Jerusalem and Damascus
• Jewish Insider 8/11/25: Eleven freshmen Democrats visit Israel on AIPAC trip [“The delegation, which makes up a third of freshman Democratic House members, demonstrates the organization’s continued pull even amid heightened tensions between Dems and Israel”]. Also see Jewish Insider X-post – “A group of 14 House Democrats, including 11 first-term lawmakers, are currently visiting Israel with the AIPAC-affiliated American Israel Education Foundation. The group includes Reps. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Gil Cisneros (D-CA), Josh Riley (D-NY), Nellie Pou (D-NJ), Wesley Bell (D-MO), Laura Gillen (D-NY), Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), Eugene Vindman (D-VA), Luz Rivas (D-CA), Herb Conaway (D-NJ) and George Latimer (D-NY).“
• Jerusalem Post 8/11/25: Behind the journey: Why did Congressman Hamadeh travel from Jerusalem to Damascus? – analysis [“US Congressman Abraham J. Hamadeh travelled to Syria to ‘discuss the Congressman’s continuing efforts to bring Americans home’ and advance peace”]
• Axios reporter Andrew Solender on X 8/8/25: “Source sends along this photo from House Democrats’ AIPAC-led trip to Israel. Reps in the photo include: Pete Aguilar, Brad Schneider, Johnny Olszewski, Nellie Pou, Gil Cisneros, Laura Gillen, Tim Kennedy, Luz Rivas and Wesley Bell” – with pic of members posing in an underground passage that is part of the”City of David” complex in East Jerusalem [as confirmed by this tourism website pic]. For more on City of David, see “Information for Visitors
  to the City of David National Park” from the Israeli archeology NGO Emek Shaveh. Also from Emek Shaveh, see this report on how the excavation of the underground area in which the members of Congress were photographs has come at the expense of the Palestinian neighborhood on the surface – for more see: Fissures and Cracks – Damage to homes in the Wadi Hilweh neighborhood of Silwan

Members on the Record

• More sing-for-your-supper video testimonials filmed/posted in conjunction with the current AIPAC/AIEF trip, in which members express their joy at visiting Israel, sing Israel’s praises, and recite versions of the catechism of AIPAC talking points including unconditional solidarity with and support for Israel (with a heavy dose of Christian Zionism): Gillen (D-NY); Latimer (D-NY); Gill (R-TX); Stutzman (R-IN) filming “from Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip“; Shreve (R-IN); Brecheen (R-OK); Aguilar (D-CA) and Emmer (R-MN), who “led the bipartisan group in a tree planting ceremony at the Nova Festival site”; Cisneros (D-CA), Conway (D-NJ), Aguilar (D-CA), Schneider (D-IL), Landsman (D-OH), Hoyer (D-MD), Conaway (D-NJ)
• Harris (R-NC) X-post w/ video clip – “The horrific devastation from Hamas’ October 7th attack was heart-wrenching to witness. My prayers are with Israel as they work to end this conflict. Hamas’ reign of terror must be stopped!”
• Harris (R-NC) 8/13/25: X-post with audio clip – “Hamas is flooding the media with their propaganda—and so many are falling for it! Let me clear the air: Hamas is a terrorist organization, inhumanely starving Israeli hostages and forcing them to dig their own graves. We must continue to stand with Israel to decimate Hamas.“
• Harris (R-NC) 8/12/25: X-post – “Europe’s hostility toward Israel is a disturbing betrayal of Western values. European countries jail people for posting memes and praying on sidewalks. Now the UK and France want to reward Hamas with statehood? We must stand with Israel in its fight against our mutual enemies.“
• Hamadeh (R-AZ) 8/12/25: X-post – “Congressman Hamadeh hopes this groundbreaking journey advances the expansion of the Abraham Accords & leads to peace for all ethnic & religious minorities in the region. The Congressman is proud to be an emissary of @POTUS’s Peace Through Strength agenda.“
• Baumgartner (R-WA) 8/11/25: X-post – “Just back to the US after an outstanding visit to Israel with other Republican and Democratic members of Congress! Highlights involved visiting the heartbreaking site of the Oct 7 Nova massacre of young people by Hamas, visiting historical Holy sites and walking at the Sea of Galilee with Speaker Johnson, discussions with Israeli leaders and peace negotiators and joint US/Israeli missile defense programs to protect against attacks from Iran and their proxy militia groups. Israel is a special place with special people and I appreciate the country’s friendship with America. We stand united against terror. As a member of the Middle East Sub-Committee on House Foreign Affairs, I found the trip extremely educational and helpful for my work in Congress. Thank you @AIPAC for helping to make it happen! I first visited the Middle East 30 yrs ago when I studied in Syria and Jordan for the summer. This trip reaffirmed my commitment to the effort to defeat terrorism and filled me with renewed optimism that all of the people of every religion in the region deserve peace and will one day find it.“
• Hamadeh (R-AZ) 8/11/25: X-post – “Congressman Hamadeh remains dedicated to bringing Kayla Mueller’s remains back home & giving her parents, Carl and Marsha, much-needed closure. The Congressman made interim Syrian President al-Sharaa well aware that it’s critical for his country to help facilitate Kayla’s return.“
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/10/25: X-post w/ video clip – “When I was in Israel this week, I met with families of hostages still held by Hamas terrorists — forced to watch their loved ones starved and made to dig their own graves for Hamas propaganda. I left angrier than I’ve ever been with a renewed sense of urgency. We must do everything possible to bring every hostage home.“
• Hamadeh (R-AZ) 8/10/25: Congressman Abraham Hamadeh Makes Historic Trip to Syria to Meet with President Ahmed al-Sharaa

Others

• Israeli President Isaac Herzog 8/11/25: X-post – “President @Isaac_Herzog met today and yesterday, with delegations from both sides of the US Congress, Republicans and Democrats, who came to Israel with @AIPAC to show solidarity with the Israeli people, and to see for themselves the facts on the ground. President Herzog said: “These visits show the bi-partisan, steadfast alliance between the United State and I srael, and of the true shared values between our peoples. I told them that Israel continues to operate in accordance with international law, that it was dramatically increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and that Israel continues to strive with all its might and in every way possible to bring our hostages home. I also made clear that Hamas continues to hold, starve, torture and abuse the hostages, holding 50 still in captivity, in a deliberate and flagrant crime against humanity. I told them it was Hamas which was looting and stealing the aid, preventing the distribution to the civilians in Gaza. And that Hamas was blocking and rejecting a deal that would bring an end to the suffering.”
• CAIR 8/13/25: CAIR Condemns 34 Lawmakers Who Spent August Recess on AIPAC Propaganda Trip Instead of Meeting Constituents
• Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU) 8/12/25: X-post w/ pic – “These 15 Democrats just took an AIPAC-funded vacation to Israel. They met with Israeli president Herzog whose call to kill all Palestinians in Gaza is included in the genocide case against Israel currently before the ICJ. They should all be deeply ashamed.“

• Jerusalem Post 8/15/25: Can Israel’s loss of bipartisan support be repaired? [“The pro-Israel core in each party is shrinking – faster among Democrats but among Republicans too, particularly those under the age of 50.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/14/25: In release on Jew-hatred, entire Oregon Democratic congressional delegation attacks Netanyahu
• Mediaite 8/14/25: Marjorie Taylor Greene Explodes at GOP Colleague Lindsey Graham Over ‘1,000% False’ Speech on Israel: ‘P***** ME OFF!’
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 8/14/25: North Carolina Democrat spurns AIPAC, in latest sign of party’s growing distance from Israel [“Rep. Valerie Foushee’s pledge not accept pro-Israel lobby’s money comes as Democratic National Convention weighs a resolution that would call for an arms embargo to Israel and recognition of Palestinian statehood.”]
• YNet (Israel) 8/13/25: Nuclear Israel and Jewish money: The battle between the MAGA women who have Trump’s ear [“Marjorie Taylor Greene faces backlash from MAGA ally Laura Loomer after accusing Israel of genocide and labeling AIPAC a foreign agent, exposing growing rifts within Trump’s base  over Israel policy“]
• WGBH 8/12/25: Mass. Congressional delegation condemns Israel’s escalation in Gaza
• Current Affairs 8/11/25: Rep. Delia Ramirez on Her “Cowardly” Colleagues, Israel’s Genocide, and the “Pedophile” in Office [“…I think we need to be very clear: Bibi Netanyahu, Donald Trump, (Nayib) Bukele, who is an authoritarian profiting off of the deportation of his very own people—they are all the same…It is all interconnected. There’s a reason why so many of my colleagues have taken so long to call for a ceasefire, despite of the fact that the majority of their constituents have been calling for it for the last year and a half. It’s this fear of losing elections; it’s this fear of retaliation; and it’s this fear that they will not be well with the fascist people in power.” and “…Why is it that there’s only one country in the world that we will stand with unconditionally? It doesn’t matter what they do; it doesn’t matter who they kill; it doesn’t matter how many people they starve; it doesn’t matter if they violate international law. Why is it that we are willing to so proudly say that? Why is it that we say that “(Israel) is a proud democracy” when their very own people are calling for Bibi Netanyahu to be removed? And yet we continue to support them. There is so much dissonance, even in that statement. And I think the question that a lot of my constituents, and their constituents, are asking is: ‘Why is it that you’d rather spend money in bombing children than funding education in my own home, in my own neighborhood? Why is it that you take my money to starve children, instead of taking my money to put into infrastructure in my local neighborhood?’ People are asking those questions, and I think that you’re beginning to see the tides change. But the reality is that we should be asking ourselves, like: ‘What does unconditional support mean?’ I will not unconditionally support Donald Trump. Why unconditionally support Bibi Netanyahu? And why, if we are all about democracy, why is okay to criticize or dissent in this country, when a president—be it a Republican or a Democrat—is violating the Constitution but when a president in Israel is violating the Constitution, we can’t question that?…A foreign power that is violating international law every single day; a foreign power that is committing a genocide; a foreign power that is actually making our domestic national security weaker, who is threatening our national security? That is where the money is going. And I think that people need to continue to ask those questions, and we as members of Congress have to be able to respond: why? Why? Why are we okay with this? How do we bomb ourselves into peace? You can’t say that you want to see peace in the region and continue to send those bombs. You can’t say that you feel horrible about the images of starving children and continue to stand with Bibi Netanyahu. Furthermore, I want to come back to the oath that we take as members of Congress and elected officials. We took an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States, not its president. And I think people need to remember that, not as the Democratic Party, not as the Republican Party, but the Constitution of the United States of America. So for those that want to question my my patriotism here, I would push back and ask them: What oath did you take? Do you remember what you said, and who are you representing? And for those that are asking if my allegiance is to another country, I would also tell them: I don’t take money from Super PACs that represent other countries. And I’m talking about AIPAC.“
• Jewish Inside 8/11/25: AIPAC’s limitations in a world of online activism [“The change in how young voters get information is driving the shift in public opinion on a wide range of issues”]
• The Hill 8/10/25: Sanders says Netanyahu made Israel ‘almost a pariah state’
• American Conservatives 8/10/25: Israel Is Not an Ally—It’s a Liability
• New York Sun 8/10/25: Marjorie Taylor Greene Ramps Up Her Criticism of AIPAC After Group Labels Her ‘Anti-Israel’ [“‘I can’t be bought and I’m not backing down,’ the firebrand Republican says on X.“]
• Washington Examiner 8/10/25: Matt Gaetz claims he found AIPAC ‘dude’ in hotel room on congressional trip to Israel
• Jerusalem Post 8/9/25: Bipartisan US criticism grows over Israel’s Gaza City takeover plan
• Jacobin 8/9/25: The Problem With Israel Is So Much Bigger Than Netanyahu
• Zeteo 8/9/25: Is Israel Losing the Argument – and Its Supporters?
• Jewish Insider 8/9/25: Growing number of pro-Israel Democrats voice opposition to Israel’s Gaza City plan
• Mondoweiss 8/9/25: Democrats seek to blame only the ‘Netanyahu government’ for the Gaza genocide, but the true responsibility rests with Zionism
• Axios 8/8/25: Even Republicans have questions about Israel’s plan to occupy Gaza City
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/8/25: Pro-Israel Democrats divided, skeptical over Netanyahu’s Gaza plan [“Rep. Brad Schneider called the decision ‘tactically questionable and strategically self-defeating.’“]
• Puck 8/7/25: The Coming MAGA Israel Battle

Standing With Israel, Supporting Genocide, Etc.

• Mediaite 8/14/25: ‘God Will Pull the Plug on Us’ if We Don’t Support Israel, Warns Lindsey Graham
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/11/25: Sen. Graham to Israel: ‘Enough already, destroy Hamas’

Other stuff

• Israeli‑American Civic Action Network (ICAN) 8/15/25: ICAN Endorses Congressional Efforts to Designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a Foreign Terrorist Organization
• New York Sun 8/14/25: Florida Congressman Introduces ‘Thump Thump Bill’ To Allow Drivers To Run Down Those Convicted of Rioting [HR 4846, covered in last week’s Round-Up]
• Armenian Weekly 8/14/25: ANCA welcomes Sen. Van Hollen’s call to protect Armenian Christians in Jerusalem [see last week’s Round-Up for details of Van Hollen’s letter to Huckabee]
• Legal Insurrection 8/13/25: The BDS Movement is Fueling Antisemitism in Higher Education” [in support of the “the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act of 2025” – HR 4795 [legislation that would set up a situation in which the alleged absence of engagement with any Israeli partner/party, including in settlements, will become the basis for an accusation of boycott, putting universities in the position where, if they universities want to avoid being accused of boycotting Israel/settlements, they will need to adopt an affirmative policy of prioritizing maximal engagement/partnership with Israeli entities (including in settlements), and establish the basis for private legal action against an universities based on allegation of support for BDS as the reason for the absence of any specific engagement/partnership. For more see the 8/1/25 edition of the Round-Up]
• RTE (Ireland) 8/8/25: Govt intends to continue with OTB [Occupied Territories Bill] after US Congress letter – Harris

 

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Recess Travel to Israel & West Bank (to show support for/solidarity with Israel & Greater Israel)
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 8/6/25: Destroying the Conditions of Life: Physicians for Human Rights-Israel on Israel’s Genocide in Gaza, ft. FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart speaking with Aseel Aburass, Director of the Occupied Palestinian Territory Department at Physicians for Human Rights Israel and one of the authors of PHRI’s new report: “Destruction of Conditions of Life: A Health Analysis of the Gaza Genocide.”
• 7/31/25 (posted 8/1/25): Music & Dance in Jerusalem: The Power of Culture in the Face of Israeli Repression, ft. FMEP Fellow Hilary Rantisi in converation with Rania Elias, former director of  the Yabous Cultural Centre and the Jerusalem Festival, speaking about Palestinian culture in Jerusalem, both the powerful potential for activities like dance and music to revive Palestinian society as well as the challenges of maintaining culture under occupation, in addition to Israeli efforts to repress Palestinian culture, including through arrests, detention, and other forms of control, including against children.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(TARGETING WEST BANK SETTLER TERRORISTS) S. 2672 (bill text): Introduced 8/1/25 by Welch (D-VT) and 4 cosponsors – Sanders (I-VT), Durbin (D-IL), Van Hollen (D-MD), and Merkley (D-OR), “A bill to codify Executive Order 14115 imposing certain sanctions on persons undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank” aka the “Sanctions and Accountability for Non-Compliance and Transparent Investigative Oversight for National Security (SANCTIONS) in the West Bank Act.” Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Also see:

•  press release – Welch, Van Hollen Reintroduce Bill to Codify West Bank Sanctions [which as of 8/7/25 does not yet show up in the Congressional Record] and fact sheet/summary
• This legislation was previously introduced in both chambers in December 2024 – HR 10343/S. 5467 – see the 12/13/24 edition of the Round-Up for details.
• Welch (D-VT) X-post 8/5/25: “U.S.—based security companies contracting American military veterans in Gaza are reportedly instructing them to use lethal force against starving, unarmed civilians at aid distribution sites. My colleagues and I are demanding answers.“

(WEST BANK SETTLER VIOLENCE) S. 2667 (bill text): Introduced 8/1/25 by Booker (D-NJ) and 5 Democratic cosponsors, “A bill to prevent violence in the West Bank and authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to any foreign person endangering United States national security and undermining prospects for a two-state solution by committing illegal violent acts,” aka the “West Bank Violence Prevention Act.” This is the Senate version of HR 3045 (covered in the 5/2/25 edition of the Round-Up).  Also see:

• press release 8/4/25: Booker, Shaheen, Warner, Reed, Coons, and Bennet Introduce West Bank Violence Prevention Act of 2025
• Media: Senate Democrats seek to reimpose sanctions on Israelis (Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/25)
• Nadler (D-NY) – primary sponsor of HR 3045 – on X – “I warmly welcome the introduction of the Senate companion to my West Bank Violence Prevention Act and I thank @SenBooker, along with @SenatorShaheen, @SenJackReed, @MarkWarner, @ChrisCoons, and @SenatorBennet for leading this effort in the Senate. As I have said many times, violence in the West Bank is at epidemic levels and recent events have unfortunately shown how deadly, disastrous, and destabilizing this violence can be. I urge every member of the House and Senate to join our effort to prevent violent acts by extremists in the West Bank regardless of their nationality. Only then can Israelis and Palestinians make real strides towards peace through a negotiated and viable two-state solution.”

(LEGISLATING, GLEEFULLY, THE RIGHT FOR PEOPLE TO RUN OVER PROTESTERS WITH THEIR CARS) HR 4846:  Introduced 8/1/25 by Fine (R-FL), “To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for an affirmative defense in a criminal or civil action relating to motor vehicle incidents if cases in which a certain party is convicted of riot,” aka, per Fine, as the “Thump Thump Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. Also see:

• Fine (R-FL) 6/27/25: X-post – “The Thump Thump Act will allow Americans to run over these Muslim Terrorists. They don’t try this in Florida because of the bill I helped pass in the Legislature to allow them to be run over. It’s time to take it national. Thump thump.“
• Fine (R-FL) 6/17/25: X-post – “Blocking a road is a form of terror. It stops medical emergencies. It keeps people from living their lives. In Florida, I helped pass a bill to allow you to run them over. Now I’m taking it national. The Thump Thump Act is coming. Drive away.”

(TARGETING ACADEMIA) HR 4902 [bill text]: Introduced 8/5/25 by Steube (R-FL) (and, per Steube’s press release, Sullivan, R-AK, but his name does not so far show up as a cosponsor in the Congressional Record), “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving gifts from or entering into contracts with foreign countries of concern,” aka the “Securing Academia from Foreign Entanglements (SAFE) Act.”  Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Notably, this legislation would empower whatever administration is in power to simply declare that any given country is “engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of the United States” — for example, for the sin of disagreeing with the US on the question of whether international law is applicable to anything Israel does — and based solely on that declaration bar U.S. universities from accepting funding or entering into contracts with such countries.

(SEIZING IRANIAN ARMS & GIVING THEM TO OUR FRIENDS) S. 2642 (bill text): Introduced 8/1/25 by Budd (R-NC) and Kelly (D-AZ), “A bill to authorize the President to treat as stocks of the United States any weapon or material seized by the United States while in transit from the Islamic Republic of Iran to the Houthis in the Republic of Yemen,” aka the “Seized Iranian Arms Transfer Authorization (SEIZE) Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Budd (R-NC) 8/1/25: Senators Budd, Kelly Introduce SEIZE Act to Authorize Transfer of Confiscated Iranian Weapons to U.S. Partners

(NO ABSENTEE BALLOT UNLESS YOU ACTUALLY RESIDE IN THE STATE WHERE YOU WANT TO VOTE!) HR 4851: Introduced 8/1/25 by Hamadeh (R-AZ) and two Republican cosponsors, “To amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to require nonmilitary overseas voters to provide evidence of residence in a State as a condition of receiving an absentee ballot under such Act, and for other purposes,” aka the “Proving Residency for Overseas Voter Eligibility (PROVE) Act.”  Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. NOTE: In the unlikely event this were to pass into law, it would have potentially huge impact with respect to American citizens who reside in Israel (and in West Bank settlements), but who vote in US elections, particularly where they vote in large numbers in key districts. Also see press release – Congressman Abe Hamadeh Introduces PROVE Act to Ensure Election Integrity by Requiring Voters to Prove State Residency

(JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS OF TERRORISM) HR 4863: Introduced 8/1/25 by Sessions (R-TX), “To amend the Justice for United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Act to provide for lump sum catch-up payments for certain 1983 Beirut barracks bombing victims and 1996 Khobar Towers bombing victims.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

(FY26 NDAA – Senate) S. 2296: When Congress comes back from recess, S. 2296, the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will come up for amendment/debate on the Senate floor. As always, the base bill includes some key provisions related to the Middle East and funding for Israel. Also, as always, a huge number of amendments to the bill were offered (649 as of this writing), including many related to the Middle East and Israel. Many/most of these may not get a vote on the floor, but they are all worth paying attention to, since NDAA amendments are good indicators of members’ priorities (with respect to both policy and grandstanding. For full Middle East/Israel-related provisions in the base bill, as well as Middle East/Israel-related proposed amendments, see my comprehensive analysis.

2. Letters

• (TARGETING IRELAND FOR CONSIDERING TAKING A SOVEREIGN DECISION REGARDING ISRAEL/SETTLEMENTS) 8/7/25: Congresswoman Tenney Leads Letter to Treasury Urging Review of Ireland’s Boycott of Israel Under U.S. Anti-Boycott Law [letter text]. Also see Tenney’s X-post – “If Ireland supports Hamas & BDS by boycotting Israel, the U.S. must enforce our anti-boycott laws to protect U.S. companies. I’m calling on @SecScottBessent to investigate Ireland’s proposal. U.S. companies should never be forced to isolate our allies & side with terrorists“; US Congress members call for Ireland to be added to list of countries boycotting Israel if OTB passed (Irish Independent 8/7/25); Occupied Territories Bill: US Congress group asks that Ireland be added to list of countries boycotting Israel (Irish Times 8/7/25). Also see X-post from Greene (D-GA) responding to a post about this letter- “What is happening??? America’s economic power and success should not be used as a blunt force weapon against other countries on behalf of Israel’s economy. And I’m a big supporter of Secretary Bessent as he is working hard to level the playing field for AMERICA, but Congress who is overwhelmingly controlled by multiple foreign governments especially the secular government of Israel is fighting for Israel first! I’ll give you an example. I’m in Texas visiting family and I’ve talked to a lot of people here. Beef is at an all-time high and I’m happy for those cattle ranchers because they got hurt a few years back from a big drought however that is hitting people hard at the checkout line at the grocery stores. The average American is barely getting by and this is what Congress should be fighting for! My confused colleagues are blinded and have forgotten that their job title is ‘Representative’ in the United States House of Representatives! Wake up!!!“
• (TARGETING TURKEY) 8/7/25: Pappas Leads Bipartisan Call for State Department to Reject Turkey’s Request to Rejoin F-35 Program [letter text]. Also see: 40 House members urge administration to refuse F-35 sales to Turkey (Jewish Insider 8/8/25)
• (RELIGIOUS FREEDOM OF CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND) 8/5/25: Van Hollen Urges U.S. Diplomatic Efforts with Israel to Protect Religious Freedom of Christians in Holy Land [letter text]
• (TARGETING COUNCIL ON AMERICAN-ISLAMIC RELATIONS FOR ALLEGED TIES TO HAMAS & MB) 8/5/25: Cotton to Long: Investigate CAIR for Ties to Terrorists [letter text]. Also see: Cotton X-post – “CAIR purports to be a civil rights organization that protects the rights of American Muslims. But evidence confirms @CAIRNational has deep ties to terrorist organizations.  I’ve asked the IRS to investigate their nonprofit status. This status is a privilege, not a right.”  Sen. Cotton urges IRS to investigate CAIR, consider revoking its tax-exempt status (Jewish Insider 8/5/25); Cotton asks IRS to review CAIR’s tax-exempt status, cites terror ties (Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/25). Reminder:  On 6/24/25, Rep. Fine (R-FL) introduced HR 4097, the “Designate CAIR as a Terrorist Organization Act”
• (END GAZA WAR/SURGE AID) 8/1/25: Meeks, DeLauro, Himes, Raskin Call on Trump to Negotiate End to War in Gaza and Surge Humanitarian Aid [letter text]
• (IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN ACCESS IN GAZA) 8/1/25: Congressional Doctors Call for Immediate Humanitarian Access in Gaza [letter text]
• (RECOGNIZE PALESTINIAN STATE!) House Democrats sign on to letter urging Trump to recognise Palestinian statehood (The Guardian 8/4/25); House Democrats Begin Push for U.S. to Recognize Palestine (The New Republic 8/4/25);  Rep. Ro Khanna’s leaked letter pushes for recognition of Palestinian state (Jewish News of Norther California 8/1/25). Also see: Khanna’s X-post 8/1/25: “I will not be intimidated. You don’t know me or my grandfather. ‘Khanna…whose district has significant Israeli Americans.. could face significant backlash from the Bay Area Jewish community…Ro Khanna has disappointed many,’ warned Tali Kilma.“
• (PROTECT JEWISH GRAD STUDENTS FROM EVIL UNION!) 7/30/25: Nonprofit asks House ed panel to protect Jewish grad students from antisemitic union (Jewish News Syndicate 8/4/25) [letter text]

3. Recess Travel to Israel & West Bank (to show support for/solidarity with Israel & Greater Israel)

Media

• Jewish Insider 8/7/25: House Intelligence Committee members visit Israel, meet with top officials [“The group also visited a Gaza Humanitarian Fund staging site on the Gaza border and met with hostage families”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/25: Netanyahu meets with congressional delegations in Jerusalem [“’Our resolve to stand alongside the Jewish community, bring the hostages home and end Hamas’s terror once and for all remains stronger than ever,’ the House majority whip said.”]
• Punchbowl News 8/6/25: Members flock to Israel as Gaza war deepens [“Roughly 20 Democrats will travel to Israel today led by House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar and Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), one of Israel’s staunchest supporters among Hill Democrats. A similar-sized GOP group is being led by House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, according to Jewish Insider. These trips are sponsored by AIPAC, the powerful pro-Israel organization.  The members are expected to meet with Netanyahu and opposition leader Yair Lapid, among other top Israeli officials.  Speaker Mike Johnson — a vocal Israel supporter — is currently leading a group of members to Israel as well. Johnson visited an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, calling it Israel’s ‘by right,’ Israeli media reported. Johnson’s comments triggered an angry response from Palestinian officials, who denounced it as a ‘blatant violation of international law.’Johnson is accompanied on this trip by GOP Reps. Michael McCaul (Texas), Michael Cloud (Texas), Claudia Tenney (N.Y.) and Nathaniel Moran (Texas). The trip is being sponsored by a group called the U.S. Israel Education Association. The USIEA ‘values the Judeo-Christian heritage and the historical and biblical significance of Israel,’ its website states.“]
• Jerusalem Post (editorial) 8/5/25: Republican recognition grants Israel historic chance to cement West Bank sovereignty – editorial [“Today, America’s conservatives stand beside us, urging the same resolve. It is an invitation Israel should embrace with confidence.”]
• The Forward 8/5/25: A US official just made history in the West Bank — did he imperil prospects for peace? [“Support for settlements is fundamentally incompatible with support for a democratic, Jewish-majority Israel”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/25: Johnson: Judea, Samaria belong to Israel ‘by right’ [“‘The world may not see it that way, but we do,’ said the House Speaker, according to the Ariel Municipality.”]
• Democracy Now 8/5/25: Mike Johnson Visits Illegal West Bank Settlement After Israeli Forces Kill Another U.S. Citizen
• Times of Israel 8/5/25: US Speaker Mike Johnson dines with Netanyahu in West Bank settlement of Shiloh [“Dinner also attended by US Ambassador Mike Huckabee and Republican members of Congress; comes as Johnson becomes highest-ranking US official to visit settlements”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/5/25: Netanyahu, Johnson meet in ancient Shiloh [West Bank illegal settlement], along with Congress members
• DropSite News 8/4/25: X-thread w/ pics – “U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson visited the Ariel settlement in the occupied West Bank during a private trip on Monday, August 4, 2025. He and his delegation planted a tree there. Ariel, like all West Bank settlements established after 1967, is considered illegal under international law. The United Nations, the International Court of Justice, and longstanding global consensus maintain that such settlements are a ‘grave breach’” of the Fourth Geneva Convention. This tour was organized by a pro-Israel advocacy group and did not involve any official U.S. congressional delegation. During his speech, Mike Johnson said: ‘Every corner of this land is important to us. Being here, in the place where our faith began — this has great significance. The Bible teaches that Judea and Samaria were promised to the Jewish people, and they belong to you by right. The world may not see it this way, but we do.’ U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee added, ‘We have many allies, but only one true partner — Israel. God gave the Jewish people a mission and land, even if it is the smallest and most complex. This is not a matter of human debate — it is God’s will.’“
• The Guardian 8/4/25: Speaker Mike Johnson visits occupied West Bank to support Israeli settlers [“Palestinian foreign ministry condemns Republican visit for ‘undermining efforts to stop the war and cycle of violence’”]
• Axios 8/4/25: Speaker Johnson visits Israeli settlement in occupied West Bank
• Times of Israel 8/4/25: US Speaker Johnson makes landmark visit to West Bank settlement of Ariel [“Johnson is now highest ranking US official ever to visit a settlement; while in Ariel, he reportedly says ‘the mountains of Judea and Samaria were promised to the Jewish people’”]
• Israel’s i24 News 8/4/25: X-post w/ pic – “House Speaker Mike Johnson becomes the first U.S. Speaker to visit Ariel in the West Bank. Hosted by the Yesha Council, Johnson declared: ‘Judea and Samaria is an integral part of Israel.’”
• Israel Hayom 8/4/25: Historic visit: Second in line to the US presidency tours Samaria [“With White House approval, US House Speaker Mike Johnson makes historic visit, becoming the highest-ranking American official to visit the area. Johnson said that the mountains of Judea and Samaria are the rightful property of the Jewish people.“] NOTE: Analyst/writer Jasper Nathanial notes on X (with screenshots of relevant text) 8/7/25: “A detail included in @IsraelHayomHeb’s Hebrew article but omitted from the English version: House Speaker Mike Johnson reviewed maps and documents related to Israel’s plans to annex the West Bank during his settlement visit.”
• Axios 8/4/25: Speaker Johnson visits Israeli settlement in occupied West Bank; Barak Ravid on X: “The trip isn’t an official congressional delegation and is designated as a private trip. Three Israeli officials told me the trip was organized by Heather Johnston, the founder of the U.S. Israel Education Association, a conservative pro-Israeli advocacy group” Also see post from researcher/author Ben Lorber w/ link to video, “Christian Zionist operative Heather Johnston once stated that she founded USIEA, based in a West Bank settlement, to ‘play a hidden role’ in ‘helping facilitate unfolding prophecies.’ Mike Johnson & other Congresspeople visited today & pledged full support for Israeli annexation”
• Fox News 8/4/25: Johnson dines with Netanyahu in landmark visit, highest US official to visit disputed West Bank [“Private trip to Judea and Samaria comes as Israeli officials push for annexation plans”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/3/25: House speaker prays at Western Wall for US to ‘always stand with Israel’ [“‘We are grateful for the privilege of being here in Israel today, on the day we recognize the destruction of the Temple twice in history,’ Mike Johnson said.”]
• Al Jazeera 8/4/25: US House Speaker Mike Johnson visits Israeli West Bank settlement [“Johnson becomes the highest-ranking US official to visit an illegal settlement in the occupied Palestinian territory.”]
• Jewish Insider 8/3/25: House Speaker Mike Johnson arrives in Israel

Members on the Record

• Sing-for-your-supper video testimonials filmed/posted in conjunction with the current AIPAC/AIEF trip, in which members express their joy at visiting Israel, sing Israel’s praises, and recite versions of the catechism of AIPAC talking points including unconditional solidarity with and support for Israel (with a heavy dose of Christian Zionism): Speaker Johnson (R-LA), Goldman (R-TX), Baumgartner (R-WA), Onder (R-MO), McGuire (R-VA), Emmer (R-MN), Harris (R-NC), Fine (R-FL), Hageman (R-WY), Downing (R-MT), Hurd (R-CO), Wied (R-WI), Schmidt (R-KS), Jack (R-GA), Fedorchak (R-ND), Reschenthaler (R-PA),

• Gottheimer (R-NJ) 8/8/25: X-post w/ pix – “My trip to Israel was vital to understanding what must be done to bring the hostages home, surge humanitarian aid to civilians, and end Hamas’ reign of terror in Gaza. I visited the Kerem Shalom border crossing and a GHF coordination site to see firsthand the efforts to get aid into Gaza. We must ensure aid can reach Gazans in need, not Hamas terrorists who continue to steal food from innocent Palestinians. With so much misinformation, there is no better way to understand the situation than to see it firsthand. Promoting stability in the Middle East strengthens U.S. national security.“
• Khanna (D-CA) 8/7/25: X-post – “Let me understand: Republicans shut down Congress because they didn’t want to pass @RepThomasMassie & my bill for the full release of the Epstein file and so they could meet Netanyahu?“
• Harris (R-NC) 8/7/25: X-post – “Proud to stand with our great friend and ally, Israel“. Responding to X-post by Netanyahu (translated from Hebrew) – “I met last night with a delegation of Republican congressmen on behalf of AIPAC. I reviewed the course of the war in the Gaza Strip, and I addressed at length the issue of humanitarian aid and the false campaign that Hamas is waging against the State of Israel. I also spoke about the efforts to free our abductees, and I answered their questions that dealt with regional issues and the expansion of the Abraham agreements. During the meeting, Congressman Ibrahim Hamda, who came with his mother who grew up in Al-Sweida province, wanted to thank me for Israel’s support of the Druze in southern Syria.“
• Goldman (R-TX) 8/6/25: X-post – “What a tremendous honor to join the @GOPMajorityWhip and so many of my freshmen @HouseGOP colleagues as we met with the @IsraeliPM in Jerusalem.“
• Crawford (R-AR) 8/6/25: House Intel Chairman Crawford Leads First Bipartisan CODEL to Israel Since War with Iran
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/6/25: Gottheimer Co-Leads Bipartisan House Intelligence Committee Trip to Israel
• Emmer (R-MN) 8/5/25: X-post – “This week, I have the honor of leading a delegation of House members on a trip to Israel with our friends from @AIPAC. We just got out of a very productive meeting with Israeli Prime Minister @netanyahu. Our resolve to stand alongside the Jewish community, bring the hostages home, and end Hamas’ terror once and for all remains stronger than EVER.“
• Fine (R-FL) 8/4/25: X-post- “It was an honor to meet with Israeli Finance Minister @bezalelsm Smotrich today and to talk about our mutual fight to save Western Civilization. I look forward to working together.”

US Israel Education Association (USIEA)

[from their website re their congressional tours: “USIEA facilitates privately sponsored Congressional tours through Israel with a specific focus on the geopolitical dynamics inside of Judea and Samaria…The members’ firsthand experience in the region equips them with vital information on: Modern Israel in the context of the region’s history, including the two primary security fronts of Judea and Samaria…Efforts to build an integrated economy between Israelis and Palestinians in Judea and Samaria as a grassroots peace movement… “]

• 8/7/25 X-post w/ video – “WATCH: A behind-the-scenes look at a USIEA Congressional tour. During this year’s trip, USIEA visited the site of the Nova Festival, where young Jewish Americans gathered in song to honor the memory of those brutally murdered by Hamas on October 7. That day marked not just a shift in foreign policy, it deeply impacted Jewish Americans across the country. To truly understand the meaning of October 7, you have to see it with your own eyes. That’s why USIEA brings senior members of Congress to Israel, to underscore both Israel’s role as a critical ally and its deep significance to American constituents. Learn more by visiting the link in our bio.”
• 8/6/25 X-post w/ pics – “In this historic trip, USIEA was fortunate enough to facilitate a meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in Judea and Samaria. This meeting was the first of its kind. Johnson’s meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister marked the most senior visit from a U.S. official inside Judea and Samaria, commonly referred to as West Bank. Speaker Mike Johnson also met with Israeli officials in the city of Ariel earlier that day just over 10 miles away from the Green Line which marks the borders between Israel and the disputed Palestinian territories. The meeting also included U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, his daughter Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, as well as members of Congress Michael McCaul, Claudia Tenney, Michael Cloud, and Nathaniel Moran. As USIEA’s historic congressional tour continues to unfold, visit the link in our bio to learn more about our role in the U.S.-Israel relationship.”
• 8/5/25: X-post w/ video – “NEW: For the first time in American history, a sitting Speaker of the House has arrived in Judea and Samaria. Speaker Mike Johnson now stands as the highest-ranking U.S. official to ever visit the region—sending a strong message of support at a critical moment. Judea and Samaria, often referred to as the West Bank, has long been the subject of international dispute. Israel captured the territory during the 1967 Six Day War, and Jordan formally relinquished its claim in 1988. Despite this history, many still label Israeli civilians in the area as “settlers,” denying their rightful connection to the land. By setting foot in Judea and Samaria, Speaker Johnson’s visit marks a powerful moment of recognition that this land is a vital part of Israel. USIEA is honored to have played a historic role in bringing Speaker Johnson, and we look forward to sharing more from this landmark tour in the days ahead.“
• 8/3/25: X-post w/ video – “NEW: Speaker Mike Johnson reaffirms the United States commitment to a strong relationship with Israel while on USIEA’s Congressional Tour. ‘America will always stand with Israel.’ Speaker Mike Johnson is one of several leaders in Congress who attended this year’s USIEA Congressional Tour. ‘We are grateful for the privilege of being here in Israel today, on the day we recognize the destruction of the Temple twice in history,’ Speaker Johnson also stated, highlighting this important date. The Western Wall is one of the many historic stops in USIEA’s tour of Israel, stay tuned for more updates!“

Others

• The Western Wall Heritage Foundation 8/6/25: House Majority Whip Tom Emmer During Visit to the Western Wall
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 8/6/25: X-thread with pix – “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met yesterday evening with an @AIPAC-organized delegation of Republican members of the US Congress. The Prime Minister briefed the members of Congress on the war in the Gaza Strip and commented on the issue of the humanitarian assistance and the mendacious campaign being waged by Hamas against the State of Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu also referred to the efforts to release our hostages, and answered questions from the members of Congress on regional issues and expanding the Abraham Accords. During the meeting US Representative Abraham Hamadeh, who arrived together with his mother, who grew up in the Suwayda district, thanked the Prime Minister for Israel’s support for the Druze in southern Syria.” Also see press release – PM Netanyahu Meets with US Congressional Republican Delegation
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu 8/5/25: X-thread with pix – “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara Netanyahu met last night with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly Johnson, in the community of Shilo in Samaria. The Prime Minister and his wife were invited to a joint dinner attended by @USAmbIsrael Mike Huckabee and his wife; members of Congress Michael McCaul, Claudia Tenney, Michael Cloud and Nathaniel Moran; and Yesha Council chairman and head of Binyamin Regional Council Israel Ganz. Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife also met, during the event, with Ditza Or, the mother of the hostage Avinatan Or.”
• US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee 8/6/25: X-post w/ pic – “Great to host Congress members @RepRickCrawford @RepJoshG @RepRonnyJackson at @usembjerusalem So grateful they came to be eyewitness to situation in Israel & what is really happening in Gaza.”
• Israel Genocide Tracker 8/5/25: X-post w/ pic – “American Zionists inside Al-Ibrahimi Mosque in the occupied city of Hebron. A lone American war criminal meets Zionist U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson in desecrating the holy mosque during his West Bank tour.“
• Netanyahu Advisor Caroline Glick [US citizen, sister of Bonnie Glick, who was Trump’s Deputy USAID administrator 2019-2020 – more here] 8/5/25: X-post w/ pic – “It was wonderful to see @SpeakerJohnson last night with his delegation at ancient Shiloh. As PM @netanyahu says, the best way to stand with Israel is to tell the truth. Speaker Johnson is a profound and courageous truthteller. America and Israel are blessed with him. Thank you.“
• Israeli Minister of Economy Nir Barkat 8/6/25: X-post w/ pics (translated from Hebrew) – “On a special tour in Hebron together with the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and a delegation of Republican members of Congress. I thanked them for their support of Israel, even in the most challenging times, under the leadership of President Trump. We will continue to strengthen the historic alliance between Israel and the United States.“

• Jewish Insider 8/8/25: Pro-Israel Democrats criticize Netanyahu’s Gaza takeover gambit
• New York Daily News (Nathan Daimant) 8/7/25: Dems move from Joe Lieberman to Mamdani
• The Intercept 8/6/25: The Week the World Woke Up to the Genocide in Gaza [“Pressure is mounting against Israel in the U.S. and around the world. Will it mean anything on the ground in Palestine?”]
• Axios 8/5/25: Scoop: Inside Democrats’ growing push for Palestinian statehood
• Semafor 8/5/25: Slotkin to Democrats: Keep it simple on the economy [“You said you would have voted for the resolutions cutting military aid to Israel right now, and wanted a course correction. What would be enough of a course correction from Israel for you to say, ‘I am comfortable voting for military aid again’? Letting more food into Gaza? For me, it was a very important data point to see [Benjamin] Netanyahu cut off aid, even to the point where members of the IDF were coming out publicly against the plan. Retired military officers that I’m in touch with in Israel were flagging it as a major problem. Some sort of course correction would have to include allowing in sufficient aid so that particularly children were able to eat and have medicine and have basic humanitarian standards.  I know they’re now airlifting things in. That’s a start, but you can’t possibly get the volume of food in there that you need via an airlift. So I think that’s what I’m looking for. In the meantime, enough with Hamas and this piecemeal crap on hostages. Release all of them, living and dead, and let’s end the war. I personally think that whatever happens to Hamas leadership, they have it coming. I have no problem with the targeting and killing of Hamas leadership and anyone associated in any way with October 7.  One of the things that happened right before the vote, last week, was that I had a rabbi and a Muslim leader come together here in Michigan, and come to me with a specific proposal. I wrote to [Marco] Rubio about it. It was: If you don’t have the trust to bring in a huge volume of food, at least allow infant formula and clean water to make baby formula. The Michigan community, Jews and Muslims, we’ll raise the money, buy whatever we need. That shows you the level of exhaustion we have here. Do you support the proposals to recognize Palestine as a state?  I just don’t believe that we should be recognizing a new state in the middle of an active hot war. I don’t believe that’s sustainable. I don’t believe that is a way that’s going to set off a new state on the right foot. I have always believed in two states living next door to each other in peace. I believe in a Jewish state in Israel. I don’t know how you do that without two states living side by side. And some of the most important changes in the region came after the darkest moments in the region. I can only hope that such cataclysmic violence will bring about something different.”]
• Current Affairs 8/5/25: Why Won’t U.S. Politicians Say “Genocide”? The international human rights community has been clear in its language. Yet even Bernie Sanders refuses to speak of a Gaza genocide. Also see X-post from the author of the article Nathan Robinson – “NEW: I asked every US senator’s office whether they accept the international human rights community’s assessment that Israel is committing genocide. Only one of them would comment”
• The Hill 8/4/25: Hunger crisis in Gaza deepens criticisms of Israel on Capitol Hill
• Sludge 8/4/25: Senators Claim to Care About Starvation in Gaza, Then Vote for More Bombs; also see Sludge X-post – “NEW: Senate Democrats sent a letter calling for urgent aid delivery in Gaza—then more than a dozen voted for the sale of more weapons to Israel, which is blocking humanitarian NGOs. Some of the lawmakers are getting an influx of AIPAC campaign donations.“
• Moment Magazine 8/4/25: Dems Turn on Israel As Anger Over Gaza Grows
• Politico 8/4/25: Moderate Democrats change their tone on Israel [“Ritchie Torres is threading a needle after emphatic defense of Israel for most of the war.“]
• The Independent 8/4/25: Moderate Democrats now changing tune on Israel over starvation of Gaza: ‘Moral obligation’
• Jewish Insider 8/4/25: MARYLAND – Sen. Alsobrooks flip-flops from pledge to maintain aid to Israel during Senate campaign [“Many Maryland Jewish leaders are wary of speaking out against the Maryland Democrat’s votes to block arms sales to Israel”]
• Jewish Insider 8/3/25: ILLINOIS – Illinois Senate field splits over resolutions to block Israel aid [“Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton opposed the Sanders-led resolutions, but Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) said she would have voted for them”]
• CNN 8/3/25: Pro-Israel Democrats try breaking with Netanyahu to stop party’s shift amid Gaza crisis
• UnHerd 8/3/25: Israel is losing the US front -The Jewish state faces a generational vice grip
• Jewish Insider 8/2/25: MINNESOTA – Klobuchar explains her flip against Israel in supporting cutoff to military aid
• Zeteo 7/29/25: Who Says Israel Is Committing a Genocide in Gaza? Everyone on This List [excerpt: “US Politicians – Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Summer Lee (D-Pa.), Al Green (D-Tex.), Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.)]

Standing With Israel, Supporting Genocide, Etc.

• Jerusalem Post 8/7/25: ‘Just win, stop apologizing’: Florida rep. Randy Fine urges Israel to ignore global critics
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/25: Republican schism on Israel is a mainstream media myth [“Extremists and antisemites on the far right have united with the left to spread blood libels about the Jewish state. But Trump and most of the GOP are sticking with Jerusalem.“]
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/6/25: Netanyahu has ‘no interest in long-term Gaza occupation,’ Gottheimer says [“After meeting with the Israeli prime minister, the New Jersey Democrat told JNS that Israel’s goal is to “crush Hamas” and seek a multinational governance structure for the enclave.”]

Other stuff

• The Forward 8/7/25: A Florida college student said ‘F— Israel.’ Now she’s under federal investigation [“…Rep. Randy Fine, a Florida Republican who believes the case’s treatment should serve as a national model, said that Deckerhoff might elicit pity from those who ‘feel bad for this kid whose life is over.’ But Fine, who is Jewish, is unbothered. ‘Live by the Muslim terror sword, die by the Muslim terror sword,’ he said in an interview with the Forward…Florida State said on social media that Rodrig had reported the incident on Wednesday and that it was investigating. But Fine, the south Florida congressman who refers to himself as the ‘Hebrew Hammer,’ saw the footage on Thursday evening and demanded the school expel Deckerhoff, who he called ‘a Muslim terrorist.’ Minutes later he followed up to announce that he’d contacted the school and they had agreed to suspend Deckerhoff  ‘until an expulsion hearing’ and ban her from campus. ‘It took only one call,’ Fine boasted. Florida State would not answer questions about what role Fine played, but six minutes after his social media post the university released a new statement stating Deckerhoff ‘has been prohibited from returning to campus’ and referring to her behavior as an ‘instance of antisemitism.’ ‘I think I was helpful,’ Fine said in an interview from Israel, where he was traveling this week. Roughly 20 minutes after Florida State announced that Deckerhoff had been banned from campus, Attorney General Pam Bondi said that Dhillon and the local U.S. attorney were investigating the case. ‘Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Florida or anywhere else,’ she wrote.”]
• Times of Israel 8/7/25: GOP congressman says US will push for Israeli withdrawal if Lebanese army secures Lebanon
• Jewish Insider 8/4/25: Landsman calls on Qatar to detain Hamas leaders until hostages are freed
• Campus Reform 8/4/25: Lawmakers push bill to defund schools backing BDS movement [“Two U.S. representatives have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at holding colleges accountable for involvement in the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest, Sanctions (BDS) movement. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, which seeks to cut federal student aid to institutions that engage in commercial or academic boycotts promoted by BDS“] COVERED IN LAST WEEK’S ROUND-UP
• Jewish News Syndicate 8/4/25: Nonprofit asks House ed panel to protect Jewish grad students from antisemitic union

When Congress comes back from recess, S. 2296, the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will come up for amendment/debate on the Senate floor. As always, the base bill includes some key provisions related to the Middle East and funding for Israel. Also, as always, a huge number of amendments to the bill were offered (877 as of 10/3/25), including many related to the Middle East and Israel. See below for details from the base bill, followed by a list of Middle East-related amendments. Many/most of these may not get a vote on the floor, but they are all worth paying attention to, since NDAA amendments are good indicators of members’ priorities (with respect to both policy and grandstanding).

NOTE: As of 9/4/25, the base text of the bill that the Senate is amending is NOT the bill itself, but is the text of Senate Amendment 3748, an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute offered by Senate Armed Services Committee Chair Wicker (R-MS) [which mirrors all the Middle East/Israel provisions discussed below].

Middle East/Israel in S. 2296 (bill text being brought to the floor)

Subtitle B–Matters Relating to Syria, Iraq, and Iran

• Sec. 1211. Extension of authority for reimbursement of certain coalition nations for support provided to United States military operations.
• Sec. 1212. Extension and modification of authority to support operations and activities of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.
• Sec. 1213. Extension of authority to provide assistance to vetted Syrian groups and individuals.
• Sec. 1214. Extension and modification of authority to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
• Sec. 1215. Extension and modification of authority to provide certain support.
• Sec. 1216. Security and oversight of al-Hol and Roj camps.
• Sec. 1217. Limitation on use of funds for reduction or consolidation of United States Armed Forces bases in Syria.
• Sec. 1218. Limitation on availability of funds for the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq.

Subtitle E–Other Matters

• Sec. 1251. Middle East integrated air and missile defense architecture. [Requires the Secretary of Defense to “continue to seek to cooperate with allies and partners in the Middle East with respect to implementing an integrated air and missile defense architecture to protect the people, infrastructure, and territory of such allies and partners from cruise and ballistic missiles, manned and unmanned aerial systems, and rocket attacks from Iran and groups linked to Iran.” Also requires a detailed report on “further implementation of an integrated air and missile defense architecture in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command.”]
• Sec. 1253. Enhancing security partnership with Jordan and Lebanon. [Requires the Secretary of Defense, pursuant to existing authorities, to “provide assistance, including training, equipment, logistics support, supplies, and services, to the Government of Jordan and the Government of Lebanon for the purpose of supporting and enhancing efforts of the military forces of Jordan and the military forces of Lebanon to ensure the territorial security of Jordan and Lebanon.” Also requires the submission of a detailed report to Congress describing the plan to provide this assistance.]
• Sec. 1255. Extension and modification of United States-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation. [Increases funding for this program from the previous $50 million to $80 million, and extends the program’s end date from 12/31/26 to 12/31/28.]
• Sec. 1256. Extension and modification of United States-Israel cooperation to counter unmanned aerial systems. [Increases funding for this program from the previous $55 million to $75 million, and extends the program’s end date from 12/31/26 to 12/31/28.]

Subtitle C–Missile Defense

• Sec. 1534. Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system and Israeli cooperative missile defense program co-development and co-production. [Provides: not more than $60 million to Israel for Iran Dome; not more than $40 million for Israel for the David’s Sling Weapon System; and not more than $100 million for Israel for the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program]

Middle East/Israel-related Amendments Submitted to S. 2296

(IRAN) SA 2917, offered by Schatz (D-HI), to add a section, “REPORT ON IMPACTS OF SANCTIONS ON MILITARIES OF CERTAIN ADVERSARIES.” This section would require a report to Congress on “the impacts of sanctions imposed by the United States on the armed forces and proxy forces of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

(IRAN) SA 2925, Offered by Coons (D-DE), to add to the bill a new subtitle, “Defending International Security by Restricting Unacceptable Partnerships and Tactics,” aka the “DISPRUPT Act,” targeting Iran, China and North Korea

(IRAN, & OTHERS – MAYBE EVEN ISRAEL?) SA 2943, offered by Merkley (D-OR), to add a section entitled, “STATEMENT OF POLICY WITH RESPECT TO DEFINITION OF TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION.” Per this statement, “It is policy of the United States that the term `transnational repression’ refers to a range of tactics deployed by a foreign government, or agents or proxies of a foreign government, to reach beyond their borders to intimidate, silence, harass, coerce, or harm individuals, such as political dissidents, activists, journalists, political opponents, religious and ethnic minority groups, international students, and members of diaspora and exile communities.” NOTE: this definition seemingly could apply to Israeli government efforts to influence US laws and policies in a manner designed to suppress criticism/activism of Israel in the United States…

(QATAR) SA 3067, offered by Murphy (D-CT), to add a section entitled, “PROHIBITION ON TRANSFER OF EXECUTIVE AIRLIFT AIRCRAFT OF FOREIGN ORIGIN TO NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.” The section – which is clearly aimed at Qatar gifting a plane to Trump – states, “No executive airlift aircraft of foreign origin may be transferred to a nongovernmental entity until the aircraft has served as an executive airlift aircraft for at least its entire service life.”

(ISRAEL/BOYCOTTS) SA 3103, offered by Scott (R-SC), to add a section entitled,, “REPORTS ON FOREIGN BOYCOTTS OF ISRAEL.”

(HEZBOLLAH) SA 3207, offered by Curtis (R-UT) and Rosen (D-NV), to add a section entitled, “KEEPING HEZBOLLAH OUT OF LATIN AMERICA.”

(HEZBOLLAH) SA 3229, offered by Curtis (R-UT), to add a section entitled, “STRATEGY TO COUNTER IRANIAN AND HEZBOLLAH INFLUENCE OPERATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA.”

(IRAN & FRIENDS, MAYBE EVEN ISRAEL?) SA 3243, offered by Kennedy (R-LA), to add a section entitled, “PROHIBITION ON ALLOCATIONS OF SPECIAL DRAWING RIGHTS AT INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND FOR PERPETRATORS OF GENOCIDE AND STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM WITHOUT CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION.”

(IRAQ AUMF) SA 3337, offered by Kaine (D-VA) and Young (R-IN), to add a section entitled, “REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATIONS FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE AGAINST IRAQ.” PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25

(IRAN) SA 3338, offered by Scott (R-SC), to add a section entitled, “REPEAL OF SUNSET OF IRAN SANCTIONS ACT OF 1996.”

(TURKEY) SA 3390, offered by Schiff (D-CA), to add a section entitled, “SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO THE ARREST AND CONTINUED DETENTION OF EKREM IMAMOGLU.”

(IRAN/YEMEN) SA 3417, offered by Budd (R-NC and Kelly (D-AZ), to add a section entitled, “DISPOSITION OF WEAPONS AND MATERIEL IN TRANSIT FROM IRAN TO HOUTHIS IN YEMEN.”

(MIDDLE EAST INTEGRATION/NORMALIZATION) SA 3425, offered by Ernst (R-IA) to add a section entitled, “MIDDLE EAST DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION COOPERATION INITIATIVE.”

(SPYWARE – COULD IMPACT ISRAEL) SA 3496, offered by Van Hollen (D-MD) and Blackburn (R-TN), to add a section entitled “FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SPYWARE.”  This section would impose visa restrictions for misuse of foreign commercial spyware and a report on misuse of such spyware.

(ARMS EXPORTS/HUMAN RIGHTS – WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL?) SA 3575, offered by Cornyn (R-TX) and Warner (D-VA), to add a section entitled, “REVIEW OF EXPORT CONTROLS ON ITEMS WITH CRITICAL CAPABILITIES TO ENABLE INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.”

(NO $$ FOR US MILITARY OPS IN YEMEN W/O CONGRESSIONAL APPROVAL) SA 3590, offered by Sanders (I-VT) and Welch (D-VT), to add a section entitled, “LIMITATION ON MILITARY OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES IN YEMEN.” This section bars the Department of Defense from engaging in military operations or activities “in or affecting the territory, airspace, or waters of the Republic of Yemen, unless such operations or activities have been authorized by Congress.” It also clarifies that this section does not prohibit operations against Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula or ISIS-Yemen, nor does it “limit or disrupt any non-lethal intelligence, counterintelligence, or investigative activities in the Republic of Yemen by the United States Government.”

(GAZA HUMANITARIAN) SA 3592, offered by Sanders (I-VT), Welch (D-VT), Schiff (D-CA), Van Hollen (D-MD) and Kaine (D-VA), to add a section entitled, “SENSE OF CONGRESS ON HUNGER IN GAZA,” stating that it is the sense of Congress that: “(1) the humanitarian crisis and acute suffering of the Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the suffering of the hostages and hostage families is gravely concerning; and (2) the President, the Secretary of State, and the heads of other relevant United States Government agencies should urgently use all available diplomatic tools to bring about the release of the hostages, immediate cessation of the blockade on food and humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians, and a durable end to the conflict in Gaza.”

(NO $$ FOR US MILITARY OPS IN GAZA) SA 3593, offered by Sanders (I-VT) and Welch (D-VT), to add a section entitled, entitled “PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO DEPLOY FORCES TO GAZA.” This section bars the use of Dept of Defense 2026 funds “(1) to deploy the United States Armed Forces to Gaza; (2) for any activity, with respect to Palestinians, related to their displacement within or removal from Gaza, or forced transfer to designated zones; or (3) to participate in, fund, approve or concur on a license for, approve or concur on a license for export of United States-origin weapons in support of, issue a contract for, or facilitate armed security activities or services in Gaza by United States persons, unless such activities or services have been authorized by an Act of Congress.”

(NO $$ TO SUPPORT ISRAELI ANNEXATION OF WEST BANK) SA 3595, offered by Sanders (I-VT), Welch (D-VT), and Schatz (D-HI), to add a section entitled, ”PROHIBITION ON USE OF FUNDS TO ASSIST IN ANNEXATION OF THE WEST BANK.” The section bars the use of Dept of Defense 2026 funds “to carry out any activity, including negotiations or policy discussions, that recognizes the sovereignty of Israel over Gaza, the West Bank, or other geographic areas which came under the administration of the Government of Israel after June 5, 1967.”

(MIDDLE EAST MILITARY INTEGRATION/NORMALIZATION) SA 3622, offered by Risch (R-ID), to add a section entitled “COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS TO COUNTER UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.” Among other things, it authorizes the President “to enter into cooperative project agreements with Israel, Jordan, and countries on the Arabian Peninsula under the authority of section 27 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2767) to carry out research on and development, testing, evaluation, and joint production (including follow-on support) of defense articles and defense services to detect, track, and destroy armed unmanned aerial systems that threaten the United States and its partners in Israel, Jordan, and on the Arabian Peninsula.”

(ADDING DOS AUTH BILL TO NDAA) SA 3608, offered by Risch (R-ID and Shaheen (D-NH), to add to the NDAA the full text of the FY26 Department of State Authorization Act, which includes: Sec. 5401, FOREIGN INFORMATION MANIPULATION AND INTERFERENCE STRATEGY; Sec. 5503. Report on security conditions in Damascus, Syria, required for the reopening of the United States diplomatic mission; and Sec. 5744. Repeal of Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act of 2019.

(IRAN) SA 3623, offered by Risch (R-ID and Sullivan (R-AK), to add a section entitled “ENHANCED IRAN SANCTIONS.”

(SYRIA) SA 3635, offered by Shaheen (D-NH), to add a section entitled, “CAPACITY BUILDING FOR DEFENSE FORCES,” authorizing the Department of Defense “to provide counter-ISIS support and training assistance to the Syrian authorities– (1) to build their capacity to contribute to counterterrorism needs in Syria; and (2) to support core United States national security objectives.”

(SYRIA) SA 3636, offered by Shaheen (D-NH) to add a section entitled, “COUNTERING CAPTAGON PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION.”

(SYRIA) SA 3637, offered by Shaheen (D-NH), to add a lengthy new subtitle entitled, “Syria Support Act of 2025.”

(SYRIA) SA 3662, offered by Shaheen (D-NH) and Paul (R-KY), to add a section entitled,  “REPEAL OF CAESAR SYRIA CIVILIAN PROTECTION ACT OF 2019.”

(WEST BANK) SA 3756: Offered by Kaine (D-VA), to add a section, “PROHIBITION AGAINST THE DEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK.”

(ANS) SA 3748: Offered by Wicker (R-MS), deleting the entire text and replacing it with an amended version of the entire bill. PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25, as amended.

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3767: Offered by Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3779: Offered by Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3791: Offered by Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(SAUDI ARABIA) SA 3804: Offered by Markey (D-MA), to add a new section entitled the “Stopping Activities Underpinning Development In Weapons of Mass Destruction Act” or the “SAUDI WMD Act” (see S. 4946, introduced 12/2/20)

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3819: Offered by Shaheen (D-NH) and Risch (R-ID), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria. PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25

(MIDDLE EAST NORMALIZATION) SA 3822, to amend SA 3748 (the ANS): Offered by Ernst (R-IA), to add a new section entitled “Middle East Defense Technology Innovation Cooperation Initiative”

(STATE AUTH BILL) SA 3830: Offered by Risch (R-ID) and Shaheen (D-NH), to add the full text of the FY26 State Department Authorization Act to the bill, including various provisions related to Iran and Syria.

(LIFTING SYRIA SANCTIONS) SA 3870: Offered by Shaheen (D-NH), to repeal the “Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003” and the “Syria Human Rights Accountability Act of 2012”

(LEGISLATING TRUMP’S ANTI-ICC EXECUTIVE ORDER) SA 3871 to SA 3748: Offered by Moody (R-FL), to add a new section to the bill entitled, “Imposing, Maintaining, and Enforcing Sanctions With Respect to the International Criminal Court.”

(SYRIA REPORT & CERTIFICATION) SA 3889 to SA 3748: Offered by Graham (R-SC), to require a report every 180 days on the government of Syria.

(SYRIA REPORT) SA 3899 to SA 3748: Offered by Graham (R-SC), to require a report every 180 days on the government of Syria. PASSED BY VOICE VOTE 10/9/25

(MIDDLE EAST PEACEKEEPERS IN GAZA) SA 3905 to SA 3748: Offered by Cantwell (D-WA), to add a new section to the bill entitled, “Sense of Congress on Role of Multinational Peacekeeping Missions in Supporting Peace in the Middle East.” Also see: Cantwell press release – Cantwell Introduces Proposal to Establish Multinational Peacekeeping Force to Deliver Humanitarian Aid to Gaza [“Cantwell amendment to the pending National Defense Authorization Act would say Congress wants an immediate ceasefire, organization of a multinational force to deliver food, water & medical supplies in Gaza”]

(MIDDLE EAST PEACEKEEPERS IN GAZA) SA 3914 to SA 3748: Offered by Cantwell (D-WA), to add a new section to the bill entitled, “Sense of Congress on Role of Multinational Peacekeeping Missions in Supporting Peace in the Middle East.” NOTE: This is a slightly tweaked version of SA 3905, above.

 

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 7/29/25: Destroying Palestinian Life in Gaza in a Systemic, Deliberate Way: “Our Genocide” – ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Yuli Novak, executive director of the Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem, about how and why B’Tselem has concluded that Israel is now and has been committing genocide in Gaza for nearly two years.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

(DISAPPROVING OF ARMS SALES/EXPORTS TO ISRAEL) S. J. Res. 34 & S. J. Res. 41: Introduced 3/10/25 and 3/27/25, respectively, by Sanders (I-VT) and  both cosponsored by Welch (D-VT) and Merkley (D-OR). The first is “providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.” The second is “providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel.” On 7/30/25, both resolutions were brought to a vote on the Senate floor. S. J. Res. 34 was defeated by a vote of 24-73; S. J. Res. 41 was defeated by a vote of 27-70. Floor consideration of the bill is here. Voting for either or both of the resolutions (w/ links to statements/X-posts): Alsobrooks (D-MD), Baldwin (D-WI), Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Heinrich (D-NM), Hirono (D-HI), Kaine (D-VA), Kim (D-NJ), King (I-ME), Klobuchar (D-MN), Lujan (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Murphy (D-CT), Murray (D-WA), Ossoff (D-GA), Reed (D-RI), Sanders (I-VT), Schatz (D-HI), Shaheen (D-NH), Smith (D-MN), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warnock (D-GA), Warren (D-MA), Welch (D-VT), Whitehouse (D-RI). Also see:

Before the votes:

• 7/29/25 press release- Sanders to Force Votes to Block Arms Sales to Israel Amid Starvation in Gaza
• 7/30/25 Sanders X-post w/ video clip: “End U.S. military aid to Israel“
• Members: Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) 7/30/25: Ocasio-Cortez Statement on Senator Sanders’ Resolutions to Block Weapons Transfers to the Israeli Government; Welch (D-VT) 7/30/25: Welch Cosponsors Sanders’ Resolutions to Block Certain Offensive Weapons Sales to Israel 
• Jewish Insider 7/29/25: Sanders introduces another resolution to block arms transfer to Israel, Jewish Insider 7/30/25: Sen. Slotkin says she’d look at cutting off offensive weapons for Israel; Huffington Post 7/30/25: In Major Milestone, Dozens Of Senators Vote To Block U.S. Weapons To Israel; Politico 7/30/25: Senate votes down Israel arms sales ban, despite growing Democrat support; The Hill 7/30/25: Record number of Senate Democrats vote to block weapon sales for Israel; Times of Israel 7/31/25: Over half of US Senate Democrats back failed measures to block arms sales to Israel; Common Dreams 7/31/25: ‘The Tide Is Turning,’ Says Sanders as Majority of Senate Dems Vote to Block Arms Sales to Israel; Time 7/31/25: Full List of Senators Who Voted To Block Israel Arms Deal [with additional commentary/analysis]

After the votes:

• Press release – NEWS: Sanders Statement on Majority of Democratic Caucus Supporting Effort to Block Arms Sales to Israel; X-post – “By a vote of 27-17, Senate Democrats voted to stop sending arms shipments to a Netanyahu government which has waged a horrific, immoral and illegal war against the Palestinian people. The tide is turning. Americans don’t want to spend billions to starve children in Gaza.“
• Slotkin (D-MI) 7/31/25: ““Last night I unfortunately missed a vote series on two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval regarding the sale of weapons to Israel. I have struggled with this Joint Resolution of Disapproval more than any previous votes in the nearly two years since Hamas initiated the attacks of October 7. I represent a state with a large Arab and Muslim population and a large Jewish population. And over these last two years, few issues have been as raw as this one. I have therefore worked very hard to call balls and strikes based on my experience and the facts on the ground, even as most people fall firmly into one side or another, and are often reluctant to consider new information.  I owe it to my state to make clear where I stand: Had I made it back for the vote yesterday, I would have voted yes to block offensive weapons to Israel based on my concerns over lack of food and medicine getting to civilians in Gaza…it appears today that the Netanyahu government thinks that there are no limits to what they can do while still receiving U.S. support. And so I believe a message has to be sent. Should similar votes on offensive weapons come up in the future, I will take them on a case-by-case basis, with the hope of important humanitarian course corrections. I continue to support the U.S.-Israel security relationship and sale of defensive weapons such as the Iron Dome…”  Also see: Slotkin says she supports resolutions on blocking arms sales to Israel [“Michigan Senate candidate Mallory McMorrow also voiced support for cutting off offensive weapons to Israel“]; Slotkin says she’d have backed Israel arms block resolutions after missing votes for TV appearance (Michigan Advance 8/1/25)
• Booker (D-NJ) 7/31/25: “The suffering, starvation, and atrocities happening in Gaza are unacceptable. I will continue fighting for humanitarian aid now. It’s time for the conflict in Gaza to end– there must be an immediate ceasefire that stops the fighting, ends the suffering for innocent civilians caught in the crossfire, brings the hostages home, and dramatically increases humanitarian aid. These Joint Resolutions of Disapproval would restrict our country’s ability to provide future security guarantees without achieving the goal of ending this war now or increasing vital humanitarian aid. Donald Trump promised to secure a ceasefire in his first week in office, yet the suffering and death in Gaza continues. It’s time for Trump to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. The Trump administration must facilitate an immediate ceasefire between the Israeli government and Hamas to end this conflict. And we all must work to bring about a just and lasting peace, one that guarantees Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and ensures the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and a state of their own.”
• Carter (R-GA) 7/31/25: X-post – “Radical Jon Ossoff just voted with Bernie Sanders to BLOCK arms sales to Israel He stands with Hamas terrorists, not our ally Israel or the people of Georgia.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/31/25: X-post – “For the first time in history, a majority of Senate Democrats voted to block weapons to the Israeli government that are being used to carry out the genocide of the Palestinian people. Thank you to these 27 senators for listening to their constituents and voting to save lives. Shame on every senator who voted to continue arming the Israeli apartheid regime or didn’t even have the courage to show up and vote.”
• Media: Record number of Senate Democrats vote to block US weapons sales to Israel [“The senators joining the vote included several who had not previously voted against such sales“] (The Forward 8/1/25); Fed Up With Netanyahu and Handling of Gaza War, Democrats Rebuke Israel (New York Times 7/31/25); Israel’s support in the U.S. becomes a partisan divide (Jewish Insider 7/31/25); Majority of Senate Democrats vote to block U.S. aid to Israel (Jewish Insider 7/30/25); In a First, Majority of Democratic Senators Vote to Stop Arming Israel (Zeteo 7/30/25);  (Jewish Insider 8/1/25); Ossoff’s vote to block arms sale to Israel hampers his Jewish outreach efforts (Jewish Insider 8/1/25); Sen. Shaheen on why more Dems voted to block weapons to Israel: ‘Things need to change’ (PBS 7/31/25); Fed Up With Netanyahu and Handling of Gaza War, Democrats Rebuke Israel (NYT 7/31/25); A Majority of Senate Democrats Voted to Block Weapons Sales to Israel. Is the Party Turning? (Time 7/31/25); The Senate Inches Closer To Taking Away Israel’s Blank Check (Reason 7/31/25)

(DISAPPROVING OF ARMS SALES/EXPORTS TO ISRAEL) S. J. Res. 70: Introduced 7/28/25 by Sanders (I-VT) and Welch (D-VT), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed export of certain defense articles to Israel.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(UNIVERSITIES *MUST* WORK WITH ISRAEL/SETTLEMENTS OR THEY WILL BE PUNISHED FOR BOYCOTTING, EVEN IF THEY DON’T HAVE A POLICY OF BOYCOTTING) HR 4795 [bill text]: Introduced 7/29/25 by Foxx (R-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ), “To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit an institution that participates in a nonexpressive commercial boycott of Israel from being eligible for certain funds under that Act, to require an institution that participates in certain programs under that Act to certify that students are not unreasonably obstructed from participating in academic programs in Israel, and for other purposes,” aka the “Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.  Also see:

• Foxx press release 7/30/25: Foxx, Gottheimer Introduce Bill to Hold Higher Education Accountable for BDS Activity [“The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act would: Require colleges and universities to annually certify that the institution is not engaging in a non-expressive commercial boycott of Israel or forgo ability to receive federal student aid.  Define “non-expressive commercial boycott of Israel” to mean a commercial action (including engaging in refusals to deal with Israel and terminating business activities) intended to limit commercial relations with Israel or persons or entities conducting business in Israel or in Israeli-controlled territories. Direct the Department of Education to make publicly available a list of all institutions who do not certify. Requires colleges and universities that are recipients of International Education Programs (Title VI) funding do not allow academic boycotts but instead engage in academic exchange reciprocity.“]
• Gottheimer X-post 7/31/25: “The antisemitic, hate-fueled BDS movement seeks to destroy Israel — and has no place on our college campuses. Jewish students are being harassed and assaulted. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the bipartisan Protect Economic Freedom Act to help stop this hate and protect our students.“
• Forcing Universities to Normalize West Bank Settlements: This language of this legislation – which mirrors language developed in connection with state-level anti-BDS legislation – is clearly designed to apply not only to Israel but also to Israeli entities in settlements in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights (and perhaps some day in Gaza, when Israel starts re-settling there). This is accomplished via the language defining the term “a major strategic partner” to include not only key countries but “an entity licensed or regulated by, or organized under the laws of, such a country.“
• Forcing Universities to Prove a Negative: This legislation sets up an situation in which the alleged absence of engagement with any Israeli partner/party, including in settlements, will become the basis for an accusation of boycott, putting universities in the position where, if they universities want to avoid being accused of boycotting Israel/settlements, they will need to adopt an affirmative policy of prioritizing maximal engagement/partnership with Israeli entities (including in settlements).
• Setting Up a Cause for Legal Action: The requirement that universities certify they are not boycotting Israel/settlements leaves universities vulnerable to attacks by ideologically motivated private parties using the False Claims Act [i.e., those parties will search for and point to the absence of some relations with Israel to allege that a university lied in that certification, with the potential for massive financial judgments against the schools, of which they will receive a substantial portion].
• Also see: Jewish Insider 7/30/25: Foxx, Gottheimer aim to restrict federal funding to colleges that boycott Israel [“The Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act would require schools to certify annually that they are not engaged in a ‘nonexpressive commercial boycott’ of Israel”]

(TARGETING PROTEST & NON-PROFIT SECTOR) HR 4620: Introduced 7/22/26 by Van Duyne (R-TX) and 2 Republican cosponsors (both from Texas), “To amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity,” aka the “Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (Stop FUNDERs) Act. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: this is the House companion bill to S. 2376, introduced 7/22/25 by Cruz (R-TX) and 6 Republican co-sponsors, and covered in last week’s Round-Up.  Also see: press release – Rep. Van Duyne Introduces the Stop FUNDERs Act to Include Rioting as a Form of Racketeering Under the RICO Act

(MAKING AN EXAMPLE OF THE NEA FOR ITS MEMBERSHIP DARING TO DISAGREE WITH THE ADL ON ISRAEL) HR 4658 [bill text]: Introduced 7/24/25 by Fitzgerald (R-WI) and 7 Republican cosponsors, “To amend chapter 1511 of title 36, United States Code, to impose certain requirements on the National Education Association, and for other purposes,” aka the “Stopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today (STUDENT) Act.” Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. NOTE: this is the House companion bill to S. 2428, introduced 7/24/25 by Lummis (R-WY) and 4 Republican cosponsors and covered in last week’s Round-Up. Also see: press release – Rep. Fitzgerald and Senator Lummis Introduce Legislation to Reform the National Education Association Federal Charter

(FURTHER TARGETING THE NEA) S.2516:  Introduced 7/29/25 by Blackburn (R-TN), “A bill to prohibit the National Education Association from engaging in lobbying activities.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: Blackburn Introduces Legislation to Ban the National Education Association from Influencing Congress [Excerpt – “Background – The National Education Association (NEA) voted to fight against President ‘Trump’s embrace of fascism,’ promote LGBTQ events in public schools, and members backed severing all ties with the Anti-Defamation League. These latest examples of NEA’s blatant political bias, along with its recent promotion of hatred and antisemitism, are a clear departure from the organization’s intended purpose.“]

(FY26 NDAA – SENATE) S. 2296: Introduced 7/15/25 by Wicker (R-MS), the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026“.  Stay tuned for full analysis of Mideast provisions of the bill and in the proposed amendments in an upcoming edition of the Round-Up.

(FY26 NSRP APPROPS – formerly known as SFOPS) HR 4779:  On 7/23/25, the House Appropriations Committee held a Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill (NSRP), at which they marked up and passed (by a party-line vote of 35-27) the base text of the FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill (previously known as the State and Foreign Operations – SFOPS) bill and its accompanying report. That hearing (video here) featured – predictably – lots of focus on Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East, including plenty of grandstanding in support of Israel and point-scoring against Palestinians, including via amendments (see all amendments). Also see the Committee (GOP) press release, Committee Approves FY26 National Security, Department of State Appropriations Act, which notes the adoption of an amendment offered by Diaz-Balart (R-FL), adopted by a vote of 34-27, that among other things “strengthens Iran sanctions and enforcement” and “confronts Muslim Brotherhood threats” and combats CCP-linked scam centers that target Americans. Next up: On 7/25/25 the FY26 NSRP Appropriations bill was reported out of the Appropriations Committee, and formally introduced as HR 4779. Stay tuned for timing on debate/amendments on the House floor.

• For more details, see: my comprehensive analysis of the Mideast-related provisions in the bill and accompanying report.

2. Letters

• Axios 8/1/25: Scoop: Dems threaten investigation if Harvard cuts deal with Trump [“‘We are alarmed that Harvard would contemplate a settlement of this magnitude under apparent political pressure,’ the Democrats wrote in a letter first obtained by Axios. The letter was led by Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), along with Sens. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.).“]
• Jewish Insider 7/31/25: Rep. Khanna, progressives push for U.S. recognition of Palestinian state [“A letter signed by prominent House progressives said such a state ‘will need to fully recognize Israel’ and guarantee ‘the disarmament of and relinquishing of power by Hamas’“]
• (HOLDING US COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE FOR ACTIONS IN GAZA): 7/31/25: Welch, Van Hollen, Castro, Jacobs Demand U.S. Security Companies Answer for Deadly Actions in Gaza [letter text]. Also see: Democratic lawmakers press for answers from US firms involved in controversial Gaza aid organization (CNN 7/31/25)
• (URGENT AID TO GAZA) 7/30/25: Slotkin, Alongside Michigan Jewish and Muslim Leaders Urge Immediate Humanitarian Action to Save Children in Gaza [letter text]. Also see: Slotkin’s X-post; Michigan senator elevates interfaith plea to get formula to Gaza’s babies (Detroit News 7/30/25)
• (OVERSIGHT OVER GAZA HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS) 7/30/25: Casten, 92 House Democrats Demand Oversight Into Humanitarian Efforts in Gaza Amid Starvation Crisis  [letter text]. Also see Casten (D-IL) X-post – “NEWS: I led 92 House Democrats in demanding an investigation into the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation – a private, unqualified U.S.-linked aid organization at the center of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. GHF’s reckless aid distribution tactics have led to mass panic and mass casualties. Netanyahu’s blockade and GHF’s dangerously mismanaged aid sites are directly contributing to the ongoing starvation crisis. The United States must ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered swiftly.” Also see X-posts from: Trahan (D-MA), Amo (D-RI), Thompson (D-CA), Houlahan (D-PA), Ruiz (D-CA), Garcia (D-TX), Carbajal (D-CA), Pocan (D-WI), Craig (D-MN), Nadler (D-NY)
• (QATAR: CRACK DOWN ON HAMAS!) 7/29/25: Landsman Declines Qatari Ambassador Invite’s for Staff to Visit Qatar [letter text]
• (ALARM AT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA, ETC) 7/29/25: Sens. Schiff, Schatz, Schumer, Rosen Lead 44 Senate Democrats in Calling for Large-Scale Expansion of Humanitarian Aid in Gaza and Resumption of Diplomatic Efforts to Secure a Ceasefire and End the War [letter text]. Also see: Senate Democrats call out humanitarian crisis in Gaza, say GHF failed (Jewish Insider 7/29/25); X-posts/press releases: Smith (D-MN), Cantwell (D-WA),
• (NO MORE US $$ FOR GHF) 7/27/25:  Van Hollen, Welch, 19 Senators Call for Answers on Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, Press Administration to Cease Funding GHF [letter text]. Also see: Senate Democrats urge U.S. to stop funding GHF, resume support for U.N. food distribution in Gaza as more starve (CBS News 7/28/25); Van Hollen (D-MD) X-post – “Families in Gaza are starving to death. Meanwhile, Trump & Netanyahu are using US taxpayer dollars to replace international aid orgs in Gaza with mercenaries — leading to even more deaths. ENOUGH. I led 20 Senators in calling on Trump to stop supporting this barbarity“

3. Hearings & Markups

7/31/25: The Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and passed its version of the FY26 Defense Appropriations Act and the accompanying report by a vote of 26-3 (mark-up video). As summarized in the Committee’s press release touting passage of the Committee’s passage of the bill, the bill includes: “U.S.-Israeli Missile Defense: $500 million for Israel Cooperative Programs including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow missile defense. The bill also includes $75 million for counter-drone cooperation, $47.5 million for emerging technology cooperation, and $80 million for anti-tunneling cooperation with the State of Israel.” REMINDER: All of this funding is IN ADDITION to the more than $3 billion in funding for Israel in the annual foreign aid bill, now called the NSRP bill.  Also, per the bill summary published in advance of the mark-up, “the bill provides $1.299 billion for security cooperation with allies and partners, including an additional $50 million above the request level for
Jordan, and an additional $50 million for Bahrain. The bill also provides $35 million above the budget request, for a total of $50 million, to support the Lebanese Armed Forces in stabilizing southern Lebanon, and fully funds the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip Fund for Iraq and Syria.” This bill will eventually become the text the Senate adopts as “an amendment in the nature of a substitute” to HR 4016, the House-passed version of the bill. Also see:

• press release: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Bills [including noting that the Committee rejected, by a party-line 15-14 vote, an amendent offered by Murphy (D-CT) to the Defense Approps bill, to prevent the transfer of any presidential aircraft to a non-governmental entity—ensuring President Trump cannot take the plane gifted by Qatar with him after leaving office and the plane cannot be transferred to a future Trump presidential library.]
• Mediaite 7/31/25: Senate Republicans Vote to Allow Trump to Keep Gifted Qatari Jet After Leaving Office
• Jewish Insider 8/1/25: Senate Appropriations Committee pushes for increase in U.S.-Israel defense funds [“The bill includes a total of $80 million in additional funding, as compared to 2025, for several cooperative programs with Israel”]
• ALSO SEE: Senate Appropriations committee debates Trump’s campus antisemitism crackdowns (Jewish Insider 8/1/25) – reporting on Murphy amendment to the Education Approps bill (part of the same mark-up). Discussion of that amendment starts around 3:29:00 in the mark-up video.

Members finding creative ways to say they care about Gaza famine without suggesting Israeli responsibility (indeed, it almost feels like some templates are circulating on the Hill to help members craft statements of “concern” that boil down to standard WE STAND WITH ISRAEL, EVERYTHING IN GAZA IS HAMAS’S FAULT, CREDIT ISRAEL FOR HELPING! talking points…) 

• Cotton (R-AR) 7/31/25: X-post w/video clip – “I’d like to set the record straight. Children in Gaza aren’t going hungry because of Israel. They’re suffering because Hamas uses food and aid as a weapon to stay in power.” [text of full floor statement]
• Torres (D-NY) 7/30/25: X-post – “The free world has a moral responsibility to Palestinians in distress. Flood Gaza with food.“
• Titus (D-NV) 7/31/25: X-post – “Hostages are suffering. Children are starving. Old alliances are crumbling. The war in Gaza must end now!“
• Sherrill (D-NJ) 7/31/25: “I am deeply concerned by the famine and perilous security situation in Gaza. In February 2024, I went to the Rafah Crossing in Egypt and saw the backlog of aid trucks being kept out of Gaza. I took my concerns about keeping aid from reaching civilians directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Biden. Restricting life saving aid from reaching civilians was as dangerous then as it is today. Failure to take immediate action now will lead to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, and the perpetuation of the war. I was encouraged to see the announcement earlier this week that increased humanitarian aid would be allowed to enter Gaza, but it is not enough. The previous system of distributing aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was ineffective and directly led to the deaths of civilians at aid sites within days of beginning the operation. It needlessly endangered civilian lives. I immediately called on President Trump to work with the Israeli government and humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza to develop a safer method of delivery aid, but no action was taken. It is unacceptable that Hamas walked away from the last round of ceasefire negotiations and rejected the proposal agreed to by Israel, the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar. I again urge both parties to return to the negotiating table immediately to reach a ceasefire and bring the hostages home. But that alone will not lead to the end of this conflict. For that to happen, the human suffering must end.  It is past time that President Trump stands up for American values and works with the Israeli government to ensure that aid reaches the innocent civilians who desperately need it. Limiting the delivery of aid has only allowed Hamas and criminal gangs to exploit the situation. Ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is vital to maintaining America’s values, weakening Hamas’s support, and permanently ending the conflict.”
• Smith (D-WA) 7/31/25: “William Galston’s op-ed in the Wall Street Journal acknowledges a hard truth: Hamas will never surrender. That truth underscores the urgent need for a fundamental shift in strategy. After nearly two years of war, it’s clear that the complete destruction of Hamas is not a feasible or sustainable goal and the cost of continuing to try is far too high. Hamas is a terrorist organization and bears full responsibility for the horrific October 7 attacks. But continuing this war indefinitely, with devastating consequences for innocent Palestinian civilians, will not bring peace or security to Israel or the region. There are Palestinians who reject Hamas’s violence and extremism and they must be empowered to lead. A new path forward is the only way to achieve long-term peace and security. The current course of continued military operations, displacement, and indefinite occupation risks even greater instability, can undermine key regional partnerships, and diminishes Israel’s moral and strategic standing. It is time for an immediate ceasefire to address the humanitarian crisis and for Israel to accept a permanent ceasefire in exchange for the return of the remaining hostages. Israel must begin working with the United States, Arab partners, and the international community to support credible Palestinian alternatives to Hamas to govern Gaza and the West Bank. We can continue to support Israel’s right to defend itself while recognizing that the military campaign has reached its limits. The time has come to shift from endless war to a political strategy that brings hostages home, delivers humanitarian relief, and builds the foundations for lasting peace. The United States must lead that effort.” Responding to WSJ op-ed: Hamas Will Never Surrender
• McDonald Rivet (D-MI) 7/31/25: X-post – “The mass suffering and starvation in Gaza is unconsionable, and the GHF has proven wholly incapable of meeting the moment. We need massive increases in the amount of food, water, and medicine being sent to Gaza, we need to send it through entitites and channels with the capacity to distribute it safely and at scale, and neither Israel nor Hamas can impede the aid reaching civilians. In a situation this dire, there can be no excuses. Two years of this war has caused immeasurable pain and suffering for civilians on both sides. Hamas should have accepted the ceasefire agreement on the table last week. Now, we need a durable ceasefire that brings the remaining hostages home, allows aid to flow safely and durably into Gaza, and lays out a vision for the future of Gaza. Sustained peace is critical for the security and well-being of both Israelis and Palestinians.“
• Rosen (D-NV) 7/30/25: X-post – “Supporting Israel and increasing humanitarian assistance for civilians in Gaza aren’t mutually exclusive. Starvation in Gaza is worsening by the day and current aid efforts are failing to meet the scale of need. More must be done to prevent innocent people from suffering. I’m calling on the Trump Admin to push for a large-scale expansion of humanitarian assistance. We must bring ALL the hostages home, deliver life-saving aid to Palestinian civilians, and urge for an end to this war.“
• Gimenez (R-FL) 7/30/25: X-post – “ll that is needed to stop the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is for Hamas to surrender and release all the hostages.”
• Moulton (D-MA) 7/30/25: X-post – “What’s happening in Gaza right now is an avoidable human tragedy. Access to food, water, shelter, and medical care is a basic human right, and it’s a moral imperative for the Netanyahu government to alleviate this suffering. Hamas bears primary responsibility, but Israel has the ability and the obligation to help. I want Israel to succeed in defeating Hamas and bringing the hostages home. But that won’t happen if its policies undermine its own mission, and you cannot win a war against terror by allowing civilians to starve. I fought in a counterinsurgency in Iraq. We knew then that protecting civilian lives was more than a moral responsibility—it was a tactical and strategic imperative. We worked to build trust with local communities and present an alternative to the insurgents, not fuel the next generation of extremists. Last week, I told the Israeli ambassador directly: what’s happening in Gaza is unacceptable. While Netanyahu has tried to deny the severity of the crisis, thankfully, it seems the Israeli government is now beginning to reverse course. We need lasting change. Israel should flood Gaza with aid, denying Hamas the leverage to control and profit from a scarce resource. Criticizing the Israeli government’s policy is not the same as opposing Israel’s right to exist or defend itself. Friends tell each other hard truths and hold each other accountable to our shared values and goals. This hunger crisis is a humanitarian failure. It is counterproductive to Israel’s long-term security and to lasting peace in the region.”
• Olszewski (D-MD) 7/30/25: “As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deepen, the images of widespread suffering—especially among innocent civilians and children—are heartbreaking and demand urgent action. I remain steadfast in my support for Israel’s right to defend itself and its people from acts of terror, including the brutal attacks by Hamas. At the same time, we must not turn a blind eye to the dire humanitarian conditions faced by innocent Palestinians caught in the crossfire. A just and secure future for both Israelis and Palestinians requires us to uphold our shared values of compassion, human dignity, and international responsibility. That is why I join my colleagues in urging all parties to do more to ensure immediate and sustained humanitarian aid reaches those who desperately need it in Gaza, while minimizing the diversion of aid. We must accelerate access to food, water, medical supplies, and other essentials, while continuing to work toward a durable ceasefire and the safe return of all hostages. Israel’s actions this weekend to increase humanitarian deliveries in Gaza are a welcome step but must be sustained. American leadership must remain committed to peace, security, and the protection of innocent life—no matter where it’s threatened.“
• Kelly (D-AZ) 7/30/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Kids are starving to death, and Trump’s funding cuts are only making it worse. I’ve been speaking with @WFPChief Cindy McCain about just how dire the crisis is on the ground in places like DRC, Uganda, Haiti, Sudan, and Gaza. Instability abroad also makes Americans less safe.“
• McClintock (R-CA) 7/29/25: X-post – “The suffering in Gaza can be ended instantly with the unconditional surrender of Hamas. Gaza elected Hamas in 2006 and has since tolerated its crimes. It sowed the wind on October 7 and now reaps the whirlwind. The best way to aid the people of Gaza is to eradicate Hamas NOW.“
• Moran (R-KS) 7/29/25:X-post – “I agree with Pres. Trump — food aid must reach those in Gaza who need it, & Hamas must release the 20 hostages still held captive. U.S. programs like Food for Peace must be used efficiently & our allies should play a greater role in feeding those in need.“
• Levin (D-CA) 7/29/25: “I am deeply concerned by reports of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Extreme shortages of food and medicine facing innocent civilians demand that Israel — in coordination with international aid organizations, regional partners, and the United States — continue to increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza without disruptions. I welcome Israel’s recent commitment to expand secure supply corridors, aid drops, and daily humanitarian pauses. Israel and humanitarian organizations must now work together to improve delivery mechanisms and routes that ensure all aid is safely and swiftly disbursed to civilians, and not diverted to Hamas. Last week, Hamas refused a ceasefire deal that would have stopped the fighting, released hostages, and surged humanitarian aid. Once again, Hamas’s bad faith negotiations show they care more about their grip on power than the wellbeing or self-determination of Palestinians. Hamas started the war. Hamas can end it but they continue to refuse to do so.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/29/25: “Since October 7, when Hamas terrorists brutally kidnapped, raped, and murdered 1,200 people, including dozens of Americans, I have been consistent in my calls for the immediate release of every hostage and the end to Hamas’ reign of terror. Without this, Israel’s security cannot be ensured. I’ve been clear since day one: humanitarian aid must reach Palestinian civilians who need it most — not Hamas terrorists who seize it. That’s why I welcomed Israel’s recent announcement to expand aid drops, open more humanitarian corridors, and make food more widely available to civilians in Gaza. These steps show Israel is committed to minimizing civilian suffering, even as it defends itself from a terrorist enemy that hides behind civilians. Israel should continue and expand these efforts with the support of the international community. But let’s be clear: the blood of this war, and the humanitarian crisis in the region, is on Hamas’ hands. Hamas has never shown an ounce of concern for innocent Palestinian families and children, who have been repeatedly used as human shields. As they have done for years — and as tunnel after tunnel proves — Hamas has systematically stolen food and supplies from innocent Palestinian families and children to fuel their terror operations. Just last week, Hamas walked away from talks with Israel. They also launched a rocket at an aid distribution site in southern Gaza, where food packages were being handed out to civilians in need. Hamas doesn’t want peace — they want power, headlines, and chaos. Let’s not lose sight of the fact that they are a terrorist organization with ties to Iran, the parent company of terror in the Middle East. Although getting additional aid into the region is a positive step, the responsibility is not Israel’s alone. More must be done. While Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE have conducted humanitarian airdrops, there is now an opportunity for all Arab states to step up and immediately surge their humanitarian support, not just levy criticism, as most have done. Egypt and Qatar must also use every tool at their disposal to pressure Hamas to return to the negotiating table. Moreover, while our European partners, including the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, have announced their intent to provide some humanitarian aid to Gaza, they must significantly and consistently increase their contributions. This is especially true for President Macron, who has repeatedly criticized Israel, even going so far as to announce plans to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state. This performative gesture is a one-sided move that only rewards Hamas’ terrorism, undermines prospects for a two-state solution, and fails to do anything to ease suffering on the ground. Instead of putting out vacuous, uninformed statements to the press, Macron should focus on real action, starting with delivering significantly more aid to Gaza. Other world leaders should do the same. It’s time for them to step up to the plate. Together, we must bring home every hostage, end the suffering of innocent civilians, and work toward a future in Gaza without Hamas — for the safety of both Palestinians and Israelis.”
• Peters (D-CA) 7/29/25: “It is long past time to end the Gaza conflict, with the return of all hostages and the end of military operations. But an active war zone is no excuse for not doing everything possible to prevent the unnecessary suffering confronting Palestinians who are caught in the crossfire between Israel and Hamas. This week’s announcement of multiple air drops and aid convoys, humanitarian pauses in fighting, and the designation of secure routes for the wider dissemination of assistance provides renewed hope. But hundreds of truckloads of aid are currently sitting at the Gaza border waiting to be distributed. This is unacceptable. There must be immediate action to deliver the desperately needed humanitarian aid to the starving. Now is the time for the Israeli government, the United Nations, the Trump Administration, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and all who have the responsibility and ability, together to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches Palestinian civilians in Gaza. And Hamas must not interfere with or weaponize the delivery of this aid. There is no justification for delay.”
• Landsman (D-OH) 7/29/25: X-thread w/ video clips – “The situation in Gaza is bad and the humanitarian crisis must end. Five really important things to know that I believe will help end this crisis. 1. It’s a very good thing that the Netanyahu government is surging aid — something I’ve personally pushed the Prime Minister on many times. They set up new distribution centers (to go around Hamas) and, while it’s worked to some extent, it’s not enough. So, Saturday’s decision to send even more aid in was the right one — and a strengthened partnership with the World Food Programme should help significantly. The daily, ten-hour humanitarian aid pauses with the establishment of humanitarian corridors were also the right move — and it should make a difference. 2. Hamas is core to the problem. Not only did they commit the most barbaric terror attack ever, and built hundreds of miles of tunnels under hospitals and schools to protect themselves at the expense of Palestinian women and children. They steal food. Hamas has diverted a staggering number of aid trucks to fund their war — aid that was supposed to go to Palestinians. Please call out Hamas — every day until they give Gaza back to the Palestinians. They care about what happens on social media. If they believe they are losing support, they are less likely to reject a ceasefire deal (as they continue to do now). 3. The UN and UNRWA have serious issues to address. They refuse to distribute hundreds of trucks of food; food sitting inside Gaza. They won’t accept help from Israel because they don’t want to be seen as biased. Israel has offered them protection but they don’t want to work with IDF soldiers. Please put pressure on the UN, too. Tell them to work with Israel to distribute aid and to reform its work in Gaza. They need to be both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli. They need to put Gaza first. 4. Qatar is a huge barrier. They fund Hamas and continue to provide a safe haven for Hamas leaders. I sent a letter to Qatari officials this week, informing them we will not send staff on their upcoming trip. They need to put maximum pressure on Hamas to release the hostages so this awful war can end. Qatar should take into custody every Hamas leader in Qatar until every hostage is released and the war is over. AND they should join Israel and others in delivering aid — to the Palestinian people. 5. Iran Put pressure on Iran to dismantle its terror armies — Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. The humanitarian crisis and war in Gaza has to end. Put pressure on Netanyahu to do more, but don’t stop there. Call out Hamas, put pressure on the UN and UNRWA, demand Qatar use every means possible to end Hamas’ terror in Gaza, and do the same with Iran. We should all be pushing to surge aid, get the hostages home, end the war, and support a coalition of nations working with Israel and the Palestinians to rebuild Gaza. The dynamic of our collective, international voices must shift. The Israeli government can and must do more, but the free pass that too many have given to Hamas, the UN and UNRWA, Qatar and Iran must end. This is the best way out of this terrible nightmare.“
• Risch (R-ID) 7/29/25: X-post – “The horrific hunger crisis in Gaza is the fault of Hamas–they continue to make life miserable for the people living there by taking their food and using civilians as human shields. The President and the world would like to see things done differently, and these food centers could help.“
• Petterson (D-CO) 7/29/25: X-post – “My heart is broken reading the news about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I have continued to call on President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to prioritize food and medical aid to the Palestinians urgently. While I’m relieved to see some steps being taken, the US, Israel, the UN, and our allies must do everything in their power to surge food, water, and medical aid immediately. Like so many, I am desperate for an end to this war and recognize a resolution must involve a return of all hostages and an end of Hamas rule in Gaza, the end of Israel’s military operations, and a plan to rebuild Gaza. While these negotiations continue, we cannot allow these dire conditions to threaten the lives of Palestinian families.“
• Marshall (R-KS) 7/29/25: X-post – “America is a Christian nation, and we should never squelch compassion. Everyone, regardless of politics, should support President @realDonaldTrump in his desire to immediately supply food to starving children and women in Gaza.”
• Fetterman (D-PA) 7/29/25: X-post – “The suffering in Gaza is crushing and real—we’ve all seen the same images. Many people blame Israel, but Hamas is responsible for this hell on earth and they could end this today for peace in the region. Where’s the global outrage for Hamas to disarm and send the hostages home?“
• Lee (D-NV) 7/28/25: X-post – “I have been a staunch supporter of Israel since the barbaric invasion and hostage taking by Hamas on October 7, 2023. I have also staunchly supported the provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. The starvation of innocent children is unbearable to watch. In addition to providing aid to Israel, the U.S. must be resolute in ensuring that food and medical supplies gets to people in need. We must continue to press to bring parties back to the table to negotiate a cease fire and, in the meantime, aid must be allowed into Gaza. We have the means, we must also have the will.“
• Fletcher (D-TX) 7/28/25: X-post – “What we are witnessing in Gaza is an urgent humanitarian crisis. As a co-sponsor of H.Res. 473 calling for delivery and disbursement of aid to civilians, I support immediate, sustained humanitarian aid into Gaza and urge Israel to take action to prevent widespread starvation.“
• Quigley (D-IL) 7/28/25: X-post – “The Israeli government is finally allowing limited aid to enter #Gaza after months of restrictions, but it is not enough. Palestinians in Gaza continue to die of starvation, and more than 1,000 civilians have been killed since May while seeking aid.   The international community must come together to end this humanitarian crisis.”
• Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) 7/28/25: “Since Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks on October 7th, I’ve remained steadfast in my commitment to securing the safe return of all Israeli hostages and ending Hamas’ cruel and oppressive control in Gaza — for the safety and future of both Israelis and Palestinians. At the same time, I have been deeply disappointed by the Netanyahu government’s continued failure to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches the Palestinian civilians who are in desperate need. The scale of starvation and suffering in Gaza is overwhelming. The current approach isn’t working. We need proven delivery methods that reach civilians and prevent diversion by Hamas. This weekend’s announcement that Israel would allow airdrops and open humanitarian corridors — alongside Arab partners — is long overdue. It is a necessary step, but much more must be done. I also urge Egypt, Qatar, and other Arab nations to pressure Hamas to return to the negotiating table and accept the deal it recently rejected. Hostages must be returned, the humanitarian crisis must be addressed with urgency, and the war must come to an end.”
• Kaptur (D-OH) 7/28/25: X-post – “While lasting peace and end to the conflict in Gaza must involve a return of hostages and end of Israeli military action, the need to get aid to starving people is urgent and must be swift. If action isn’t taken more innocent people will starve and die. Our nation and our world must act.“
• Schneider (D-IL) 7/28/25: “I’m glad Israel is expanding its approach and opening new humanitarian corridors, conducting airdrops, and taking other crucial steps to ensure needed food makes it to civilians in Gaza. It’s equally important that the United Nations and affiliated organizations do their part, working together with Israel to ensure aid is delivered to those who need it as swiftly and efficiently as possible, while also minimizing diversion of aid by Hamas.  This war began because Iran-backed Hamas murdered 1200 people and took hundreds of hostages on October 7, 2023. This would be over tomorrow if Hamas released the remaining hostages and laid down its arms. Israel beat Hezbollah and Iran and must defeat Hamas too.”
• Pelosi (D-CA) 7/27/25: X-post – “The humanitarian crisis and mass starvation in Gaza—particularly affecting children and infants—is a catastrophic moral emergency. The United States must urgently press for an immediate and sustained ceasefire which ensures safe delivery of life-saving assistance to Palestinians and secures the return of all hostages.”
• Meeks (D-NY)/House Foreign Affairs Committee (Dems) 7/27/25: X-post – “RM @RepGregoryMeeks: While initial improvements to the humanitarian response in Gaza are welcome, walking away from ceasefire talks is the wrong move. Witkoff should be pressing all parties to continue diplomacy to bring the hostages home, deliver urgent aid to Gaza, and end this war. Instead, he offers no realistic alternatives to negotiations.“
• Menendez (D-NJ) 7/27/25: X-post – “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is both incredibly dire and devastating. The situation needs to be resolved and urgent action taken to prevent mass starvation. To do so, Israel must work with the U.S. and international partners to ensure aid is able to enter Gaza and quickly reach those most in need. I’ve been advocating for increased humanitarian aid for Gaza since the beginning of this conflict, and it’s imperative that there are no delays and no excuses. We must also recognize that Hamas’s decision to continue holding hostages in Gaza since October 7th continues to be a barrier to the conflict ending and the beginning of working towards a future that ensures a durable peace in which collective suffering of so many is never experienced again. That is an obligation we owe to all Israelis and Palestinians. That process must start with a negotiated, short term ceasefire and eventually, a long term, two-state solution. Only then can both people live in peace, security and dignity.”
• Cisneros (D-CA) 7/27/25: X-post – “Nobody deserves to go hungry. The humanitarian corridors are a necessary step to ensure food and aid can reach civilians. Hamas is the enemy, not the Palestinian people.“
• Bell (D-MO) 7/27/25: X-post – “I am encouraged to see Israel expanding humanitarian access to help civilians in Gaza. The UN and other international agencies must ensure that humanitarian aid in their possession on the Gaza side of the border is getting to those in need without delay. We must also continue to demand that Hamas release the hostages who have been brutally held for more than 660 days. This would end tomorrow if Hamas released them and laid down their arms. The international community should be outraged that the hostages continue to endure this unspeakable horror.”
• Sorensen (D-IL) 7/27/25: X-post – “Millions of innocent people are starving in Gaza. If we don’t do anything soon, thousands will die. We desperately need to bring home the hostages while allowing enough food, water, and medical supplies into Gaza to help those who have nothing to do with this war. Hamas must be defeated, but now is the time to urgently negotiate a lasting peace.”
• Friedman (D-CA) 7/27/25: X-post – “Today’s announcement by Israel to open humanitarian corridors and implement daily pauses in military activity is a necessary step and should have come much sooner. The U.S. and President Trump must do more to ensure that aid flows freely, hostages are released, and the ceasefire is restored. Too many civilians are suffering, and far too many children are going without food, water, and medical care. Aid must reach those in need without delay.“
• DeLuzio (D-PA) 7/27/25: X-post – “The starvation of so many in Gaza is a humanitarian crisis. Malnourished kids are dying and many of the doctors and medical workers are too hungry and under-supplied to help. Aid must be surged in now.“
• Espaillat (D-NY) 7/26/25; X-post – “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the surrounding region has reached a critical juncture as families and children starve daily. It is heartbreaking and deeply troubling to watch the region fall deeper into despair, and I urge an immediate global response and intervention to provide relief and aid for those affected.“
• McClellan (D-VA) 7/26/25: “Every day, death and mass starvation take a greater toll on the people of Gaza. They face a humanitarian crisis that has cost thousands of lives and prolongs suffering in the region. This crisis is reaching an inflection point and deserves swift, immediate and continued action to avoid further loss of life and worsening conditions.  Following the Biden-Harris Administration’s success in reaching a ceasefire agreement, the Trump Administration has utterly failed to meet this critical moment and secure a similar deal between Israel and Hamas. By walking away from negotiations and shifting focus to unnamed ‘alternative options,’ this Administration has abandoned a leadership role in facilitating a lasting peace to the region. I urge the Trump Administration to use every tool at its disposal to reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that releases the hostages, delivers desperately needed aid into Gaza, and develops a two-state solution that will allow both parties to coexist with dignity and self-determination. I have joined my colleagues in the House to urge the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza and will continue to advocate for further relief to innocent civilians.”
• Lofgren (D-CA) 7/26/25: “I am deeply alarmed by the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where widespread starvation and malnutrition are threatening the lives of over a million people, many of them children. International humanitarian organizations, including the United Nations and World Food Programme, have sounded urgent warnings that famine is imminent unless immediate, unrestricted aid is delivered. Food should never be a weapon. Civilians, especially children, must never be the casualties of geopolitical conflict. The Netanyahu government, who controls entry into Gaza, has the responsibility to prevent famine there. The United States has a responsibility to use its influence to push for immediate action. We must ensure that aid reaches those who need it most. And, as I have stated before, we must work towards a long-term, two-state solution that provides both security and recognition between Israel and Palestine. Anything less is unacceptable.“
• Bennett (D-CO) 7/26/25: X-post – “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is abhorrent and worsening daily. People are starving and dying, especially children.  President Trump must demand that Israel enable a large-scale expansion of assistance throughout Gaza immediately.”
• Booker (D-NJ) 7/26/25: X-post – “Witnessing the catastrophic hunger and suffering of civilians, especially children, women, the sick and elderly, in Gaza has been heartbreaking. The crisis in Gaza must be met with an immediate and drastic surge in life-saving resources, such as desperately needed food, water, and medicine–including therapeutic foods for those suffering from severe malnutrition. It is our collective moral duty to ensure that humanitarian relief reaches those who need it most urgently. The strategy of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has not worked. Proven methods to get humanitarian aid to those in need while preventing diversion to Hamas must be used to flood the zone now. Every moment of delay will cost lives and cause irreparable harm to the health of children, pregnant women, and other civilians. We must do all we can to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as part of the strategy to save lives, decrease Hamas’s influence and capabilities, release all remaining hostages, strengthen Israel’s security, and ultimately end this war. These goals are not mutually exclusive, rather they go hand-in-hand.”
• Goldman (D-NY) 7/25/25: X-post – “Gaza is on the brink of mass starvation. Israel, the U.S. and the international community must collaborate to ensure a massive surge of humanitarian relief immediately. This war must end. And let’s be clear: Hamas could end it today if they wanted to. Israel has agreed to a ceasefire proposal, Hamas has rejected it. Release the hostages and end this travesty.“
• Auchincloss (D-MA) 7/25/25: X-post – “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is unconscionable. Children are starving. Hamas has the singular power to end this catastrophe. Instead, it rejected the latest ceasefire offer from Israel. Hamas would rather hold onto hostages than feed the children of Gaza.”
• Larson (D-CT) 7/25/25: X-post – “Lifesaving aid must resume immediately to civilians in Gaza. Food deliveries remain far below what the population needs and 95% of households continue to face water shortages. The U.S. and Israel must do everything they can to ensure the free flow of aid – not stand in the way.”
• Smith (D-WA) 7/25/25: X-post – “Israel must take immediate action and work with all possible humanitarian aid organizations to rush critically needed food and other supplies to the people in Gaza. The level of the crisis there demands emergency action. Israel’s new arrangement on delivering aid simply is not working. Israel must take all possible steps to facilitate a surge of aid into Gaza. Additionally, the United Nations and other international aid organizations must work with Israel to resolve their differences and work together so all parties can maximize the capacity of humanitarian efforts. It is unconscionable that Hamas continues to block a negotiated ceasefire, refusing both to surrender their illegitimate power in Gaza and to release the hostages that should never have been taken in the first place. It is also unconscionable that Hamas siphons off critically needed food and supplies intended for the people of Gaza and uses it instead to prop up their terrorist organization, while at the same time fighting their war against Israel by embedding themselves into the civilian population. But given all of this, right now it falls to Israel to take the steps necessary to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe facing the civilian population in Gaza. I urge President Trump and his administration to work with Israel to implement a ceasefire and dramatically increase the flow of aid into Gaza. I believe we can both continue to support Israel in their effort to defend themselves against Hamas, Iran and others in the region who continue in their efforts to attack and destroy Israel, and work immediately to relieve the suffering of the people in Gaza.”
• Crow (D-CO) 7/25/25: X-post – “The widespread suffering in Gaza is unbearable. Children starving to death and near famine. The aid distribution process is failing.  The U.S. and Israel must work with independent aid groups to surge food immediately and drastically change approach.  Hamas must accept the ceasefire proposal and release the remaining hostages. This must end.“
• Scanlon (D-PA) 7/26/25: X-post – “The images of starving children in Gaza are heart-wrenching. It is unconscionable that children and families are being starved to death while humanitarian aid is blocked. The United States and Israel must do everything in their power to allow aid to enter and be delivered to those in need in Gaza.
• Jeffries (D-NY) 7/25/25: X-post – “During the first six months of Donald Trump’s time in office, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point, hostages are still being held by Hamas despite the President’s promise they would be released and the pre-existing ceasefire the administration inherited has been breached. The starvation and death of Palestinian children and civilians in an ongoing war zone is unacceptable. The Trump administration has the ability to bring an end to this humanitarian crisis. They must act now. It is imperative that humanitarian aid be surged into Gaza immediately, the remaining Israeli hostages be released and the ceasefire negotiated by the Biden administration restored. We need a just and lasting peace. Ultimately, that will only occur through a two-state solution that facilitates a safe and secure Israel living side by side with a Palestinian state that provides dignity, self-determination and prosperity for its people.“

Not bothering to even pretend to be concerned about Palestinians in Gaza being subjected by Israel to humanitarian catastrophe

• Daines (R-MT) 7/31/25: “100% 100% 100% Daines: ‘The problem is not Israel. It is Hamas’’; touts Trump’s ‘moral clarity’ on Gaza war” Linked to Times-Leader article, Daines: ‘The problem is not Israel. It is Hamas’’; touts Trump’s ‘moral clarity’ on Gaza war
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/31/25: X-post – “I’m glad the Arab League has recognized what we’ve long known: Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization that cannot be allowed to remain in power in Gaza. It’s time to bring the hostages home and end Hamas’ reign of terror.“
• Graham (R-SC) 7/31/25: X-post – “I find it odd that Arab leaders are calling for Hamas to disarm and accept safe passage out of Gaza while European leaders are threatening to recognize a Palestinian state if Israel doesn’t accept a ceasefire. To our friends in Europe, you’re enticing Hamas to stay in the fight. Stop it.” Responding to Trump’s Truth Social post 7/31/25 – “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” 
• Scott (R-FL) 7/31/25: X-post – “Thank you, @POTUS! Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel and started this war. That is a fact. For 664 days, Hamas terrorists have held innocent people hostage in Gaza under the cruelest conditions. This isn’t over until we BRING EVERY HOSTAGE HOME and Hamas is destroyed.“
• Senate GOP 7/31/25: X-post – “President Trump is correct. The only thing standing in the way of peace is Hamas, which started this war and still refuses to surrender or release the remaining hostages.” Responding to Trump’s Truth Social post 7/31/25 – “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!” 
• Kennedy (R-LA) 7/31/25: X-post – “.@POTUS is right. Hamas has had every opportunity to free the innocent people still held captive in Gaza. But they won’t, because they’re not interested or serious about peace.” Responding to Trump’s Truth Social post 7/31/25 – “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!“
• Gimenez (R-FL) 7/31/25: X-post – “@POTUS is absolutely right. The fastest and only path to ending the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is for Hamas to surrender and release all the hostages — NOW!  Responding to Trump’s Truth Social post 7/31/25 – “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!“
• Daines (R-MT) 7/31/25: X-post – “Canada, the UK, and France should be calling for the release of innocent hostages held captive in Gaza rather than appeasing & rewarding Hamas for their atrocities. America stands firmly with Israel.“
• LaLota (R-NY) 7/31/25: X-post – “The U.S. must keep up pressure on Iran until they stop funding terror groups like Hamas and all hostages are freed. Anything less is unacceptable.”
• Cornyn (R-TX) 7/31/25: X-post – “Gaza Starvation Photos Tell a Thousand Lies by <@EFischberger” Linked to Wall Street Journal op-ed – Gaza Starvation Photos Tell a Thousand Lies
• Scott (R-FL) 7/30/25: X-post – “For 663 days, Hamas terrorists have kept innocent civilians hostage and needlessly tortured them all while they steal aid from those who need it the most. Hamas cannot be rewarded for its evils. Now more than ever, we must stand with the hostages and our ally, Israel.“
• Graham (R-SC) 7/30/25: X-post – “The decision by a number of Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to insist Hamas lay down their arms and give up political and military control of Gaza is a giant step forward. There is no peace with Hamas in charge.“
• Cotton (R-AR) 7/29/25: X-post – “Israel has no responsibility to provide any kind of aid into Gaza. They are repeatedly held to a different standard than the rest of the world.“
• Graham (R-SC) 7/29/25: X-post – “If Hamas lays down their weapons and their leaders take safe passage out of Gaza, then the possibility of a ceasefire and a new beginning for the West Bank and Gaza exists.    Anything short of Hamas disarming and leaving would be unacceptable.“
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 7/28/25: X-post – “President Trump has made it solidly clear that the United States stands firmly with Israel and against Hamas terrorists. The UN must abandon its obsessive anti-Israel bias and return to its original mission. That’s why my National Security and Department of State funding bill defunds the UN and UNRWA. Not one dollar of the U.S. taxpayer money should go to organizations that have lost all credibility and now serve as platforms for terrorist propaganda. We must continue to stand with Israel and against terror groups such as Hamas.“
• Bacon (R-NE) 7/27/25: X-post – “Until Hamas surrenders the hostages or is defeated, there will be a crisis in Gaza.”
• Scott (R-FL) 7/27/25: X-post – “Hamas terrorists are evil. They have spent 660 days holding people like this innocent young man, who had his whole life ahead of him, hostage. And as the hostages and people of Gaza starve, Hamas steals their aid to control the people. The United States won’t give up. We must bring every hostage home, and Hamas must be destroyed!“
• Graham (R-SC) 7/27/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Hamas stands in the way of peace. The hostages must come home.“
• Risch (R-ID) 7/25/25: X-post – “Hamas must either release hostages, including the remains of Americans Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, or Qatar should immediately eject Hamas from Doha. Hamas is a liability that is not worth the reputational risk of harboring terrorists.”
• Fine (R-NJ) 7/25/25: X-post – “You don’t get to start a genocidal war — raping and killing as many men, women, and children as you can — and then whine and complain when you start losing. If you don’t like the consequences of your decisions, there is one simple solution. Unconditional surrender.“

Concern for Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza & actually mentioning Israel responsibility (to varying degrees)

• Stansbury (D-NM) 7/31/25: X-post w/ video clip [watch the whole thing!] – “Today, we turn to Gaza. And, the unspeakable atrocities — including mass starvation, killing of families and children, intentional withholding of humanitarian aid, and open threats of annexation—which are not only a blatant violation of international law and human rights — but a shock to the moral conscience. The United States has a fundamental moral responsibility to stand against and stop enabling Netanyahu and his allies in committing these atrocities. The U.S. must act now.“
• Sanders (I-VT) 7/31/25: X-post – “Tony Aguilar is a retired Special Forces Green Beret who won a Purple Heart for his service to this country. He took a contract helping to distribute aid in Gaza. There, he witnessed atrocities committed using American taxpayer dollars. Please watch this important video.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/31/25: X-post – “Benjamin Netanyahu said ‘there is no starvation in Gaza.’ He is lying. Children are dying of malnutrition and people are being killed by the IDF as they wait for food. Feed Gaza now.“
• Doggett (D-TX) 7/31/25: X-post – “Just one child killed is unspeakable—nearly 20,000 is inexplicable. Gaza’s children should never have been forced to pay the price for Hamas’s and Netanyahu’s obsession with power. To end the burial of those who have not even taken their first step, ending the war NOW must be the next step.” Linked to Washington Post article – 60,000 Gazans have been killed. 18,500 were children. These are their names.
• Welch (D-VT) 7/30/25: X-post w/ video clip – “The mass starvation in Gaza is caused by weapons provided by America and paid for by U.S. taxpayers.” Also see: full text of floor statement
• Vasquez (D-NM) 7/30/25: “The intentional starvation of innocent children in Gaza is undeniable and abhorrent. It is unacceptable that Prime Minister Netanyahu openly denies the effect of his own cruel actions in a way that clearly flies in the face of what millions around the world have seen with their own eyes. This stark violation of human rights calls on us to do everything we can to protect the lives of these innocent children. The administration must use every diplomatic tool possible to put an end to this atrocity and immediately pause all military assistance until a ceasefire is reached. Additionally, sanctions must be placed on Israeli officials who have ordered or condoned the killing of innocent civilians. The United States must hold those who have contributed to the killing of innocent people — including children — accountable, and President Trump must use his power to bring an end to this conflict and humanitarian crisis.“
• Warren (D-MA) 7/30/25: X-post – “Donald Trump promised peace in Gaza, but he’s abandoned ceasefire talks while babies starve. If Trump is too weak to act, then Congress must step up. No more U.S. military support for Netanyahu to wage war in Gaza.”
• Warren (D-MA) 7/30/25: X-post – “Netanyahu’s government has created an epic disaster in Gaza. 6,000 food trucks are lined up at the border, children are starving, and still Netanyahu blocks help. History will remember this moment.“
• Schatz (D-HI) 7/30/25: Floor statement on Gaza, including – “What started as a war with a just cause–to go after Hamas for the unspeakable atrocities it committed on October 7 and bring home the hostages–quickly turned unjust and immoral.  Now, everybody knows how complicated and fraught the Middle East is. Everyone knows that navigating this generations-long conflict requires nuance and depth and a historical understanding in order to try to get it right. Everyone knows that smart and sincere and decent people can disagree on this issue. But what is happening today is entirely different. There is no excuse for this horrific suffering. It is not making Israel or Israelis or Jews any safer, nor is it helping to bring home the 50 remaining hostages who have been in brutal captivity for almost 2 years. The fact that this catastrophe was preventable is precisely what makes it so indefensible. People have been warning for months that the Israeli Government’s actions would result in exactly this kind of tragedy, where children are dying by the dozens and hundreds of thousands of people have been starving for days…”
• Garamendi (D-CA) 7/30/25: X-post – “The Israeli government must act immediately to stop the man-made famine unfolding in Gaza. This disaster is preventable and unconscionable. I call on the Trump Administration to use every available lever to push Netanyahu to act now to save lives.“
• Merkley (D-OR) 7/30/25: X-post – “The words ‘killed before first birthday’ appear more than 900 times in this list. Children killed playing or sleeping. Children who should have grown up. Israel is starving and bombing Gaza. And the U.S. is complicit because we’re sending those bombs and not demanding more aid.” Linked to Washington Post article – 60,000 Gazans have been killed. 18,500 were children. These are their names.
• DeLauro (D-CT) 7/30/25: “More than 100 aid agencies and rights groups, including Mercy Corps, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, and Oxfam, have warned about mass starvation currently taking place in Gaza. The last remaining pediatric ward treating child hunger in Gaza closed this last month, unable to find enough food and medical supplies. And the new, chaotic aid distribution system designed by Israel’s government and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has resulted in the Israeli armed forces shooting hundreds of Palestinians seeking food, just over the past few weeks. As a result of the Israeli military’s continued attacks on Gaza, and the near-total blockade of food, fuel, medicine, and other humanitarian supplies that Israel has imposed since March 2, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 60,000 people, and even that is likely a significant undercount.  The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is a private, unaccountable organization, employing armed mercenaries and operating in direct opposition to norms and principles of international law around humanitarian aid distribution that have been in place since the ratification of the Geneva Conventions in 1949. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has received $30 million from the State Department, and has been exempted from a comprehensive audit usually required for first-time grant recipients working in Gaza. Contractors with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have been documented using pepper spray, stun grenades, and live ammunition at nearly every aid distribution, and civilians have reported being fired at by tanks, drones, and helicopters in addition to soldiers on the ground. So far, over 700 starving people have been killed and nearly 5,000 injured while seeking food at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites. I have been calling for additional humanitarian aid surges into Gaza, and a stable ceasefire to enable negotiations and the return of hostages for over a year and half. On October 31 of 2023, less than a month after the October 7 attacks, I first called for a humanitarian pause to enable delivery of aid, and I have visited Israel multiple times since then to speak directly to Israeli government officials about the necessity of humanitarian aid delivery. I have condemned Israel’s efforts to defund and undermine UNWRA, the primary relief agency assisting Palestinians, and I fought to ensure that more than $9 billion for global humanitarian needs, including Gaza, was included in the national security supplemental spending bill passed in April of 2024.  The recent steps Israel has taken to allow a marginal amount of additional aid, through convoys and air drops, are a start, but they are nowhere near enough. Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wrote that the Israeli government is committing war crimes. Prime Minister Netanyahu has claimed that there is no starvation in Gaza. That is wrong.  Netanyahu cannot distort what the entire world sees clearly. He must let the aid flow.”
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/30/25: X-post – “From the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to airdrops, recent efforts to get aid into Gaza have been wholly ineffective and insufficient. The United States cannot be complicit in starving Gaza. We must stop supplying the Israeli government with offensive weapons.”
• Welch (D-VT) 7/30/25: X-post w/ video clip – “The mass starvation in Gaza is caused by weapons provided by America and paid for by U.S. taxpayers.“
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/30/25: X-post – “I have a bill that will help end Congress’s complicity in the genocide happening in Gaza. ANYONE who is calling for food to get into Gaza, that the bombing stops, and that lives are saved should cosponsor my Block the Bombs Act. No more excuses.“
• Smith (D-MN) 7/30/25: X-post – “The laws of war don’t just apply when it’s convenient.   Hamas is a brutal terrorist organization. But Netanyahu doesn’t get a pass. He is responsible for the pervasive starvation and famine, which is morally repugnant.   Feed Gaza.“
• Casar (D-TX) 7/29/25: X-post – “Tens of thousands of babies could starve to death because the Israeli government is blocking baby formula from Gaza. Airdrops and a few aid trucks aren’t enough. The US must apply all necessary pressure on Israel to end this now and surge aid in. It’s not too late to save millions of lives.“
• Smith (D-MN) 7/29/25: X-post – “If Trump were actually the strong-man he pretends to be, he’d tell Netanyahu to allow the food to flow, so innocent Palestinian children don’t die of starvation. Talking about how sad this is in between rounds at his golf course in Scotland is weak beyond words.   Feed Gaza.“
• Welch (D-VT) 7/29/25: X-post – “More than 60,000 Palestinians have now died in the Gaza war. The U.S. is still funding offensive weapons used to kill civilians. History will judge us for our complicity in this humanitarian catastrophe.”
• Welch (D-VT) 7/29/25: X-post with video clip – “I’m on the Senate floor calling for Congress to take action on the mass starvation in Gaza.“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/29/25: X-post w/ video clip – “As starvation worsens by the day in Gaza, the Netanyahu govt has been using food as a weapon of war — with complicity from Trump & U.S. taxpayer dollars. This is painful to listen to but here’s what a U.S. Army veteran & Green Beret who witnessed it first-hand recounted to me:“
• Clarke (D-NY) 7/29/25: “The humanitarian crisis in Gaza stands at an unbearable breaking point. Over nearly two long years of war, its people have faced the full weight of a brutal retaliation against Hamas’ crime on October 7th. Tens of thousands of children, women, and men have lost their lives to this horrific conflict, and I am severely pained and distressed to see this already dire situation deteriorate even further. Let me be clear: the continuation of famine in Gaza is a moral catastrophe that America cannot and must not abide by. It is crucial that Israel takes every possible action to ensure food, water, and medicine flow into the Strip at once, and I urge the Trump Administration to use its immense influence to see that Israel does so. There can be no alternative. An overwhelming amount of aid must reach the people of Gaza, and it must reach them now. With every passing hour bringing us closer to the unthinkable, any further delay is totally unacceptable. While the horrors committed against the victims and hostages of October 7th are neither forgivable nor justifiable, their families, their communities, and their country will find no justice in the ruins of Gaza. This thirst for violence and vengeance must not continue. Israel has relentlessly proven its power since that tragic day two years ago, and its control over Gaza has remained absolute ever since. So, I am frankly not interested in excuses as to why starved children cannot have the food or medicine required to save their lives. I am not interested in accusations of fault behind why aid has not already been delivered. Two terrible years of war have made the well-being of the Palestinian people Israel’s responsibility, and only Israel can pull them back from this devastation. All the world can see that any efforts to do so thus far are wholly and unequivocally insufficient. For the sake of human decency and securing any chance at a stable and lasting peace in the region, freeing the hostages and feeding Gaza must be parallel priorities for the Israeli government. Without an immediate change, the two-state solution that I and millions of others have long advocated for will be permanently put out of reach by this ceaseless cycle of destruction. Ending it begins with ending the pain in Gaza.”
• King (I-ME) 7/28/25: “I cannot defend the indefensible. Israel’s actions in the conduct of the war in Gaza, especially its failure to address the unimaginable humanitarian crisis now unfolding, is an affront to human decency. What appears to be a deliberately-induced famine among a civilian population—including tens of thousands of starving children—can never be an acceptable military strategy. While clearly justified in responding to the horrific attack by Hamas on innocent Israeli citizens, that tragic event cannot in turn justify the enormous toll on Palestinian civilians caused by Israel’s relentless bombing campaign and its indifference to the current plight of those trapped in what’s left of Gaza. I in no way accept or condone the actions of Hamas, but recent events have placed a moral burden on Israel to ameliorate the current crisis, a burden it has thus far totally failed to meet.  For these reasons, I am through supporting the actions of the current Israeli government and will advocate—and vote—for an end to any United States support whatsoever until there is a demonstrable change in the direction of Israeli policy. My litmus test will be simple: no aid of any kind as long as there are starving children in Gaza due to the action or inaction of the Israeli government.”
• Castro (D-TX) 7/28/25: “The humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza is unconscionable. Millions of Palestinians are trapped under siege conditions—with food, clean water, and medical supplies deliberately restricted. Israel’s blockade on aid—including fuel and flour—has led to mass starvation and the deaths of hundreds of innocent men, women, and children from hunger and dehydration. The use of forced starvation as a weapon of war is a clear violation of international law, and it must stop immediately. I urge the Israeli government to abandon its failed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and resume coordination with the United Nations and independent humanitarian organizations that have the experience, infrastructure, and legitimacy to safely deliver life-saving aid. The GHF has proven deadly and ineffective, creating dangerous aid bottlenecks and exposing desperate civilians to lethal force. Replacing neutral aid agencies with politically driven alternatives has only deepened this horrific crisis. This war must end. Hamas must release all remaining hostages immediately. At the same time, Israel must commit that once the hostages are freed, the war will end—not continue under new pretexts. The United States must use every point of leverage we have, with both Israel and Hamas, to end this catastrophic war before thousands more civilians die.”
• Durbin (D-IL) 7/28/25: “Quite simply, the humanitarian conditions in Gaza are appalling, unconscionable, and cruel. Following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s nearly 3-month blockade of humanitarian assistance, three-quarters of the population in Gaza is facing emergency or catastrophic levels of hunger. The tiniest of babies cannot even access formula and risk heartbreaking death…Yes, Hamas started this conflict in a heinous attack on Israel. Yes, Hamas is still unconscionably holding hostages. And yes, Hamas cynically uses civilians as human shields and brutally represses brave Gazans who are protesting for an end to this [Hamas’] despicable rule. But I have repeatedly appealed to Israel… be careful of decisions made in the fog of rage, pain, and loss and recognize there is no solely military solution to defeating a terrorist group.  Let me be clear. Continuing this war with no discernable end is not in Israel’s national security interest, and a lack of a viable plan and the humanitarian fiasco have been glaring mistakes, getting worse by the day.” Also see X-post with video clip.
• Beyer (D-VA) 7/28/25: X-post – “Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza has created a starvation crisis. Allowing this to occur, and propping up the failed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been a terrible failure of American policy as well.   As international pressure mounts, Israel has begun to announce changes that will hopefully allow the World Food Program and other international organizations to safely delivery food to people who desperately need it. The United States must not relent until the threat of starvation in Gaza is extinguished.”
• Carson (D-IN) 7/28/25: X-post – “Gaza isn’t starving. It’s being starved. The Israeli government has blocked humanitarian aid into Gaza for over 8 months. Over 150 Gazans have been killed by starvation, 82 of those children. On top of that, Israeli strikes are targeting dozens of people seeking the little aid there is at what’s being described as humanitarian death traps. This is a moral crisis. I’m calling for an Israeli arms embargo and a full surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza. Enough is enough.“
• Watson Coleman (D-NJ) 7/28/25: X-post – “Over 150 Palestinians have starved to death in Gaza. more than half were children. Netanyahu’s claim that there is “no starvation” is a disgusting lie. The Israeli military is using starvation as a weapon. It is a war crime. Aid must be allowed into Gaza, not as a pretext for shootings at distribution sites, but to feed starving civilians.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/28/25: X-post – “‘Minimal’ amounts of aid will not save thousands from starvation and death. The Israeli government must provide a real, long-term solution to get meaningful food and resources into Gaza“
• Velasquez (D-NY) 7/28/25: X-post – “Despite Netanyahu’s claim ‘there is no starvation,’ horrifying accounts on the ground make it clear: mass starvation has become a defining part of life in Gaza. The US must use all tools to surge aid, secure a permanent ceasefire, & stop this catastrophe.“
• Nadler (D-NY) 7/28/25: Representative Nadler Delivers Remarks at Jews Cry Out: Let Food into Gaza Rally [excerpt – “In the past days and weeks, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s reign has brought horrific new images to our screens. Scenes of hunger and devastation, famine and drought, displacement and disease, ruin and despair have consumed mainstream media, feeding into our 24-hour news cycle—and all of it presented as if it is breaking news. Like many of us, I have been heartened by the scores of new voices who have spoken out as a result of this renewed focus. But let us be clear: the Gazan civilian pain, suffering, and starvation that we are all witnessing in the press is not new. Many of us have been speaking out and demanding an increase in humanitarian assistance since the beginning of the war almost 22 months ago. Six months after October 7th, I spoke at a rally not far from here in Manhattan. In my remarks I called for more humanitarian aid to Gaza, and some in our Jewish community booed. But many of us here today knew then what the world is seeing now: that additional aid was vital in the effort to prevent the crisis and disaster the world is witnessing today. We also knew then that a prolonged conflict in Gaza was a recipe for a humanitarian disaster. And today we are witnessing the consequences. While Prime Minister Netanyahu deserves tremendous blame for the situation today, unfortunately, there is another authoritarian-aspiring leader who has made matters worse: Donald Trump. The Trump administration’s actions have substantively and significantly exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. They have done so by seeking to uproot the admittedly imperfect but nonetheless effective assistance delivery system designed and supervised by the Biden Administration, and implement its own shady and potentially corrupt organization. Trump’s Gaza Humanitarian Fund, or GHF, has been accused of heinous and abhorrent conduct. Earlier this month, two private contractors employed by GHF came forward as whistleblowers to the Associated Press. They detailed the use of live ammunition, stun grenades, and pepper spray regularly fired into crowds of desperate and hungry Palestinians at GHF aid distribution sites, resulting in injuries and deaths…“]
• Nadler (D-NY) 7/29/25: X-post – “Today, I spoke at the Jews Cry Out: Let Food into Gaza Rally in New York across from the Israeli consulate. We must make it clear to our government and to the Israeli government: bring home the hostages, end the war in Gaza, and surge humanitarian assistance to the starving people of Gaza.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/28/25: X-post – “For over a year and a half, the Israeli government has repeatedly used weapons supplied by the U.S. to indiscriminately kill people in Gaza, violating American and international humanitarian laws. Now, they are using hunger as a weapon of war. As Pope Leo said, it is barbaric.“
• Pocan (D-WI) 7/28/25: X-post – “Half a million people in Gaza are starving. One in three hasn’t eaten in days. Children are dying. @Netanyahu has the ability to stop this and needs to allow more aid to enter and stop shooting people trying to get food.”
• Garamendi (D-CA) 7/28/25: “It’s impossible to look at the starvation caused by Israel’s dangerous and willful failure to enable humanitarian aid and not see a genocide being committed against the people of Palestine. Gaza has been in a devastating man-made crisis where starvation is widespread among children and adults, where one in three people are going multiple days without eating and many are dying because of malnutrition. This must end. Food is readily and immediately available. Earlier this year, it was found that 60,000 metric tons of U.S. food aid, enough for 3.5 million people, or the entire population of Gaza, was sitting in storage, untouched because of Trump’s dissolution of USAID. We know now from Israeli officials that there is little evidence of Hamas routinely stealing aid, a claim that has been used by the Israelis for not distributing aid. Israel has the ability and the means to deliver adequate food to the Palestinians. They also have the obligation under international law to deliver it; it’s the choice of Prime Minister Netanyahu not to feed Gaza. I have seen starvation like this. In the Peace Corps, I saw firsthand what starvation does to a child. I have repeatedly called for Israel to stop this war and to address the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza. I was one of the only members to vote against military support for Israel, demanding that the U.S. cannot supply more weaponry to a country that is using it recklessly against innocent civilians. I have also joined 94 of my colleagues in demanding the Israeli government immediately resume shipments of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. I have also voted to block offensive weapons to Israel because I believe that America has an ethical imperative to ensure that humanitarian aid can promptly reach the population in Gaza. What Israel is doing is a horribly destructive attack on Gaza’s communities, and America should no longer provide destructive bombs and munitions to Israel. I unequivocally renew my call for Israel to immediately provide necessary humanitarian assistance and stop the purposeful starvation of Gaza.”
• Beyer (D-VA) 7/28/25: X-post – “Netanyahu’s policy in Gaza has created a starvation crisis. Allowing this to occur, and propping up the failed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been a terrible failure of American policy as well.   As international pressure mounts, Israel has begun to announce changes that will hopefully allow the World Food Program and other international organizations to safely delivery food to people who desperately need it. The United States must not relent until the threat of starvation in Gaza is extinguished.”
• Takano (D-CA) 7/27/25: X-post – “The Netanyahu-led government created the conditions for this mass starvation, and now offers a “tactical pause” as if it is a great mercy. This step is necessary, but grotesquely insufficient to end the suffering of civilians or achieve a durable peace in Gaza.”
• Garcia (D-IL) 7/27/25: X-post – “The horrors of mass starvation in Gaza are a policy choice—one in which the U.S. continues to be complicit as it provides Israel with military weapons and diplomatic cover. The U.S. must join the global movement to end Netanyahu’s war on Gaza, and demand both the entry of humanitarian aid and viable delivery mechanisms to distribute it.“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/26/25: X-post – “Every day, the horrors in Gaza reach new, unimaginable depths. And as starvation spreads, Netanyahu and Trump remain complicit in a scheme to use US taxpayer dollars to replace humanitarian aid orgs with mercenaries — leading to more death and devastation. This cannot continue.“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/26/25: X-post – “It’s way too late, but the truth has a way of coming out. Forget the airdrops and scrap GHF — let the UN organizations resume their humanitarian delivery operations NOW to stop the ongoing starvation“
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/26/25: X-post – “For Netanyahu and his administration, annexation and control have always been the endgame. From Gaza to the West Bank to El Salvador to the United States, unaccountable leaders use violence, starvation, and death to steal our resources, our lands, our freedoms, and our lives. We have to fight back and challenge the authoritarian, imperialist policies that destroy life. We must end the U.S.’s complicity in the Netanyahu Administration’s regime of terror. Congress must do its oversight job, demand and end to the blockade and pass Block the Bombs.”
• Doggett (D-TX) 7/25/25: X-post – “These are the children who are paying the price for Netanyahu’s war by starvation in Gaza, just as the families of Israeli hostages are paying the price for his abandonment of their loved ones.“
• Pressley (D-MA) 7/25/25: X-post – “Newborns denied formula. Children denied food. Entire families murdered with weapons of war. This genocide must end. Israel must end the blockade immediately. We cannot and will not look away.“
• Schrier (D-WA) 7/25/25: X-post – “The tremendous suffering in Gaza, on top of nearly 2 years of a war that Hamas inflicted on both Gazans and Israelis, must end. That means an immediate surge of humanitarian aid to civilians. Israel and the U.S. must make every attempt to safeguard innocents. Hamas must release every hostage to their loved ones in Israel immediately, so this war can finally come to a conclusion.”
• Murphy (D-CT) 7/25/25: X-post – “Gaza is descending into famine and Trump is turning his back on this moral crisis. There is no excuse – ever – to deprive civilians of desperately needed food and water. Trump must press Israel to end this blockade.”
• Barragan (D-CA) 7/26/25: X-post – “This is unacceptable. Children are dying from hunger and doctors are collapsing from malnutrition in Gaza. Israel must allow far more food aid in. Trump Admin must demand that Israel allow the immediate entry of enough life-saving aid to meet this dire need“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/26/25: X-post – “First, the Israeli govt established the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to distract from their two month total blockade on aid. Now that the horrors of the GHF are being exposed, their new distraction is ineffective airdrops. This is not a real solution. The starvation must stop.”
• Courtney (D-CT) 7/26/25: X-post – “The Israeli Government should stop the stonewalling of the U.N. aid delivery system and put U.N. experienced experts back in control to get help into Gaza ASAP, where famine conditions have set in. Their own military assessment verified the U.N. was effective at providing aid.“
• Khanna (D-CA) 7/25/25: X-post – “I am sick of the tired platitude that for an ally like Israel we must not disagree publicly or in the media. Not when there is mass starvation. This is the time for every American to speak up publicly. PM Netanyahu, let in the food, medicine & aid. We must not be complicit.“

On Recognizing the State of Palestine

• Marshall (R-KS) 7/31/25: “Look, I think Americans are tired of the killing in Gaza, that Israel needs to end this war one way or another. We need to stop this famine. I would just ask, and Canada is making this really complicated. They’re hamstringing President Trump. And I would ask our friends in Canada, what type of statehood are they talking about? If you look at Palestinians’ past, they’ve been a failed government. They paid no attention to water, to sewers, to schools, to the economics of their country. I’ve been over there, and it’s a disaster right now. Instead, they focused on chaos, on terrorism, so I don’t think that’s a viable solution right now. Again, I think President Trump, if anyone can solve this, I think it’s going to be President Trump. And what Canada is doing there is not very helpful for the cause.”
• Hudson (R-NC) 7/31/25: X-post – “I unequivocally stand with Israel and condemn Canada’s recognition of a so-called Palestinian state. Gaza is controlled by the murderous terrorist group Hamas- who still hold hostages, are stealing food aid and are to blame for the mass starvation in Gaza. The recognition of a so-called Palestinian state would be rewarding the very people responsible for the suffering and the starvation. Prime Minister Carney says this recognition is conditional on Hamas stepping aside and elections being held. That’s like recognizing Canada as a U.S. state, on the condition they someday vote to become one. It’s nonsensical. This move doesn’t advance peace, it rewards terrorism, fails to recognize the hostages and undermines our ally Israel. The United States must reject this kind of naïve appeasement and stand firmly for our values.“
• Ricketts (R-NE) 7/31/25: X-post – “Instead of caving to Hamas apologists, our British, French, and Canadian allies should work towards a resolution that actually leads to Hamas’ surrender. When we end Hamas, we can end this conflict. This playbook has been tried and failed over and again. Every time the world threatens Israel, Hamas is emboldened to reject ceasefires, keep the hostages, and maintain its terrorist hold over Gaza. Hamas must surrender.“
• Carter (R-GA) 7/30/25: X-post – “Translation: UK to recognize Hamas terrorists. I’m proud that the U.S., under @realDonaldTrump’s leadership, stands with Israel.” Linked to article about the UK threat to recognize the state of Palestine.

On the Murder of Awdah Hathaleen in the West Bank by an Israeli Settler

• Dexter (D-OR) 7/31/25: X-post – “The horrific murder of Awdah Hathaleen—a nonviolent voice for justice—by Israeli settlers is not an isolated act of violence. It is the direct result of Netanyahu’s campaign to silence those who expose the brutality of his extremist, violent government.“
• Nadler (D-NY) 7/29/25: X-post – “I’m deeply disturbed by the murder of Awdah Hathaleen in the village of Umm al-Khair in the West Bank. I am especially troubled that this murder was committed by Yinon Levi, a violent settler extremist, previously sanctioned under the Biden administration. Violence in the West Bank has reached fever pitch levels. That is why I introduced the West Bank Violence Prevention Act. The bill seeks to prevent these exact kind of acts by legislating the Biden Administration’s Executive Order 14115. The bill would also punish all those who commit such violent acts in the West Bank, regardless of their nationality. In the wake of this devastating and brutal murder by a previously sanctioned individual, I invite my colleagues to cosponsor HR 3045 in Awdah’s memory and join the fight to try to prevent such violence from occurring. Only through such action can Israelis and Palestinians begin to contemplate living in peace, security, and stability and move forward in a process aimed at achieving a two-state solution.”
• Simon (D-CA) 7/29/25: X-post – “I am heartbroken by the killing of Awdah Hathaleen, an English teacher and father of three, who was shot and killed in his village of Umm al-Khair by an Israeli settler previously sanctioned for violence. Just last month, I joined my Bay Area colleagues in demandingn answers from the Administration after Awdah and his cousin, both holding valid visas, were unjustly detained and deported from SFO while traveling to my district for a multicultural faith dialogue. The settler who killed Awdah must be held accountable. We cannot and will not support violence. No one should live under the threat of demolition, displacement, or death. Our office calls on the State Department to conduct a full investigation. U.S. foreign policy must not shield or enable human rights violations.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/29/25: X-post – “Awdah Hathaleen was a journalist and activist working toward justice. His killing is a tragedy. I was proud to show No Other Land in the Capitol—to bring its message from the West Bank to lawmakers. My heart goes out to his family and those mourning.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/29/25: X-post – “Awdah Hathaleen was a journalist and activist working toward justice. His killing is a tragedy. I was proud to show No Other Land in the Capitol — to bring its message from the West Bank to lawmakers. My heart goes out to his family and those mourning.“
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/29/25: X-post – “The murder of human rights activist Awdah Hathaleen by extremist settler Yinon Levi is a painful reminder that our government and Israel continue to enable and condone violence in the West Bank. Enough! We must reinstate the sanctions on West Bank settlers perpetrating violence and hold accountable all those whose extreme and escalating violence continues to rob us of our neighbors – including Trump and Netanyahu!”
• Khanna (D-CA) 7/29/25: X-post – “I condemn the killing of Awdah Hathaleen, a Palestinian activist and journalist. My heart breaks for his family and loved ones. We must speak out against violence and stand up for the dignity and rights of Palestinians.“
• Garamendi (D-CA) 7/29/25: “I am demanding answers about the reported tragic death of Awdah Hathaleen. Awdah, an English teacher and Palestinian activist, was previously denied entry to the United States after being invited to an Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity event to speak about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to recent reports, Hathaleen was shot by an Israeli settler in the West Bank village of Umm Al-Khair and later died of his wounds. Violence by Israeli settlers against peaceful Palestinians has been all too common and we must demand accountability. Unfortunately, this administration has shown little interest in pushing for peace. On day one of his second term, President Trump repealed sanctions on 30 Israeli settlers and settler organizations accused of engaging in violence in the West Bank. One of those settlers allegedly shot Hathaleen. Lifting sanctions on the very individuals who perpetrate these unacceptable acts only emboldens violent settlers and sends a signal that the United States won’t hold violent actors accountable. The West Bank has witnessed intolerable levels of settler violence for decades, and the war in Gaza has only further exacerbated this situation. Settler violence in the West Bank wreaks terror and forces the displacement of Palestinian communities, further destabilizing the Middle East region and putting the prospects for peace and security even further out of reach. This is unacceptable. Israel must rein in settler violence and ensure that Palestinians in the West Bank are able to live in peace, free from the threat of violence.”

Stoking Hate for Palestinians/Muslims/People Who Care about Palestinians, Etc

• Fine (R-FL) 7/26/25: X-post – “First they come for the Saturday people. Then they come for the Sunday people.” Amplifying post claiming “BREAKING: Multiple smoke bombs have been set off during Montreal church worship service by Islamists waving Palestinian flags.” The actual story: Montreal church fined $2,500 for hosting U.S. Christian singer without permit (National Post 7/26/25) – excerpt: “The City of Montreal has fined a local church for hosting a concert by the U.S.-based Christian musician Sean Feucht. Feucht’s controversial views and his status as a rising star in the MAGA movement have led officials to cancel his concerts in several Canadian cities in recent days. But on Friday evening, an evangelical church in Montreal allowed Feucht to perform a hastily scheduled concert over the objections of the city administration, and is now facing a $2,500 fine…”; also see: Protests erupt outside Montreal church where U.S. Christian musician held worship performance (National Post 7/26/25) Excerpt – “…As Feucht’s supporters began arriving, local activists gathered in front of the Spanish-speaking church on Roy St, chanting anti-Trump and anti-fascism slogans. Tensions grew as the crowd grew.”
• Fine (R-FL) 7/25/25: X-post – “Don’t Gaza my America.” Amplifying an X-post decrying a children’s choir at what the post claims is a school in Texas (if it is, it’s a private school, or just as likely it is at a Palestinian community group’s event) singing in Arabic while wearing keffiyas, with the comment: “Texas can never be allowed to become a Muslim state. America can never be allowed to become a Muslim country.“
• Fine (R-FL) 7/25/25: X-post – “CAIR is a terrorist organization. Their leaders celebrate genocide and want America to become a Muslim caliphate. Make no mistake, these are evil people, and my bill calls evil by its name by designating CAIR a foreign terrorist organization.“

Targeting the NEA

• Blackburn (R-TN) 7/28/25: X-post – “The National Education Association erased the word ‘Jewish’ when referencing the Holocaust in their handbook. After being caught red-handed, they erased the handbook from their website.   This blatant antisemitism is why we need to pass my NEA Charter Repeal Act.”
• Tenney (R-NY) 7/28/25: X-post – “The NEA’s new handbook mentions 12 million Holocaust victims from various backgrounds but somehow leaves out the Jews; the very people the Nazis tried to exterminate. Instead of teaching the truth, they attempt to smear Israel and push anti-Zionist propaganda. This isn’t education. It’s antisemitic, dishonest, and disgraceful.“
• House Committee on Education & Reform (GOP) 7/28/25: X-post – “The same handbook that tried to spread antisemitic materials and erase the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust. Seems America’s biggest teachers union is embarrassed now that they’ve been caught.” Responding to 7/25/25 Corey DeAngelis post, “BREAKING: The nation’s largest teachers union just scrubbed their 2025 handbook from their website. Too bad for them, I saved the 434-page document.“
• Lummis (R-WY) 7/26/25: X-post – “After @RepFitzgerald and I introduced legislation this week to hold the NEA accountable – and outlaw them from promoting antisemitism, Critical Race Theory, or engaging in partisan politics – they suddenly deleted their handbook. We will hold the NEA accountable.” Responding to 7/25/25 Corey DeAngelis post, “BREAKING: The nation’s largest teachers union just scrubbed their 2025 handbook from their website. Too bad for them, I saved the 434-page document.”

Other stuff

• Owens (R-UT) 7/31/25: X-post – “‘Woke is officially DEAD at Brown.’ Thanks to action from President @realDonaldTrump and  @usedgov, another college is finally stepping up, ending antisemitism, enforcing Title IX, and restoring merit. A BIG win for students, parents, and higher ed.“
• Greene (R-GA) 7/31/25: X-post (excerpt) – “Yesterday I spoke to a Christian pastor from Gaza. There are children starving. And Christians have been killed and injured, as well as many innocent people. If you are an American Christian, this should be absolutely unacceptable to you. Just as we said that Hamas killing and kidnapping innocent people on Oct 7th is absolutely unacceptable. Are innocent Israeli lives more valuable than innocent Palestinian and Christian lives? And why should America continue funding this? The secular government of nuclear armed Israel has proven that they are beyond capable of dealing with their enemies and are capable of and are in the process of systematically cleansing them from the land. Most Americans that I know don’t hate Israel and we are not antisemitic at all. We are beyond fed up with being told that we have to fix the world’s problems, pay for the world’s problems, and fight all the world’s wars while Americans are struggling to survive even though they work everyday. And many of us, even though we are Christians, no longer want to fund and fight nuclear armed secular Israel’s wars especially when it leads to starving children and killing innocent people including Christians. Of course we are against radical Islamic terrorism, but we are also against genocide. You see.. When you have worked your entire life, and will only receive a $1,000 Social Security check, but noncitizens were given $3,500 and more, you are pissed off. When you have worked your entire life, and all your elected federal officials have recklessly spent and sent your hard earned money to every foreign country and every foreign war and NGO to the point we are almost $40 TRILLION in debt and inflation has caused life to be unaffordable, you are pissed off. When you have worked your entire life, and your elected federal government officials refuse to fix the absurd problems that makes all insurance unaffordable, you are pissed off. And for the younger generations, who are trying their hardest to make it in this ridiculous system, they feel hopeless! And that makes me burn with anger. None of this is antisemitic and I, along with millions of Americans, refuse that manipulative label. It’s the consequences of decades of America LAST policies, nonstop foreign intervention, and the American people clearly seeing the truth and suffering. Here is where I stand. No American should face persecution of any kind because of their identity. Not Jewish American. Not Muslim American. Not Christian American. Not White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, mixed American. And on and on. We already have hate crime laws against that and that’s not who we are in America and we have and should continue to work hard to not allow ourselves to become that…”
• Risch (R-ID) 7/30/25: X-post – “.@USTreasury’s announcement today will deal a massive blow to Russia and Iran, and their destabilizing agenda. President Trump’s maximum pressure on Iran will continue as long as it insists on enriching uranium & refuses to negotiate.“
• Cohen (D-TN) 7/30/25: Congressmen Cohen and McClintock Condemn the Execution of Iranian Political Prisoners
• Massie (R-KY) 7/30/25: X-post – “Israel’s war in Gaza is so lopsided that there’s no rational argument American taxpayers should be paying for it. With tens of thousands of civilian casualties, there’s a moral dilemma too. I vote to stop funding their war and lobbyists for Israel pay for campaign ads against me.” Linked to article in The Hill – The American right is falling out of love with Israel
• House Committee on Education & the Workforce (GOP) 7/29/25: X-post – “Antisemitism has been out of control on Harvard’s campus. Jewish students and faculty faced rampant harassment with virtually no support from university leaders. We’re glad that the Trump administration is finally holding schools accountable for following the law and facing antisemitism head-on.“
• Goldman (D-NY) 7/29/25: Rep. Dan Goldman Convenes Boro Park Leadership Roundtable With Elected Officials, Law Enforcement, and Community Groups to Address Rise in Antisemitic Incidents
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/28/25: X-post – “Adam Shapiro watched live as Israeli forces stormed the Freedom Flotilla in international waters and detained his wife, Palestinian American human rights lawyer Huwaida Arraf and 20 others for trying to deliver food to Gaza. Thank you Huwaida Arraf, for your courage and conviction. Michigan is with you.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/28/25: X-post – “Congress is threatening to sanction South Africa for their courageous leadership against the Israeli regime’s genocide in Gaza. H.R.2633 is an extremist disgrace. Republicans and any Democrats who vote for this should forever keep Mandela’s name out of their mouths.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/27/25: X-post – “.@StateDept seven Americans were on this ship. You must ensure the Israeli government doesn’t abuse their rights, torture or kill them. Americans have been getting killed in Israel with no accountability. Your mission is centered on protecting Americans abroad. Do your job.” Responding to a post reporting Israel’s interception of the Handala in international waters.
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/26/25: X-post – “I’m glad to see this bill adopting the IHRA definition of antisemitism advance unanimously out of committee this week in the NJ Assembly. With antisemitic hate surging across our state, it’s time to get this done to protect our Jewish communities.“
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/26/25: X-post – “France’s decision is deeply misguided. It rewards Hamas for the atrocities of October 7 and is counterproductive to real, lasting peace. Peace in the region requires honest talks between Israelis and Palestinians, not unilateral declarations by foreign nations. This is a slap in the face to the victims of 10/7 and does nothing to advance a real Palestinian state.”

• Jewish News Syndicate 7/31/25: Pro-Israel lobbying costs, campaign donations up in 2025, in one case by 375% [“‘As the 2026 midterm elections approach, that increased involvement will ensure that the voice of the pro-Israel community will be heard,’ an AIPAC spokesman told JNS.”]
• Politico 7/31/25: A Democrat in the middle of the Israel firestorm – Rep. Sara Jacobs represents her party’s dilemma
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/31/25: Nadler gave ‘distorted picture’ of Oct. 7, conflict in Gaza, per Israeli consul NY
• Free Beacon 7/31/25: ‘Irredeemably Compromised’: Trump Admin Tells Congress Hamas-Linked UNRWA Must Be Dismantled [“The assessment indicates that the US has fully lost faith in the organization after months of revelations that at least a dozen UNRWA employees participated in Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against Israel”]
• Zeteo 7/31/25: This (Fake) Senator Explains Why He Met with Netanyahu and Is Backed By AIPAC [“As Democrats scramble to speak up on Gaza, Zeteo’s Frank Cappello imagines what their latest equivocations would be.”]
• Reuters 7/31/25: Exclusive: Trump officials told Congress Israel agreed to match $30 million for GHF, sources say
• The Institute for National Security Studies (INSS – Israel) 7/31/25: Opposition to Israel’s Actions in Gaza Increases in The United States Congress and the American Public
• The Hill 7/31/25: Republican infighting expands to an unusual place: Israel
• Vox 7/31/25: Democratic voters have turned against Israel. Why won’t their leaders?
• Mondoweiss 7/30/25: Lawmakers pressure Trump on Gaza aid, as support for Israel craters among Democrats
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/30/25: Jew-hatred an ‘attack on very fabric of our society,’ congressman says [“Rep. Dan Goldman brought together politicians, Jewish leaders and law enforcement for a meeting in Brooklyn, N.Y.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/30/25: California Dem congressman blames Israel for aid truckloads UN hasn’t delivered [“‘Hundreds of truckloads of aid are currently sitting at the Gaza border waiting to be distributed. This is unacceptable,’” Rep. Scott Peters said.”]
• Washington Post 7/30/25: I might lean left — but Marjorie Taylor Greene is winning my respect [“The congresswoman, who represents my district, has shown genuine political courage lately.”]
• The Hill 7/30/25: The American right is falling out of love with Israel [excerpt – “Shifting Republican attitudes on Israel are increasingly visible in Congress. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) stunned colleagues this month by proposing an amendment to eliminate upwards of $500 million in U.S. military aid for Israel’s missile defense. Greene cited Israel’s recent bombing of Gaza’s only Catholic church and railed against funding “nuclear-armed Israel’s missile defense system” while Americans face domestic needs. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was the only GOP House member who voted with her, along with four Democrats. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), perhaps Congress’s most ardent pro-Israel voice, recently blasted violent attacks by Jewish settlers on Christians. ‘There was a Catholic church burned in the West Bank,’ Graham said angrily on Fox News, referring to a church compound torched by extremist Israeli settlers. ‘What’s happening in the West Bank bothers the hell out of me,’ he added, demanding that Netanyahu punish those responsible. When a stalwart like Graham is ‘incredibly upset’ by Israeli settler violence, it’s clear that the old consensus is cracking.”]
• Jewish Insider 7/30/25: Mike Johnson: ‘Suffering and misery’ in Gaza is ‘quite alarming to see’
• Times of Israel 7/30/25: Trump’s MAGA base defies conservative pro-Israel doctrine [“Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a leading far-right voice in Washington, this week became the first Republican lawmaker to call Israel’s military actions in Gaza a genocide“]
• Jewish Insider 7/30/25: Congress gridlocked over legislation to crack down on antisemitism [“ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt: ‘I’d like to see the extremes marginalized so the vast majority of members of Congress on both sides can get the stuff done that needs to happen’“]
• Jewish Insider 7/30/25: Nadler draws primary challenger calling for generational change [“…Elkind’s newly launched campaign is reportedly expected to draw significant financial backing from Reid Hoffman, the billionaire LinkedIn co-founder and a major Democratic donor who has previously supported moderate, pro-Israel candidates, fueling online criticism from the activist left.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/30/25: Ritchie Torres: Gaza war is turning into a ‘quagmire’ like Iraq [“Torres: ‘War becomes a process of mutual dehumanization which we’re seeing in real time’“]
• The Intercept 7/29/25: As Gaza Starves, Republicans Take Aim at Another Lifeline. Almost No One Noticed. [“It seems incredibly hypocritical to suddenly be shocked by these images when every humanitarian agency has said no one can replace UNRWA.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/29/25: The Muslim Brotherhood: A terrorist organization the US must designate as such [“…The efforts are led by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy. Cruz has introduced the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025. Cruz said on July 16: ‘The Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization, and it provides support to Muslim Brotherhood branches that are terrorist organizations. One of those branches is Hamas, which on October 7 committed the worst single-day massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, which included the murder and kidnapping of at least 53 Americans. They are committed to the overthrow and destruction of America and other non-Islamist governments across the world, and pose an acute threat to American national security interests. American allies in the Middle East and Europe have already labeled the Brotherhood a terrorist organization, and the United States should do the same, and do so expeditiously.‘”]
• Al-Monitor 7/29/25: AIPAC denies pulling Randy Fine endorsement after derogatory comments on Gaza starvation; Mediate 7/29/25: AIPAC Hits Back At Report It Pulled Endorsement For House Republican Who Said Gaza Can ‘Starve Away’
• Times of Israel 7/29/25: AIPAC appears to drop endorsement of GOP lawmaker who called for Gaza to ‘starve away’ until hostages freed; The New Republic 7/28/25: Not Even AIPAC Wants to Be Associated With This GOP Rep Anymore
• Jewish Insider 7/29/25: Rep. Ritchie Torres offers muscular defense of Israel amid flurry of Dem criticism [“Torres: ‘The accusations against Israel, whether it’s genocide, apartheid or [deliberate] starvation, are all false. It’s all a propaganda campaign’”]
• New York Times 7/29/25: Greene Calls Gaza Crisis a ‘Genocide,’ Hinting at Rift on the Right Over Israel [“Marjorie Taylor Greene was the first Republican in Congress to use the term to describe the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. But others in the MAGA movement have expressed growing concern about Israel.“]
• Jewish Insider 7/29/25: Sen. McCormick lauds Israel’s efforts in creating more secure Middle East [“McCormick: ’We have to eradicate [and] destroy the evil’ that caused the Oct. 7 attacks”]
• The Hill 7/28/25: Sen. Angus King to oppose ‘any’ support for Israel amid Gaza crisis
• Maine Public 7/28/25: Angus King calls for withdrawing support for Israel ‘as long as there are starving children in Gaza’
• The Forward 7/28/25: Is starvation in Gaza really Israel’s fault? The facts are clear [“Some members of Congress, on both sides of the political aisle, have taken the line that aid would be allowed in if there were a ceasefire, and that Hamas is the party responsible for the lack of one. Rep. Dan Goldman, a Democrat from New York, posted, ‘Gaza is on the brink of mass starvation. Israel, the U.S. and the international community must collaborate to ensure a massive surge of humanitarian relief immediately,’ to which he added: ‘This war must end. And let’s be clear: Hamas could end it today if they wanted to.’“]
• The Forward 7/28/25: After Mamdani and Gaza, are Democrats turning against Israel? [“Pro-Israel New York Democrats are talking differently about Israel. Is the party’s direction changing after Mamdani’s victory?“]
• Jewish Insider 7/28/25: Ritchie Torres: Netanyahu has done ‘irreparable damage’ to relationship with Democrats [“The vocal pro-Israel Democrat said he has ‘no real relationship’ with the Israeli government”]
• Responsible Statecraft 7/28/25: AOC wrong: More civilians die when we send Israel ‘defensive weapons’  [“The progressive congresswoman deserves the heat she’s getting for her vote against a bill that would’ve held back aid to Jerusalem”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/28/25: Graham: ‘Israel to take Gaza down like we did in Tokyo, Berlin’ [“‘Hamas is a terrorist organization, chartered to destroy the State of Israel. They’re religious Nazis,’ the U.S. lawmaker said.”]
• NBC News 7/27/25: Sen. Lindsey Graham says there’s no way for Israel to negotiate an end to the war with Hamas [“The Republican senator said Israel will likely take control of Gaza and compared it to U.S. actions at the end of World War II in Japan and Germany.”]
• The Intercept 7/26/25: Israeli Parliament Votes for Making Apartheid Official. Fetterman: “I Haven’t Been Following It.” [“Israel’s Parliament voted in favor of annexing the West Bank. Other Democrats interviewed by The Intercept condemned the move.”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/25/25: Democrats warn of ‘starvation’ among Palestinians in Gaza Strip [“‘It is Israel’s responsibility, and within its capacity, to address and resolve the situation,’ stated Rep. Brad Schneider of Illinois, who is Jewish.”]
• Information Liberation 7/24/25: AIPAC-Funded Reps Seek ‘Crack Down on Anti-Semitism’ With Bill to Censor Social Media
• Reuters 7/23/25: US lawmakers advance bill that could sanction South Africa over its foreign policy [covered in last week’s Round-Up]
• Arutz Sheva 7/23/25: Dozens of Congressmen express support for Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria [“30 Senators and Congressmen participated in a conference in support of Samaria with the participation of Council Chairman Yossi Dagan – the largest conference in Washington for Judea and Samaria ever“] -includes photos & video of the event

State-of-play: On 7/23/25, the House Appropriations Committee held a Full Committee Markup of Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill (NSRP), at which they marked up and passed (by a party-line vote of 35-27) the base text of the FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill (previously known as the State and Foreign Operations (SFOPS) bill and its accompanying report. That hearing (video here) featured – predictably – lots of focus on Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East, including plenty of grandstanding in support of Israel and point-scoring against Palestinians, including via amendments (see all amendments). Also see the Committee (GOP) press release, Committee Approves FY26 National Security, Department of State Appropriations Act, which notes the adoption of an amendment offered by Diaz-Balart (R-FL), adopted by a vote of 34-27, that among other things “strengthens Iran sanctions and enforcement” and “confronts Muslim Brotherhood threats” and combats CCP-linked scam centers that target Americans.

Next up: On 7/25/25 the FY26 NSRP Appropriations bill was reported out of the Appropriations Committee , and formally introduced as HR 4779. Stay tuned for timing on debate/amendments on the House floor.

The Middle East in the House FY26 NSRP bill & accompanying report: As always, this bill is packed with provisions related to the Middle East in general, and related to Israel and the Palestinians in particular. Details are below.

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TITLE I — DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND RELATED AGENCY

BILL TEXT

• Center for Middle Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust Fund: Perennial bill provision stating: “For necessary expenses of the Center for Middle Eastern-Western Dialogue Trust Fund, as authorized by section 633 of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004 (22 U.S.C. 2078), the total amount of the interest and earnings accruing to such Fund on or before September 30, 2026, to remain available until expended.”
• Israeli Arab Scholarship Program: Perennial bill provision stating: “For necessary expenses of the Israeli Arab Scholarship Program, as authorized by section 214 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 (22 U.S.C. 2452 note), all interest and earnings accruing to the Israeli Arab Scholarship Fund on or before September 30, 2026, to remain available until expended.” 

REPORT TEXT

• Earmarks in the report: The report earmarks funding for the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords ($1,500,000) and the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism ($2,500,00)
• Combating antisemitism: “The Committee recognizes the important work of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism and directs not less than $2,500,000 be made available for the Office, as authorized by the Global Anti-Semitism Review Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-332). The Committee remains concerned by the lack of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions within the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism and its impact on the stability and continuity of operations of the Office. Further, the Committee encourages the Department of State to ensure that FTEs hired with this funding are adequately assigned across offices, including the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism which plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of Jewish communities around the world.”
• Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords: “The Committee directs not less than $1,500,000 for the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for the Abraham Accords, as authorized by section 6407 of the Department of State Authorization Act of 2023 (division F of Public Law 118-31).”
• Foreign adversaries. “The Committee is concerned that foreign adversaries and affiliated non-state actors are conducting influence campaigns featuring antisemitic symbols graffitied in public places, antisemitic social media content, and threats made against Jewish entities. Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on any known incidents of such activities taking place within the last calendar year, and whether, to what extent, and to what end, foreign adversaries and affiliated non-state actors may be using antisemitism and antisemitic symbols in this manner, including the specific narratives, techniques, and organizations targeted in these campaigns.”

TITLE III — BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE

Migration & Refugee Assistance (MRA): The bill stipulates that, “not less than $6,500,000 shall be made available for refugees resettling in Israel.” NOTE: The current earmark for MRA for Israel dates back to the 1990s and the influx of Jews to Israel from the former Soviet Union. As those refugee numbers decreased, the earmark has diminished, leveling off at $5 million a year since 2019 [which given the numbers of actual refugees Israel is absorbing these days is actually a huge amount per capita], but now raised by House Republicans — seeking to increase this hard earmark by (at least) a whopping 13% (under this provision $6.5 million would be the floor, not the ceiling, for funding available to Israel in the category). For more on the history of MRA for Israel, see this report from the Congressional Research Service.  The Report accompanying the bill adds: “The Committee provides not less than $6,500,000 for refugees from the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and other refugees resettling in Israel.”

NATIONAL SECURITY INVESTMENT PROGRAMS (formerly known as ESF): The REPORT TEXT includes a table laying out “National Security Investment Programs” allocations includes for the Middle East and North Africa as follows:

• Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI): $50 million
• Middle East Regional Cooperation (MERC): $10 million
• Near East Regional Democracy: $55 million
• USAID-Israel Development Cooperation: $4 million

TITLE IV – INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE

BILL TEXT

• Non-proliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs (NADR): This section of the bill includes a perennial stipulation that “…funds appropriated under this heading may be made available for the IAEA unless the Secretary of State determines that Israel is being denied its right to participate in the activities of that Agency” 
• Peacekeeping Operations (PKO): The bill earmarks not less than $30 million “for a United States contribution to the Multinational Force and Observers mission in the Sinai”

REPORT TEXT

• Multinational Force and Observers Mission (MFO). “The Committee directs $30,000,000 for the Multinational Force and Observers Mission in the Sinai, including $6,000,000 for force protection requirements. The Committee notes the invaluable service provided by the MFO in preserving stability in a very volatile part of the world with relatively few personnel and a small budget. United States leadership and participation in the MFO is important to the national security interest of the United States.”
• Foreign Military Financing (FMF): Most FMF for the Middle East is covered in Sec. 7041 (see below). In addition, the report accompanying the bill lays out FMF for the Middle East as follows: Bahrain – $4,000,000; Egypt – $1,375,000,000; Israel – $3,300,000,000; Jordan – $475,000,000; Morocco – $20,000,000

TITLE VII – GENERAL PROVISIONS

BILL TEXT

Section 7004: Diplomatic Facilities — Part (e) of this section stipulates that, “ (e) Facilities.–None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be used–(1) to move the United States embassy to the State of Israel to a location other than Jerusalem; or (2) for a United States Embassy, Consulate General, or any other diplomatic facility in Jerusalem other than the United States Embassy to the State of Israel.”

Section 7007: Prohibition against direct funding for certain countries — This is a perennial provision banning aid to Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria, extending to loans, credits, insurance, and guarantees of the Export-Import Bank or its agents. 

Section 7008: Coups d’état — This is a perennial provision stating that no US funding “shall be obligated or expended to finance directly any assistance to the government of any country whose duly elected head of government is deposed by military coup d’etat or decree or, after the date of enactment of this Act, a coup d’etat or decree in which the military plays a decisive role.” It also states that “assistance may be resumed to such government if the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that subsequent to the termination of assistance a democratically elected government has taken office” and that the prohibition in this section “shall not apply to assistance to promote democratic elections or public participation in democratic processes, or to support a democratic transition.” It also includes a waiver. Reminder: this is the provision that caused problems for the Obama Administration in the context of Egypt. 

Section 7013: Prohibition on taxation of assistance — This is a perennial provision barring taxation of U.S. assistance and imposing huge financial penalties on governments that do so. While this provision appears generic, the only recipient explicitly identified is the West Bank and Gaza. This singling out of the Palestinians reflects the genesis of the provision: long-ago allegations that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was taxing U.S. assistance provided to NGOs (recall that under existing law direct aid to the PA is prohibited), and thereby indirectly benefiting from US assistance designed specifically to bypass the PA. [Note: this is the section that was raised as a problem back when Israel was considering imposing massive taxes on foreign government donations to civil society organizations].

Section 7015: Notification Requirements — Part (f) of this provision states that no funds appropriated under titles III through VI of this Act (pretty much all funds in the bill) may be obligated or expended for assistance to a laundry list of countries, “except as provided through regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.” From the Middle East, the list includes (this year): Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen.

Section 7021: Prohibition on assistance to governments supporting international terrorism — Perennial provision prohibiting funding to any country “which provides lethal military equipment to a country the government of which the Secretary of State has determined supports international terrorism for purposes of section 1754(c) of the Export Reform Control Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c))…” and prohibits bilateral assistance to any country that supports international terrorism, gives sanctuary to terrorists, or is controlled by a terrorist organization. The section includes national security waivers for both restrictions. 

Section 7033: International Religious Freedom — Part (c) notes: “Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading ‘National Security Investment Programs’ may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law for assistance for ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and Syria..”

Section 7034: Special Provisions: Part (f)(3) of this section extends existing U.S. loan guarantees for Israel (provided under Chapter 5 of title I of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2003 (Public Law 108–11; 117 Stat. 576) until September 30, 2030 [NOTE: This is the emergency $9 billion that was provided for Israel in 2003, quietly extended over and over by Congress for going on 20 years. As noted in a recent CRS report on US aid to Israel, “Israeli officials may believe that although they have not used the loan guarantees in the last 18 years, maintaining the program boosts the country’s fiscal standing among international creditors in capital markets.“]

Section 7035: Law Enforcement and Security

• Part (b)(3) of this section of the bill is a perennial provision providing for financing of commercial leasing of defense articles to Israel, Egypt, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and major non-NATO allies.
• Part (b)(5) is entitled, “War Reserve Stockpile Authority.” It stipulates that “For fiscal year 2026, section 514(b) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h(b)) shall not apply to defense articles to be set aside, earmarked, reserved, or intended for use as reserve stocks in stockpiles in the State of Israel.” What this means, in effect, is that for FY25, Israel can legally obtain unlimited amounts of defense articles from US war reserve stockpiles.
• Part (c)(2) lays out limitations related to landmines and cluster munitions.

Section 7037: Palestinian statehood — Perennial provision barring (with extensive language) assistance to a Palestinian state that does not meet a series of conditions (includes perennial Presidential waiver authority). It also includes: “The restriction in subsection (a) shall not apply to assistance intended to help reform the Palestinian Authority and affiliated institutions, or the governing entity, in order to help meet the requirements of subsection (a), consistent with the provisions of section 7040 of this Act (“Limitation on Assistance for the Palestinian Authority”)”

Section 7038: Prohibition on Assistance to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corp — Perennial provision (dating back many many years) barring any U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation.

Section 7039: Assistance for the West Bank and Gaza (perennial)

• Part (a): OVERSIGHT – this sub-section stipulates that “For fiscal year 2026, 30 days prior to the initial obligation of funds for the bilateral West Bank and Gaza Program, the Secretary of State shall certify to the Committees on Appropriations that procedures have been established to assure the Comptroller General of the United States will have access to appropriate United States financial information in order to review the uses of United States assistance for the Program funded under the heading ‘Economic Support Fund’ for the West Bank and Gaza.”
• Part (b): VETTING – this sub-section stipulates that “Prior to the obligation of funds appropriated by this Act under the heading “Economic Support Fund” for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza, the Secretary of State shall take all appropriate steps to ensure that such assistance is not provided to or through any individual, private or government entity, or educational institution that the Secretary knows or has reason to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in, terrorist activity nor, with respect to private entities or educational institutions, those that have as a principal officer of the entity’s governing board or governing board of trustees any individual that has been determined to be involved in, or advocating terrorist activity or determined to be a member of a designated foreign terrorist organization: Provided, That the Secretary of State shall, as appropriate, establish procedures specifying the steps to be taken in carrying out this subsection and shall terminate assistance to any individual, entity, or educational institution which the Secretary has determined to be involved in or advocating terrorist activity.”
• Part (c): PROHIBITION – This subsection bars use of funds for the West Bank and Gaza being used for: “Recognizing or otherwise honoring individuals who commit, or have committed acts of terrorism” or for “any educational institution located in the West Bank or Gaza that is named after an individual who the Secretary of State determines has committed an act of terrorism.” It also bars funding for security assistance for the West Bank and Gaza under the the Secretary of State report to Congress on “the benchmarks that have been established for security assistance for the West Bank and Gaza and on the extent of Palestinian compliance with such benchmarks” and “the steps being taken by the Palestinian Authority to end torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment of detainees, including by bringing to justice members of Palestinian security forces who commit such crimes.”
• Part (d): AUDIT – this sub-section lays out required oversight by USAID, including annual (at least) audits of “all contractors and grantees, and significant subcontractors and sub-grantees, under the West Bank and Gaza Program“, and allocating up to $1.4 million to USAID for “audits, investigations, and other activities in furtherance of the requirements of this subsection.”
• Part (e): AUDIT – this subsection requires the Comptroller General of the United States to audit and investigate “the treatment, handling, and uses of all funds for the bilateral West Bank and Gaza Program, including all funds provided as cash transfer assistance, in fiscal year 2025 under the heading ‘Economic Support Fund’”
• Part (f): NOTIFICATION – this subsection states that “Funds made available in this Act for West Bank and Gaza shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.”

Section 7040: Limitation on Assistance to the Palestinian Authority (perennial)

>Prohibiting aid to the PA: Part (a) bars any funds from this act being used to provide funding to the Palestinian Authority.

>Waiver of Prohibition on Aid to the PA (but not really): Part (b) enables the President to waive the ban in (a) if he certifies to Congress that doing so “is important to the national security interest of the United States.” [Note: Don’t let Part (b) fool you. Part (e), below, turns what otherwise looks like a clean national security waiver into an exercise in which the Executive’s ability to support/defend/promote US national security is made conditional on factors that are outside US control; as in, if the Secretary of State cannot make the certification required under part (e) of this section, the president cannot exercise the “waiver” provided under part (b) of this section, US national security be damned].

>Limitations on that supposed waiver: Part (c) stipulates that any waiver under (b) “shall be effective for no more than a period of 6 months at a time and shall not apply beyond 12 months after the enactment of this Act.” Part (d) requires a report to Congress from the President in conjunction with any use of the waiver in part (b), detailing “the justification for the waiver, the purposes for which the funds will be spent, and the accounting procedures in place to ensure that the funds are properly disbursed” and also detailing “the steps the Palestinian Authority has taken to arrest terrorists, confiscate weapons and dismantle the terrorist infrastructure.” And Part (e) requires that in conjunction with any use of the waiver in part (b), the Secretary of State “must certify and report to the Committees on Appropriations prior to the obligation of funds that the Palestinian Authority has established a single treasury account for all Palestinian Authority financing and all financing mechanisms flow through this account, no parallel financing mechanisms exist outside of the Palestinian Authority treasury account, and there is a single comprehensive civil service roster and payroll, and the Palestinian Authority is acting to counter incitement of violence against Israelis and is supporting activities aimed at promoting peace, coexistence, and security cooperation with Israel.”

>Barring Aid to the PLO, Hamas, or any power-sharing govt: Part (f), is a long subsection entitled “Prohibition to Hamas and the Palestine Liberation Organization” (lumping together a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with the internationally recognized representative of the Palestinian people that is NOT on the list of U.S.-designated FTO since that list was first published in 1997).

• This subsection bars funding to the PLO and bars funding for salaries of PA personnel in Gaza or for Hamas or any for  entity “or any entity effectively controlled by Hamas, any power-sharing government of which Hamas is a member, or that results from an agreement with Hamas and over which Hamas exercises undue influence.” NOTE: The formulation in this legislation, which dates back to the Obama era, was explicitly designed to make it difficult for the U.S. engage any kind of Palestinian power-sharing government that could result from some future Fatah-Hamas reconciliation or from some other arrangements that lead to a national unity government or a mutually-agreed technocratic government (the text has evolved over the years in response to Palestinian efforts to achieve such governments).
• The section includes language of past bills stipulating that the prohibition does not apply if the President “certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such government, including all of its ministers or such equivalent, has publicly accepted and is complying with the principles contained in section 620K(b)(1) (A) and (B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended.” It also includes the proviso that, “the President may exercise the authority in section 620K(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as added by the Palestine Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-446) with respect to this subsection.”
• As a reminder, Section 620K(b)(1)(A) and (B) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, reads as follows: (b) Certification.–A certification described in subsection (a) is a certification transmitted by the President to Congress that contains a determination of the President that– (1) no ministry, agency, or instrumentality of the Palestinian Authority is effectively controlled by Hamas, unless the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Authority has– (A) publicly acknowledged the Jewish state of Israel’s right to exist; and (B) committed itself and is adhering to all previous agreements and understandings with the United States Government, with the Government of Israel, and with the international community, including agreements and understandings pursuant to the Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (commonly referred to as the `Roadmap’).
• And 620K(e) reads as follows: (e) National Security Waiver.– (1) In general.–Subject to paragraph (2), the President may waive subsection (a) with respect to-(A) the administrative and personal security costs of the Office of the President of the Palestinian Authority; (B) the activities of the President of the Palestinian Authority to fulfill his or her duties as President, including to maintain control of the management and security of border crossings, to foster the Middle East peace process, and to promote democracy and the rule of law; and (C) assistance for the judiciary branch of the Palestinian Authority and other entities. (2) Certification.–The President may only exercise the waiver authority under paragraph (1) after– (A) consulting with, and submitting a written policy justification to, the appropriate congressional committees; and (B) certifying to the appropriate congressional committees that– (i) it is in the national security interest of the United States to provide assistance otherwise prohibited under subsection (a); and (ii) the individual or entity for which assistance is proposed to be provided is not a member of, or effectively controlled by (as the case may be), Hamas or any other foreign terrorist organization.

Section 7041: Middle East and North Africa

>>>BAHRAIN<<<

Not mentioned in the bill, but the Report notes: “The Committee notes the important role that the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA) with Bahrain plays in facilitating cooperation between the United States and Bahrain on areas of shared interest. The Committee directs the Secretary of State to prioritize diplomatic efforts to increase membership in C-SIPA to benefit United States interests in the Middle East and the United States partnership with Bahrain.”

>>>EGYPT<<<

BILL TEXT

 (1) Assistance.–Of the funds appropriated by this Act, not less than $1,425,000,000 shall be made available for assistance for Egypt, of which– (A) not less than $125,000,000 shall be made available from funds under the heading “National Security Investment Programs”; and (B) not less than $1,300,000,000 shall be made available from funds under the heading ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’, to remain available until September 30, 2027:  Provided, That such funds may be transferred to an interest bearing account in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

(2) Additional security assistance.–In addition to amounts made available pursuant to paragraph (1), not less than $75,000,000 of the funds appropriated under the heading ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ shall be made available for assistance for Egypt.

(3) Certification and report.–Funds appropriated by this Act that are available for assistance for Egypt may be made  available notwithstanding any other provision of law restricting assistance for Egypt, except for this subsection and section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and may only be made available for assistance for the Government of Egypt if the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that such government is–(A) sustaining the strategic relationship with the United States; and (B) meeting its obligations under the 1979 Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty.

REPORT TEXT

• “The Committee notes that the United States and Egypt share a mutual interest in Middle East peace and stability, economic opportunity, and regional security. Since the Camp David Accords, United States assistance to Egypt has played an important role in the country’s economic and military development. The Committee recognizes the enduring Egypt-Israel peace agreement as well as Egypt’s ongoing efforts to combat terrorism and counter Iran’s malign influence in the region. 
• Supporting a stable, democratic, and prosperous Egypt continues to be a core objective of United States foreign policy.
• Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations regarding different options, including a memorandum of understanding, to augment long-term planning in the mutually beneficial United States-Egypt partnership, particularly with respect to security assistance.
• The Committee directs not less than $1,425,000,000 for assistance for Egypt. Pursuant to subsection (a)(2), an additional $75,000,000 under Foreign Military Financing Program is included to make up for prior year Foreign Military Financing Program funds that expired or were reprogrammed rather than being made available for the intended purpose. In addition to amounts provided in subsection (a), the Committee directs that $2,000,000 be made available from Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs and $2,000,000 be made available from International Military Education and Training.
• The Committee directs that $40,000,000 of the funds appropriated under National Security Investment Programs and made available for assistance for Egypt be allocated for higher education programs in Egypt, including $17,500,000 for scholarships for Egyptian students with high financial need to attend not-for-profit institutions of higher education in Egypt that are currently accredited by a regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or meet standards equivalent to those required for United States institutional accreditation by a regional accrediting agency recognized by such Department. Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief the Committees on Appropriations on implementation of funds made available for scholarships in Egypt.”
• Report required — “Religious freedom.–Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall update the report required under this heading in section 7041 of House Report 117-84 concerning the treatment of Christian communities in Egypt.”

>>>IRAN<<<

BILL TEXT

 (b) Iran.– (1) Funding.–Funds appropriated by this Act under the headings ‘Diplomatic Programs’, ‘National Security Investment Programs’, and ‘Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs’ shall be made available–(A) to support the United States policy to prevent Iran from achieving the capability to produce or  otherwise obtain a nuclear weapon; (B) to support an expeditious response to any violation of United Nations Security Council  Resolutions or to efforts that advance Iran’s nuclear program; (C) to support the implementation and enforcement of sanctions against Iran for support of nuclear weapons development, terrorism, human rights abuses, and ballistic missile and weapons proliferation; and (D) for democracy programs in support of the aspirations of the Iranian people.

(2) Reports.–  (A) Semi-annual report.–The Secretary of State  shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations the  semi-annual report required by section 135(d)(4) of the  Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2160e(d)(4)), as  added by section 2 of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-17).  (B) Sanctions report.–Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report– (i) describing the impact of United States  sanctions, including secondary sanctions, on  Iran’s ability to fund its nuclear program,  destabilizing activities throughout the Middle  East, terrorism, human rights abuses, and  ballistic missiles and weapons proliferation;   And   (ii) providing an assessment of Iran’s existing sources of revenue, and whether such revenue is derived from transactions with potentially sanctionable entities that have not  yet been designated.

 (3) Limitations.–None of the funds appropriated by this  Act may be– (A) used to implement an agreement with the Government of Iran relating to the nuclear program of  Iran, or a renewal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of   Action adopted on October 18, 2015, in contravention of  the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 (42  U.S.C. 2160e);  (B) made available to any foreign entity or person  that is subject to United Nations or United States   bilateral sanctions with respect to the Government of  Iran; or (C) used to revoke the designation of the Islamic  Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist  Organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration  and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).

REPORT TEXT

• “The Committee directs that $2,000,000 above the prior year level be made available for the implementation, enforcement, and renewal of sanctions against Iran.”
• “The Committee is gravely concerned by Iran’s escalatory nuclear activities, before and after the June 2025 conflict. 
• “The Committee notes that the International Atomic Energy Agency has found that Iran is not in compliance with its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and has consistently failed to provide information about undeclared nuclear material and activities. 
• The Committee directs the Secretary of State to work with partners and allies to address the threat of Iran’s nuclear program and any related further proliferation risks, including through the snapback of UN sanctions on Iran. 
• The Committee continues to emphasize that preventing Iran from achieving the capability to produce or otherwise obtain a nuclear weapon is vital to United States national security interests.
• The Committee notes the significant loss of life and damage caused by Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs and support for terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East. Any sanctions relief provided to Iran could further Iran’s ability to fund these dangerous lines of effort. The Committee urges the Secretary of State to ensure that any agreement with Iran includes strict limitations on missiles, drones, and support for terrorist proxies to prevent Iran from being a threat to the United States, Israel, and our partners and allies in the Middle East.
• The Committee remains concerned by Iran’s ongoing efforts to expand its regional influence and undermine United States and allied interests through Iran’s support for a network of terrorist groups including Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria. Iran’s sustained backing of these groups–through arms transfers, training, and financial support–continues to threaten United States interests, regional stability, and international security. 
• The Committee directs the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of Defense and the Director of National Intelligence, to prioritize efforts to disrupt Iranian malign influence, enhance the capabilities of partner forces, and strengthen deterrence through coordinated diplomatic, security, and intelligence initiatives.
• The Committee continues to support the Iranian people’s desire for democracy and fundamental freedoms, including the right to elect the country’s leadership through free and fair elections. The proven ability of Iranian women to bravely lead the demands for rights and change is recognized and commended by this Committee and met with a commitment to continue support from the American people.”

>>>IRAQ<<<

Not mentioned in the bill, but the report text includes: 

• “The Committee continues to support assistance for Iraq in support of United States national security interests, particularly with respect to countering Iran’s malign activities and ensuring the enduring defeat of ISIS. Funds should be made available for: bilateral economic assistance and international security assistance, including in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI); stabilization assistance; humanitarian assistance, including in the KRI; programs to protect and assist religious and ethnic minority populations; and programs to increase United States private sector investment. Funds appropriated by this Act under title III and made available for bilateral economic assistance for Iraq may not be made available to an organization or entity which the Secretary of State has credible information is controlled by the Badr Organization.
• The Committee continues to support programming that assists in the creation of conditions for minorities in Iraq and Syria who were victims of genocide to safely return to, and remain in, their ancestral homeland.
• The Committee directs the Department of State to ensure that assistance, including security assistance, intended for the KRI can be accessed and used in the KRI as planned.
• Within the amount provided under National Security Investment Programs, the Committee directs $15,000,000 be made available to support American-style higher education institutions in Iraq, including in the KRI, on an open and competitive basis. Such funds should include support for non-degree and certificate granting programs at such institutions that equip graduates of universities, institutes, and secondary schools with the knowledge and skills required to obtain gainful employment in the private sector. The Secretary of State shall include funds to be allocated for this purpose in the spend plan submitted pursuant to section 7062(b) of this Act.”

>>>ISRAEL<<<

BILL TEXT: “Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’, not less than $3,300,000,000 shall be available for grants only for Israel:  Provided, That any funds appropriated by this Act under the heading ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ and made available for assistance for Israel shall be disbursed within 30 days of the date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That to the extent that the Government of Israel requests that funds be used for such purposes, grants made available for Israel under this heading shall, as agreed by the United States and Israel, be available for advanced weapons systems, of which not less than $250,300,000 shall be available for the procurement in Israel of defense articles and defense services, including research and development.”

REPORT TEXT

• The Committee recommendation includes steadfast support for Israel by providing $3,300,000,000 from funds made available under Foreign Military Financing Program, consistent with the United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. While Israel’s recent military success against Iran and its proxies, alongside American strategic kinetic action against key nuclear sites, has left Iran and its proxies weakened and vulnerable, the Committee remains deeply concerned about Tehran’s ballistic missile capability and nuclear program. The Committee recommendation continues to prohibit funding to implement or enforce any agreement with Iran regarding its nuclear program, including renewal of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, unless such agreement complies with the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015. In addition, the Committee prohibits the use of funds to revoke the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Furthermore, the Committee encourages increased vigilance and support to our partners facing threats from the Iranian regime and its proxies in the region.”
• “Subsection (c) directs not less than $3,300,000,000 in grants for military assistance under the Foreign Military Financing Program to Israel, which is the same as the budget request. Of the funds provided, not less than $250,300,000 shall be available for the procurement in Israel of defense articles and defense services to the extent that the Government of Israel requests that funds be used for such purposes, consistent with the 2016 United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding and the budget request. 
• The Committee expects the Secretary of State to prioritize additional funds appropriated by this Act for Israel, as necessary, to address urgent security requirements.
• The Committee reaffirms its support of the 2016 United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, which demonstrates the United States’ unshakable commitment to the security of Israel and to ensuring that Israel’s qualitative military edge and defense capabilities are maintained. 
• The Committee strongly believes in the right and ability of Israel to defend itself against the wide range of threats it faces and believes that a close United States-Israel security partnership benefits the interests of both countries. 
• The Committee further believes that by contributing to a safe and secure Israel, United States assistance positively contributes to any progress towards peace achieved through direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.
• The Committee assesses that Hamas, even in a degraded state, continues to pose a significant threat to the security and interests of the United States, Israel, and regional partners. 
• The Committee reaffirms unwavering support for Israel’s right to self-defense and endorses continued United States-Israel security and diplomatic coordination to prevent the resurgence of violent extremism. 
• The Committee further supports efforts to fully dismantle Hamas’ military and political infrastructure and urges the Department of State to prioritize long-term strategies that promote regional stability and prevent future conflict.
• The Committee notes that Congress previously provided emergency supplemental funds for Israel, including humanitarian assistance.  The Committee directs funds to be made available to address humanitarian needs in Israel, such as safe medical transport, in light of continued attacks on the civilian population, including ballistic missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks from Iran and the Houthis in Yemen. [NOTE: This bill does not earmark a penny for humanitarian aid for Gaza]
• The Committee supports historical, archaeological, and cultural initiatives, including in Jerusalem, that strengthen and deepen the United States-Israel special relationship. The Committee notes that the City of David in Biblical Jerusalem has been recognized by the United States Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. Not later than 45 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations on plans to fund and implement such initiatives. The Committee directs not less than $5,000,000 be directed to such initiatives.” [NOTE: This appears to be a new initiative to harness US policy to normalize and solidy Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem and Israel’s ongoing efforts to weaponize archeology to take over the area of East Jerusalem adjacent to the Old City]

>>>JORDAN<<<

BILL TEXT: “Of the funds appropriated by this Act under titles III and IV, not less than $1,650,000,000 shall be made available for assistance for Jordan, of which not less than $845,100,000 shall be made available for budget support for the Government of Jordan and not less than $425,000,000 shall be made available under the heading “Foreign Military Financing  Program”.  (2) In addition to amounts made available pursuant to paragraph (1), not less than $400,000,000 of the funds appropriated under the heading “National Security Investment Programs” shall be made available for assistance for Jordan, which shall be made available for budget support, and not less than $50,000,000 of the funds appropriated under the heading ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ shall be made available for assistance for Jordan.”

REPORT TEXT

• “Jordan.–Section 7041(d)(1) directs not less than $1,650,000,000 be made available for Jordan from funds under titles III and IV, including not less than $845,100,000 for budget support for the Government of Jordan from funds under this heading. Section 7041 (d)(2) provides an additional $400,000,000 of funds appropriated under this heading for Jordan to respond to extraordinary needs resulting from the prolonged conflict in the Middle East. Jordan is a key United States partner that provides indispensable support for United States interests in the Middle East. Ensuring Jordan’s stability, including through investments in water infrastructure, is important to United States national Security.”
• “The Committee notes the importance of the United States relationship with the Kingdom of Jordan and the strong leadership role that Jordan continues to play in advancing peace and stability in the region. The Secretary of State shall continue to support economic reforms, including through budget support, to help ensure Jordan’s long-term stability and help mitigate the impact of hosting large numbers of refugees.    Subsection (d)(1) directs not less than $1,650,000,000 for assistance for Jordan. Of the total amount provided, the Committee directs that not less than $2,500,000 be made available from International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement, $10,400,000 be made available from Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining and Related Programs, and $3,800,000 be made available from International Military Education and Training.
• Subsection (d)(2) provides an additional $450,000,000 from funds appropriated by this Act for assistance for Jordan to address urgent needs resulting from the malign activities of Iran and its proxies.
• Not later than 30 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall consult with the appropriate congressional committees on humanitarian assistance for Jordan.
• The Committee recognizes that Jordan continues to face economic and security challenges in the Middle East, including limited natural resources, regional conflict, and persistent humanitarian pressures, which impact United States interests in the region. 
• The Committee directs the Secretary of State to engage with Jordan on efforts to advance regional security and stability and to encourage private-sector investment that strengthens critical sectors such as water, energy, and infrastructure. The Committee also encourages such discussions to include continued protection and preservation of sites of religious significance including the Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ and the surrounding region.”

>>>LEBANON<<<

BILL TEXT

“(1) Limitation.–None of the funds appropriated by this Act may be made available for the Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF) or the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) if the ISF or the LAF is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, as designated pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189).

(2) Security assistance.– (A) Funds appropriated by this Act under the headings ‘International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement’ and ‘Foreign Military Financing Program’ that are made available for assistance for Lebanon may be made available for programs and equipment for the ISF and the LAF to address security  and stability requirements in areas affected by conflict in Syria, following consultation with the appropriate congressional committees. (B) Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading “Foreign Military Financing Program” that are made available for assistance for Lebanon may only be made available for programs to–(i) professionalize the LAF to mitigate internal and external threats from non-state actors, including Hizballah; (ii) strengthen the security of borders and combat terrorism, including training and equipping the LAF to secure the borders of  Lebanon and address security and stability  requirements in areas affected by conflict in Syria, interdicting arms shipments, and preventing the use of Lebanon as a safe haven for terrorist groups; and  (iii) implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701: Provided, That prior to obligating funds made  available by this subparagraph for assistance for the  LAF, the Secretary of State shall submit to the  Committees on Appropriations a spend plan, including  actions to be taken to ensure equipment provided to the  LAF is used only for the intended purposes, except such plan may not be considered as meeting the notification requirements under section 7015 of this Act or under section 634A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961:   Provided further, That any notification submitted pursuant to such section shall include any funds  specifically intended for lethal military equipment.”

REPORT TEXT

• Subsection (e) is modified from the prior year by deleting language making non-security assistance for Lebanon available notwithstanding any other provision of law. The bill continues the requirement that certain conditions be met prior to the obligation of Foreign Military Financing Program funds for Lebanon. 
• The Committee intends that assistance provided to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) not be used against Israel and such assistance will not affect Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region. 
• The Committee notes that paragraph (1) of this subsection prohibits funds for the Lebanese Internal Security Forces or the LAF if either organization is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, and the Committee directs the Secretary of State to regularly consult with the Committees on Appropriations regarding the rigorous implementation of this provision, the activities of the LAF, and assistance provided by the United States…
• The Committee directs that support be continued at not less than the prior year under National Security Investment Programs for the Lebanon scholarship program and the undergraduate and graduate scholarship program for refugees in Lebanon. The Secretary of State is directed to consult with the Committees on Appropriations on an ongoing basis regarding how the programs will be administered by not-for-profit educational institutions in Lebanon that meet the standards required for American accreditation and other matters related to implementation.
• The Committee notes the important and enduring partnerships with institutions of higher education in Lebanon and directs the Secretary of State to consult with the Committees on Appropriations on funding for such institutions, including funding made available pursuant to section 7060(a)(2).
• “Report required – Countering Hizballah and Iran in Lebanon.–Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report describing: (1) the presence or deployment south of the Litani River of any armed groups other than the LAF, including Hizballah and Palestinian terrorist groups, and efforts by the Government of Lebanon, including the LAF, to counter such presence; (2) any production, sales, or supply of arms and related materiel into Lebanon by Iran, Hizballah, Palestinian terrorist groups, or other designated terrorist entities, and efforts by the Government of Lebanon, including the LAF, to counter such activities; (3) the extent to which the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is fulfilling its mandate under United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1701 and contributing to implementing the November 26, 2024 Cessation of Hostilities agreement; (4) the extent of the LAF’s compliance with UNSCR 1701 and the Cessation of Hostilities agreement in Lebanon, and the LAF’s cooperation on implementing such agreement; (5) any capability gaps or other factors that hinder the LAF’s ability to effectively comply with UNSCR 1701 and the Cessation of Hostilities agreement and any plans for United States assistance to Lebanon to be used to address these gaps; (6) the extent of Hizballah’s influence within Lebanon, including the legislative, judicial, and financial institutions of Lebanon and the LAF; (7) the extent of Iranian influence in Lebanon; and (8) illegal money laundering or smuggling of cash into Lebanon by Iran or sanctioned persons. The report shall be submitted in an unclassified form but may contain a classified annex that is transmitted separately from the unclassified report.”

>>>MOROCCO<<<

REPORT TEXT:: “The Committee continues to support assistance for Morocco in support of United States national security interests and directs not less than $20,000,000 under National Security Investment Programs and $20,000,000 under Foreign Military Financing Program.”

>>>SYRIA<<<

BILL TEXT

“(1) Non-lethal assistance.–Funds appropriated by this Act under titles III and IV may be made available, notwithstanding any other provision of law, for non-lethal stabilization assistance for Syria, including for emergency medical and rescue response and chemical weapons investigations.

(2) Limitations.–Funds made available pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection–(A) may not be made available for a project or activity that supports or otherwise legitimizes the Government of Iran, foreign terrorist organizations (as designated pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189)), or a proxy of Iran in Syria; and (B) may not be made available for activities that further the strategic objectives of the governments of the Russian Federation or the People’s Republic of China that the Secretary of State determines may threaten or undermine United States national security interests.(3) Consultation.–Funds appropriated by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs that are made available for any new program, project, or activity in Syria shall be subject to prior consultation with the appropriate congressional committees.”

REPORT TEXT

• The Committee directs the Secretary of State to take all practicable steps to ensure that mechanisms are in place for monitoring, oversight, and control of any assistance provided inside Syria and notes that section 7015(j), which requires prompt notification of any assistance diverted or destroyed, applies to funds made available for such assistance for Syria. Pursuant to section 7015(f), funds may not be obligated or expended for assistance for Syria except as provided through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations.
• The Committee notes significant changes with respect to Syria following the fall of the Assad regime and ongoing actions to lift United States sanctions and other restrictions on Syria pursuant to Executive Order 14312, relating to Providing for the Revocation of Syria Sanctions. This Act contains a new requirement that any new program or activity in Syria initiated in fiscal year 2026 shall be subject to prior consultation with the appropriate congressional committees.
• Remnants of the Assad regime and associated forces remain in Syria and continue to have financial interests within parts of Syria. Any United States assistance made available for Syria should be programmed in a way that does not benefit such entities.
• The Committee supports efforts to de-escalate tensions across Syria. The Committee opposes any actions that would inhibit efforts to address the security threat and humanitarian challenges posed by conditions at the al-Hol displacement camp and associated ISIS-detention sites administered by the Syrian Democratic Forces.
• The Committee recognizes the longtime efforts of local Syrian and diaspora organizations, as well as relief organizations, to implement lifesaving interventions in Syria, including support for emergency medical and rescue response and chemical weapons investigations. The Committee urges the Secretary of State, within the requirements of this Act, to work to ensure continued delivery of humanitarian aid into and within Syria.

>>>WEST BANK & GAZA<<<

NOTE: The bill includes no earmark (hard or soft) for assistance for either the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. Instead, this section lays out (and expands) limitations, restrictions, etc, on aid to the West Bank and Gaza.

BILL TEXT

Barring Aid to the PA: Part 1(A) is perennial language (dating back to the Obama era) barring any National Security Investment Programs (formerly known as ESF) for the PA if, after the date this bill becomes law, “ the Palestinians obtain the same standing as member states or full membership as a state in the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof outside an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians”or if “the Palestinians initiate an International Criminal Court (ICC) judicially authorized investigation, or actively support such an investigation, that subjects Israeli nationals to an investigation for alleged crimes against Palestinians”. The bill includes no waiver of any kind for either of these restrictions, even if the President were to decide it was necessary for U.S. national security.

Preventing the PLO Office from Re-Opening in the U.S.: Part 1(B) limits the President’s ability to waive longstanding (and anachronistic) legislation barring the PLO from having any representation in the United States. Where for decades Congress granted the President a “clean” national security or national interests waiver of that prohibition (contained in section 1003 of Public Law 100-204), starting in the Obama era Congress moved to make such waiver contingent on the President certifying that the Palestinians have not, after the date of enactment of this Act, “obtained in the United Nations or any specialized agency thereof the same standing as member states or full membership as a state outside an agreement negotiated between Israel and the Palestinians” or “initiated or actively supported an ICC investigation against Israeli nationals for alleged crimes against Palestinians” or “initiated any further action, whether directly or indirectly, based on an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice that undermines direct negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including matters related to final status and Israel’s longstanding security rights and responsibilities.” This section includes a Presidential waiver, under which the President can permit the office to open even if the conditions are not met, but only if he can certify that “the Palestinians have entered into direct and meaningful negotiations with Israel” [so there is not even a pretense that US national security would be a reason for a waiver…].

DE-FUNDING US DIPLOMATIC ENGAGEMENT WITH PALESTINIANS — Part (1)(C) of this section states simply: “None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act may be made available for the Office of Palestinian Affairs, Department of State.” NOTE: The Office of Palestinian Affairs was the part of the US Embassy in Jerusalem responsible for dealing with Palestinian-related issues and engaging Palestinians – so in effect this provision ends US diplomatic outreach to and engagement with Palestinians [which is already the policy of the current Administration].

Taylor Force Act: Part 2 of this section states: “Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading “National Security Investment Programs” that are made available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza shall be made available consistent with section 1004(a) of the Taylor Force Act (title X of division S of Public Law 115-141).”

Report Text adds: Compliance with the Taylor Force Act: “The Committee underscores the importance of full compliance with the restrictions of the Taylor Force Act (title X of division S of Public Law 115-141) and continued efforts to fully implement the law, including increasing diplomatic efforts to end the Palestinian Authority’s practice of paying salaries to terrorists in Israeli prisons and paying for acts of terrorism. As described in section 7040 of this Act, and in compliance with the Taylor Force Act, no funding made available by this Act shall be provided to the Palestinian Authority.”

Also in the Report Text: Prisoner payments.—”Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State is directed to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the status of negotiating an end to the Palestinian Authority’s practice of paying salaries to terrorists and families of terrorists serving in prison and other forms of such support.”

Security report: Part 3 of this section states: “The reporting requirements in section 1404 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–252) shall apply to funds made available by this Act, including a description of modifications, if any, to the security strategy of the Palestinian Authority..”

• As a reminder, Section 1404 of PL 110-252 states: “Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and 180 days thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations a report on assistance provided by the United States for the training of Palestinian security forces, including detailed descriptions of the training, curriculum, and equipment provided; an assessment of the training and the performance of forces after training has been completed; and a description of the assistance that has been pledged and provided to Palestinian security forces by other donors: Provided, That not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall report to the Committees on Appropriations, in classified form if necessary, on the security strategy of the Palestinian Authority.”

Incitement report: Part 4 of this section states: “Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees detailing steps taken by the Palestinian Authority to counter incitement of violence against Israelis and to promote peace and coexistence with Israel.”  [The bill of course nowhere acknowledges, let alone calls for action to address, the non-stop genocidal, racist, violent, dehumanizing, hateful rhetoric and incitement that is being produced every by Israeli politicians, media figures, active-duty soldiers, and hasbara heroes  – and disseminated by them, giddily, on media and social media pretty much every day since October 7th).

Bifurcating Palestine: Part 5 of this section states, “Beginning in fiscal year 2026, the Secretary of State shall bifurcate the budget operating unit of “West Bank and Gaza” into separate units. NOTE: Under the Oslo Accords (which the US ostensibly still supports), the West Bank and Gaza Strip are to be treated as a single territorial unit. Efforts to bifurcate them into separate units align closely with longstanding efforts of Greater Israel advocates.

>>>MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES related to Section 7041<<<

REPORT TEXT

Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).–The Committee directs funding for MEPI to support programs consistent with prior fiscal years. The Committee further directs that, in an effort to streamline programming and reduce redundancy, funds previously provided for similar activities for Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon be made available through MEPI. Not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations on the allocation of funds provided under this heading and funds made available pursuant to section 7060(a)(2) of this Act.

Abraham Accords: “The Committee notes the increased understanding, cooperation, and interfaith dialogue brought about by peace and normalization agreements between Israel and Arab states, including the Abraham Accords, and encourages continued progress to expand these agreements, the Negev Forum, and other multilateral efforts. Following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, the urgent need for regional unity as well as economic and security cooperation has become more apparent than ever. The Committee further notes the need for dedicated resources to implement the Israel Relations Normalization Act (division Z of Public Law 117-103) to deepen ties between Israel and Arab and Muslim-majority countries. The Committee directs the Secretary of State to ensure resources are available to leverage, strengthen, and expand existing peace and normalization agreements and establish new ones. The Secretary shall consult with the appropriate congressional committees on the availability of flexible resources and intended uses of such funds.”

Arab League boycott of Israel: “It is the sense of the Committee that: (1) the Arab League boycott of Israel, and the secondary boycott of American firms that have commercial ties with Israel, remain an impediment to trade and investment in the Middle East and should be terminated immediately, as should the Central Office for the Boycott of Israel; (2) several Arab states and Israel have made important progress toward peace through treaties and normalization agreements, including the Abraham Accords, which open a path toward a more stable and prosperous Middle East; (3) all Arab League states should join Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan in establishing and normalizing relations with Israel, in addition to promoting peace negotiations, economic cooperation, and security cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians; (4) the President and the Secretary of State should continue to vigorously oppose the Arab League boycott of Israel; and (5) the President should support broadening and deepening participation in the Abraham Accords, and other normalization agreements, and report annually to the appropriate congressional committees on the United States strategy, including steps being taken by the United States to encourage additional Arab League and other Muslim-majority states to normalize relations with Israel, and the prospect of advancing peace between Israelis and Palestinians.”

Boycott, divestment, and sanctions (BDS) annual report: “The Committee remains concerned about international efforts to stigmatize and isolate Israel through the BDS movement. The Committee directs, as part of the report required under the heading “Arab League boycott of Israel”, that the President add information about the BDS campaign, which shall cover companies, international organizations, countries, and other organizations, including state investment vehicles, that are involved in promoting the movement and specific steps the Department of State has taken or expects to take to discourage or end politically-motivated efforts to boycott, divest from, or sanction Israel and Israeli entities. Such reporting requirement shall not be considered met by the requirements of section 909 of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-125).”

Monitoring, notification, and vetting:

• The Committee directs the Secretary of State to promptly inform the appropriate congressional committees of any alleged incident involving any United States assistance used in such a way that adversely affects or jeopardizes such assistance. This includes any incidents where United States assistance has directly or indirectly been provided to an individual or organization with ties to terrorism or incitement of violence. 
• The BDS movement has engaged in the spread of anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism. The Secretary of State shall expand vetting policies and practices to ensure that United States assistance is not provided to or through any individual, private entity, government entity, or educational institution that the Secretary knows or has reason to believe advocates, plans, sponsors, engages in, or has engaged in, the BDS movement. The Committee directs the Secretary to strengthen policies and procedures to ensure organizations supported through funding are not participants in the BDS movement, are not glorifying violence, and are not providing support for lawfare against the United States or Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC) or International Court of Justice (ICJ).    
• The Committee notes allegations of assistance provided to individuals or entities engaging in political activities and directs the Secretary of State to expand vetting policies and practices to include an assessment of political neutrality and a review of sta tements by individuals or organizations that constitute engagement in political advocacy, incitement, or support for terrorism that would cause operational and reputational risks for the United States Government.

BDS vetting: “ Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall update the report required under this heading in section 7041 of House Report 118-146 on steps taken to expand vetting policies and procedures to ensure that organizations receiving United States assistance do not directly or indirectly participate in or promote the BDS movement.”

Combating antisemitism and promoting tolerance: “Since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, Jewish communities around the world have been subject to significant increases in antisemitism and violent attacks. Countering antisemitism in all its forms is in the national security interests of the United States. The Committee supports educational and cultural exchange initiatives that strengthen United States-Israel partnerships through institutions dedicated to promoting tolerance, combating antisemitism, and fostering cross-cultural understanding. Within the funds provided under the heading Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs, the Committee encourages support for programming that engages students and community leaders in immersive, technologically driven experiences focused on navigating conflict, understanding diverse perspectives, and building social cohesion. The Committee recommends that the Department prioritize partnerships with institutions that demonstrate a commitment to education, mutual respect, and citizen engagement between the United States and Israel.”

Efforts to release hostages: “The Committee remains deeply concerned that hostages continue to be held in Gaza by Hamas following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. The Committee commends ongoing efforts to secure the safe release of those held captive and the return of the remains of those who were murdered. The Committee affirms that securing the freedom of the remaining hostages is a critical United States national security priority and urges regional partners and allies to intensify their efforts toward achieving this objective.”

Muslim Brotherhood:  “The Committee is deeply concerned by the destabilizing role that the Muslim Brotherhood plays in the Middle East and actions by Muslim Brotherhood entities in various countries that threaten United States interests in the region. Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees describing the policies, including visa restrictions, the Department of State is implementing to address the threats posed by the Muslim Brotherhood. For the purposes of this paragraph, the appropriate congressional committees shall also include the Committees on the Judiciary.”

Lowey Fund: “The Committee supports efforts that foster reconciliation and engagement and therefore recommends not less than the prior fiscal year level under National Security Investment Programs for the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act (title VIII of division K of Public Law 116-260).”

Section 7042 – Africa

REPORT TEXT  

South Africa.–The Committee notes that the United States has provided significant financial support to the people of South Africa while the Government of South Africa has worked in direct opposition to United States and partner nation interests, including through military and economic cooperation with the Russian Federation, the PRC, and Iran, pursuing baseless charges of genocide against Israel, while not Hamas, at the International Court of Justice, and participating in the practice of human trafficking through the use of Cuban doctors. Therefore, subsection (b) prohibits funds to the Government of South Africa unless the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that the Government of South Africa has met the following conditions–

1. ceased cooperation with United States adversaries;
2. ceased participating in human trafficking, such as the exploitation of Cuban medical professionals; and
3. ceased the implementation of policies that undermine inherent property rights of the citizens of South Africa.

Section 7045 – Latin America and the Caribbean

REPORT TEXT: “ Countering antisemitism in Latin America.–The Committee is concerned by rising antisemitism targeting Jewish diaspora communities in Latin American nations, including historic United States partners and allies like Brazil, Chile, and Colombia, particularly instances of elected leaders fueling prejudice against Jewish communities through social media and official government channels or otherwise neglecting their responsibility to protect Jewish communities and other marginalized groups. The Committee condemns antisemitism in all forms and urges the Secretary of State to encourage Latin American and Caribbean leaders to proactively condemn and counter antisemitism in their nations.”

Section 7046: Europe and Eurasia

BILL TEXT: Part (c) of this section of the bill states — “The limitations and other provisions of section 7046(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2024 (division F of Public Law 118-47) shall continue in effect during fiscal year 2026 and apply to funds appropriated by this Act.” That is reference to perennial language stating: “None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to facilitate or support the sale of defense articles or defense services to the Turkish Presidential Protection Directorate (TPPD) under chapter 2 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761 et seq.) unless the Secretary of State determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that members of the TPPD who are named in the July 17, 2017, indictment by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, and against whom there are pending charges, have returned to the United States to stand trial in connection with the offenses contained in such indictment or have otherwise been brought to justice: Provided, That the limitation in this paragraph shall not apply to the use of funds made available by this Act for border security purposes, for North Atlantic Treaty Organization or coalition operations, or to enhance the protection of United States officials and facilities in Turkey.”

REPORT TEXT: “The Committee is concerned about the longstanding ties between Turkey and Hamas, which includes Turkey hosting senior Hamas figures as well as providing political and other forms of assistance to the terrorist group. Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Committee directs the Department of State to brief the appropriate congressional committees on the relationship between Turkey and Hamas.”

Section 7048: United Nations

BILL TEXT

Linking US Aid to how nations vote at the UN: (a) United Nations Voting Practices.–(1) In considering bilateral assistance for a foreign government, the Secretary of State shall review, among other factors, the voting practices of such government in the United Nations in relation to United States strategic interests. (2) The Secretary of State shall consult with the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations on the voting practices of foreign governments prior to the submission of the report required under section 653(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2413(a)).

Withholding of 15% of US funding to the UN & UN Agencies unless they satisfy list of demands, including “taking credible steps to combat anti-Israel bias”:  (b) Transparency and Accountability.–Of the funds appropriated by this Act that are available for contributions to the United Nations (including the Department of Peacekeeping Operations), international organizations, or any United Nations agency, 15 percent may not be obligated for such organization, department, or agency until the Secretary of State determines and reports to the appropriate congressional committees that the organization, department, or agency is–…(4) taking credible steps to combat anti-Israel bias… (6) implementing policies and procedures to effectively vet staff for any affiliation with a terrorist organization.”

REPORT TEXT: “  Accountability report.–In carrying out the requirement of subsection (a), the Secretary of State shall also consider and report on efforts to combat antisemitism. The report shall include a section on anti-Israel bias and antisemitism within the United Nations system, including specific instances across United Nations entities, such as those referenced in title I of House Report 116-444. It shall assess whether such bias arises from member state actions or systemic behavior within the United Nations, including that of staff, consultants, and appointed experts. The report shall also evaluate institutional practices that may compromise neutrality toward Israel, including, but not limited to: public statements by United Nations personnel, including on social media; the hiring or appointment of individuals with known prejudicial or hostile views toward Israel; and procedural mechanisms that disproportionately target or isolate Israel within United Nations bodies. Further, the report shall include an assessment of the United Nations Action Plan to Enhance Monitoring and Response to Antisemitism. The report shall include recommendations on steps the United Nations should take to revise and strengthen its approach to combating antisemitism, including enforcing a clear and actionable definition of antisemitism and accountability mechanisms within its institutions, including for staff.”

Restrictions linked to support for international terror:  (c) Restrictions on United Nations Delegations and Organizations.–  (1) Restrictions on United States delegations.–None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to pay expenses for any United States delegation to any specialized agency, body, or commission of the United Nations if such agency, body, or commission is chaired or presided over by a country, the government of which the Secretary of State has determined, for purposes of section 1754(c) of the Export Reform Control Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)), supports international terrorism. (2) Restrictions on contributions.–None of the funds made available by this Act may be used by the Secretary of State as a contribution to any organization, agency, commission, or program within the United Nations system if such organization, agency, commission, or program is chaired or presided over by a country the government of which the Secretary of State has determined, for purposes of section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, section 1754(c) of the Export Reform Control Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4813(c)), or any other provision of law, is a government that has repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism. NOTE: For years this language included a Presidential national security waiver; this text does not.

No $$ for UN Human Rights Council:  (d) United Nations Human Rights Council.–None of the funds appropriated by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs may be made available for a contribution, grant, or other payment to the United Nations Human Rights Council, including the United Nations International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, notwithstanding any other provision of law.

REPORT TEXT: United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).–The Committee notes the continued lack of progress at UNHRC towards meaningful reforms to restore its credibility as a human rights body. UNHRC continues to elevate, legitimize, and shield the worst human rights offenders while simultaneously targeting Israel for unjustified scrutiny. Therefore, the Committee recommendation prohibits funds to UNHRC.

NO $$ for UNRWA [also see Sec. 7066 – United Nations Relief and Works Agency — Oversight and Justice for Victims]:  (e) United Nations Relief and Works Agency .–None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs may be made available– (1) for a contribution, grant, or other payment to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), notwithstanding any other provision of law; or (2) to solicit or otherwise encourage funds for UNRWA from other donors and sources, notwithstanding any other provision of law…

REPORT TEXT:   …The Committee notes that UNRWA has been compromised by staff who have promoted incitement to violence, antisemitism, and the destruction of the State of Israel. The Committee is concerned by UNRWA’s relationship with Hamas and other terrorist organizations, including credible allegations that several UNRWA staff participated in the October 7, 2023 massacre that killed over 1,200 people, including American citizens, and was the worst attack on the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Further, the Committee is concerned by the use of UNRWA facilities to shield Hamas infrastructure, such as the Hamas data center under UNRWA’s Gaza headquarters. The Committee notes allegations that significant numbers of UNRWA staff celebrated the October 7, 2023, massacre on social media and that many UNRWA staff, including school principals and senior UNRWA management, are also members of terrorist organizations that violently oppress the Palestinian people, including by using them as human shields. The Committee further notes that the OIG has obtained evidence implicating UNRWA staff and resources in the October 7, 2023, attacks, which may have been implicated by a United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services report the United Nations, including UNWRA, has refused to share unredacted. Any United Nations personnel who provided material support to terrorist entities must be held fully accountable, including through United States courts and administrative proceedings without claim to functional immunity.

PLAN FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF UNRWA: “Not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees detailing the total amount of United States assistance provided to UNRWA from January 20, 2021, to January 20, 2025. The report shall also include any known instances in which such assistance was diverted to, or used by, terrorist organizations, including Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, or paid the salary of UNRWA staff who were members of such organizations. In addition, the report shall include a transition plan for providing assistance in the Middle East without direct or indirect funding to, or support from, UNRWA.”

Report on Withheld Funds:  (g) Not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations detailing the amount of funds available for obligation or expenditure in fiscal year 2026 for contributions to any organization, department, agency, or program within the United Nations system or any international program that are withheld from obligation or expenditure due to any provision of law:  Provided, That the Secretary shall update such report each time additional funds are withheld by operation of any provision of law:  Provided further, That the reprogramming of any withheld funds identified in such report, including updates thereof, shall be subject to prior consultation with, and the regular notification procedures of, the Committees on Appropriations…

Prohibition on Funding to ICJ and ICC: (l) None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs may be—…(4) made available for a contribution, grant, or other payment to the International Court of Justice, notwithstanding any other provision of law; (5) made available for a contribution, grant, or other payment to the International Criminal Court, notwithstanding any other provision of law…

REPORT TEXT:  “International courts.–The Committee strongly condemns and unequivocally rejects one-sided, politicized, anti-Israel activity at the ICC and the ICJ and prohibits funds provided in this Act and prior acts for such courts. The Committee directs the Secretary of State to prioritize diplomatic efforts to prevent any further efforts to weaponize the ICC and ICJ against Israel. The Committee further endorses the Secretary’s designation of four ICC judges under Executive Order 14203, relating to Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court, which imposed sanctions for their direct involvement in unauthorized investigations and prosecutions of United States and Israeli nationals.”

Other REPORT TEXT

• De-funding the UN: “The Committee recommendation does not include funding for assessed contributions for certain United Nations agencies and other international organizations, including the United Nations regular budget.” 
• De-Funding UNRWA: “The Committee also prohibits funds to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), and other organizations under section 7048 of this Act.” 
• UN “reform” including destruction of UNRWA: “The Committee remains concerned with the continued lack of progress toward meaningful reforms at the United Nations. Such reforms, at a minimum, should include …efforts to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel bias… Reforms must also address due process and accountability within the United States justice system for the mass atrocities carried out by staff of UNRWA and supported by UNRWA leadership over the past decade, including through the provision of material support and partnership with designated terrorist organizations that contributed to the October 7, 2023 attacks.” 
• Condemning UNGA on Israel/Palestine: “The Committee strongly condemns the United Nations General Assembly for undermining peace and security between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples by passing the ‘Status of Palestine in the United Nations’ resolution that provided the ‘State of Palestine’ almost all the rights and privileges of Member States.”
• No $$ for the UN: “The Committee has concluded that further assessed contributions to the United Nations are not justified and increased scrutiny and oversight must predicate any consideration of a voluntary contribution to the United Nations or any United Nations agency…”
• Targeting WHO, including over Israel: “…The Committee remains deeply concerned by the WHO’s reluctance to condemn the PRC’s actions, its shift away from core communicable disease functions, and adoption of deeply biased, anti-Israel resolutions that perpetuate harmful and historically antisemitic narratives.”
• Pro-Israel US Veto at UNSC: “United Nations anti-Israel agenda.–The Committee urges the Secretary of State to declare it is the policy of the United States to veto one-sided, anti-Israel resolutions at the United Nations Security Council.”
• Sanctions on Francesca Albanese:  “The Committee endorses the designation of the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied since 1967, pursuant to Executive Order 14203, relating to Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court. The Committee notes the designation was triggered by attempts to abuse the mechanisms of the ICC in a manner that undermines United States national security.”

Section 7050 – Internet Freedom

REPORT TEXT:  The Committee notes the internet restrictions, content censorship, and mobile network disruptions imposed by Cuba and Iran. The Committee supports continued partnership between the Department of State and other relevant Federal agencies on the use of innovative technologies and creative actions to increase access. Report required –    Internet freedom in Iran.–The Committee directs the Secretary of State, not later than 90 days after enactment of this Act, to submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on the progress of programs promoting internet access and internet freedom in Iran, as part of the comprehensive strategy required by section 414 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-158). The report shall also include an update on the implementation of the Iran internet freedom grant program authorized in section 5124 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118-159).

Section 7060 – Sector Allocations

REPORT TEXT – Higher education – “ Subsection (a)(2) directs that $50,000,000 shall be used to support institutions of higher education in countries experiencing economic crisis. In implementing such directive, the term ‘countries impacted by economic crises’ shall include countries, such as Lebanon, whose economies are adversely affected by: political instability; conflict, including in neighboring countries; or catastrophic manmade disasters. The Secretary of State shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations prior to the initial obligation of funds on the proposed use of such funds.”

Section 7065: Gaza Oversight & Other Matters

COMMENT: In the context of the ongoing/escalating Israel-made humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip, and the urgent need for assistance to Gaza, House Republicans are (once again) (a) NOT earmarking significant funding for Gaza, (b) NOT including a clear directive for the State Department to provide funding/aid for Gaza; and (c) NOT including any language regarding Israel’s actions/obligations under US law (according to which US funding remains is contingent on Israel NOT blocking the flow of US humanitarian aid). Instead, they are doubling down on conditions/restrictions/oversight requirements related to any aid for Gaza — layered on top of the long, long list of conditions, restrictions, limitations, oversight, vetting, reporting, etc already required in various provisions already imposed on the West Bank and Gaza (in the various sections discussed above). Taken together, and added to the continued US assault on UNRWA (and now also on Francesca Albanese, the ICC and ICJ). the clear conclusion is that the policy under this bill is literally designed to enable continued Israeli ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza — with the additional demonstration of the fact that the-racist-cruelty-is-the-point of also blocking people who might try to flee Gaza from coming to the US.

BILL TEXT

(a) Certification.–The Secretary of State shall certify and report to the appropriate congressional committees not later than 15 days after the date of enactment of this Act, that– (1) oversight policies, processes, and procedures have been established by the Department of State and are in use to prevent the diversion to Hamas, other terrorist and extremist entities, and criminal gangs in Gaza and the misuse or destruction by such entities of assistance, including through international organizations; and (2) such policies, processes, and procedures have been developed in coordination with other bilateral and multilateral donors and the Government of Israel, as appropriate.

    (b) Oversight Policy and Procedures.–The Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees, concurrent with the submission of the certification required in subsection (a), a written description of the oversight policies, processes, and procedures for funds appropriated by this Act that are made available for assistance for Gaza, including specific actions to be taken should such assistance be diverted, misused, or destroyed, and the role of the Government of Israel in the oversight of such assistance.

    (c) Requirement to Inform.–The Secretary of State shall promptly inform the appropriate congressional committees of each instance in which funds appropriated by this Act that are made available for assistance for Gaza have been diverted, misused, or destroyed, to include the type of assistance, a description of the incident and parties involved, and an explanation of the response of the Department of State.

    (d) Third Party Monitoring.–Funds appropriated by this Act shall be made available for third party monitoring of assistance for Gaza, including end use monitoring, following consultation with the appropriate congressional committees.

    (e) Report.–Not later than 90 days after the initial obligation of funds appropriated by this Act that are made available for assistance for Gaza, and every 90 days thereafter until all such funds are expended, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report detailing the amount and purpose of such assistance provided during each respective quarter, including a description of the specific entity implementing such assistance.

    (f) Assessment.–Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and every 90 days thereafter until September 30, 2027, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence and other heads of elements of the intelligence community that the Secretary considers relevant, shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report assessing whether funds appropriated by this Act and made available for assistance for the West Bank and Gaza have been diverted to or destroyed by Hamas, other terrorist and extremist entities, and criminal gangs in the West Bank and Gaza:  Provided, That such report shall include details on the amount and how such funds were made available and used by such entities:  Provided further, That such report may be submitted in classified form, if necessary.

    (g) Consultation.–Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act but prior to the initial obligation of funds made available by this Act for humanitarian assistance for Gaza, the Secretary of State shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations on the amount and anticipated uses of such funds.

    (h) Inspector General.–The Inspector General of the Department of State shall conduct investigations of implementing partners that receive funds appropriated by this Act or prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs and made available for assistance in the West Bank and Gaza, including multilateral organizations, and entities that provide logistical support to implementing partners that receive such funds to determine if allegations or reports that such entities have employed staff or contractors that are members of, or affiliated with, a United States designated terrorist organization or have participated in any terrorist act, including before, on, or after October 7, 2023, are credible, and, as appropriate, refer investigative findings for potential criminal, civil, or administrative enforcement remedies.

    (i) Limitation on Foreign Nationals From Gaza.–None of the funds appropriated by this Act and prior Acts making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs under title III may be used to support the admission and resettlement into the United States of a foreign national from Gaza.

REPORT TEXT — “The Committee directs the Department of State OIG to leverage the expertise of personnel from the OIG funded under Title II in prior acts with respect to material support to terrorists, as the office integrates into the Department of State. The Committee notes such expertise is required to ensure sufficient oversight in high-risk environments, such as Gaza, including to detect the presence of designated terrorists within implementing organizations. The Committee expects that any individual employed by a United States-funded entity who is determined to be a member of a designated terrorist organization–or who knowingly employed such individuals–shall be referred expeditiously for appropriate administrative suspension and debarment proceedings, in accordance with applicable regulations.”

****NEW SECTION — ADDITIONAL TARGETING OF UNRWA***  Sec. 7066 – United Nations Relief and Works Agency — Oversight and Justice for Victims

BILL TEXT

None of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available by this Act or any prior Act making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs may be obligated or expended for the Secretariat of the United Nations or any of its affiliated offices or programs until the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the Committees on Appropriations that–

(a) the Department of State has received a fully unredacted copy of the report prepared by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services concerning individuals affiliated with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) who were implicated in the events of October 7, 2023, including the killing of United States citizens;

    (b) the findings and associated evidence collected by the Office of Inspector General that implicates UNRWA staff involvement in the deaths of United States citizens have been referred to the United States Department of Justice for criminal, civil, or other enforcement action, as appropriate;

    (c) appropriate proceedings for the suspension and debarment of individuals or entities implicated in such events by such findings have been initiated pursuant to applicable regulations and policies, and such proceedings are being expedited to the maximum extent practicable to prevent the rehiring of such individuals or entities by recipients of United States assistance; and

    (d) the Secretary-General of the United Nations has provided written assurance to the Secretary that privileges, exemptions, and immunities will not be asserted for any staff, consultant, or contractor of UNRWA or any other United Nations entity in cases involving–

1. gross violations of human rights;
2. acts of terrorism;
3. material support to foreign terrorist organizations, individuals, or entities designated as such by the United States Government; or
4. other serious crimes under United States or international law, including corruption-related offenses, where such acts fall outside the scope of official duties.

REPORT TEXT

• The Committee is gravely concerned by credible reports that UNRWA employed individuals linked to Hamas, has a long history of supporting terrorist groups, and employed staff who murdered American citizens on October 7, 2023. The Committee directs the Secretary of State to initiate urgent reforms to multilateral oversight and any relevant certification for its multilateral partners, with full accountability to American victims and their families. The Committee rejects the United Nations Secretary General’s claim of immunity for terrorism, atrocities, or corruption and supports the directives in subsections (a) through (c), regarding evidence preservation, Department of Justice referrals, and withholding funds until accountability is ensured. The Department of State shall regularly update the appropriate congressional committees of efforts to carry out justice on behalf of the American victims and their surviving families.
• The Committee directs that, for the purposes of this section, the term “individuals or entities implicated in such events by such findings” shall include any United Nations official, contractor, or subcontractor who has materially supported, including through employment, members of a United States-designated terrorist organization, or who has mismanaged United States contributions in a manner that enabled such individuals to carry out any act in support of such terrorist organization, commit mass atrocities, or cause harm to United States citizens.

 

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Briefings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 7/24/25: Humanizing and Historicizing the World in a Time of Genocide, ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with UC Berkeley History Professor Ussama Makdisi, who was personally named and targeted by Members of Congress in the recent House of Representatives hearing ostensibly on antisemitism in higher education. Beinart and Makdisi discuss the “surreal” experience of being denounced in Congress as well as the truth and power of the widespread mobilization of people from a wide range of backgrounds, faiths, and generations calling for justice and an end to the genocide in Gaza. They also discuss the long and relatively under-researched history of interconnections among Muslims, Christians, and Jewish communities in the Middle East, the importance of reading history, and the shocking brutality of the genocide in Gaza. As they close their conversation, Makdisi asserts that the urgent and essential task is to make sense of the world in terms that “humanize rather than dehumanize, historicize rather than dehistoricize, advocate for justice and equality rather than ethno-religious supremacy of any sort.”

—————————-

1. Bills & Resolutions

(TARGETING FREE SPEECH/CRITICISM OF ISRAEL) HR XXXX: On 7/24/25, Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Bacon (R-NE), joined by the head of the ADL Jonathan Greenblatt, held a press conference to announce the re-introduction of the “STOP HATE Act” [the bill is not in the Congressional Record as of 12pm 7/25/25] This same trio previously came together in 2023 to introduce this same legislation (HR 6463). Also see:

• Press release: Gottheimer, Bacon, ADL Announce Legislation to Combat Terrorists & Disinformation on Social Media, including this quote from Greenblatt: “The world’s oldest hate is crossing borders and going viral. One of the main drivers supercharging the global rise in antisemitism is the unregulated proliferation of extremists online who are looking to seed divisions among us and drive hate…Today’s extremists exploit social media to recruit, radicalize, and incite violence – often in violation of these platforms’ own terms of service. As antisemitism and hate surge to record levels, the STOP HATE Act is a vital bipartisan bill that will hold tech platforms accountable for hosting terrorist and extremist content. This bill will provide essential oversight and ensure companies enforce their own policies...”
• Press conference: Reps. Gottheimer, Bacon, ADL Announce Bipartisan STOP HATE Act
• Media:  Gottheimer, Bacon re-up effort to combat antisemitism on social media [“The STOP HATE Act would require social media companies to publicize policies on the use of their platforms by designated terrorists“] (Jewish Insider 10/24/25); Gottheimer, Bacon, ADL announce bill to combat Jew-hatred, terrorism on social media (Jewish News Syndicate 7/23/25); This Bill Would Fine Social Media Companies $5 Million Every Day for Not Fighting ‘Terrorism’ [excerpt: “At the press conference, Bacon made it clear that the STOP HATE Act was meant to push social media companies to act even more like an arm of government censorship. ‘People should feel like they’re scorned for having these ideas and espousing these ideals. We need to work with our social media companies to clean this up,’ he said. ‘It’s further influencing other young—more people are being influenced by what they’re saying. They’re saying that this is acceptable behavior. It is not. We need to hold these companies accountable and work with them to take it off the airwaves.’ The specific idea that Bacon had in mind was antisemitism, and he made clear that it includes criticism of the State of Israel in his book. ‘I saw the protests out here the past few days. They were vile. You could see the antisemitism in their comments, the way they were treating some of our members of Congress who are Jewish,’ Bacon said.”] (Reason 7/24/25); ADL-Backed Bipartisan Bill Threatens to Censor Israel Criticism on Social Media (Common Dreams 7/25/25)
• Other: X-post from Glenn Greenwald re the bill – “There was an full consensus on the Right for the last decade that Big Tech censorship was a great evil, especially if pressured and demanded by the US Government. All that changed with it came time to censor for Israel: ‘we’re very proud the bill has the backing of the ADL.’“; ADC press release – ADC: STOP HATE Act is a Dangerous Attack on Free Speech and The Right to Dissent

(TARGETING PROTEST & NON-PROFIT SECTOR) S. 2376: Introduced 7/22/25 by Cruz (R-TX) and 6 Republican co-sponsors, “A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to include rioting in the definition of racketeering activity,” aka the “Stop Financial Underwriting of Nefarious Demonstrations and Extremist Riots (Stop FUNDERs) Act.” Per Cruz’s press release the bill will: “Amend 18 U.S.C. § 1961(1) to add ‘rioting,’ as defined in the Anti-Riot Act, to the list of racketeering predicate offenses” and “Enable the Department of Justice to use RICO tools—including joint liability and group prosecution, conspiracy charges, asset forfeiture, and enhanced criminal penalties—against organizations and individuals who repeatedly fund or coordinate violent interstate riots” and “Deter abuse of nonprofit status and expose hidden financial pipelines behind politically motivated violence.” Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see:

• My X-thread 7/23/25, which among other things notes that this bill aligns with the tactics laid out in Project Esther, which among other things states: “We have several laws at our disposal that may help to exploit HSN and HSO vulnerabilities, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA); the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO); and counterterrorism, hate speech, and immigration laws…”
• Media: Cruz moves to penalize groups funding antisemitic, anti-ICE riots (Fox News 7/22/25); Ted Cruz Wants to Use Law Meant to Prosecute Gangs to Go After Anti-ICE Protest Organizers (Latin Times 7/23/25); Congressional Republicans introduce bill targeting riot funders (AOL 7/24/25)

(USING MEMBERSHIP DARING TO DISAGREE WITH THE ADL ON ISRAEL AS PRETEXT TO TARGET THE NEA) S. 2428: Introduced 7/24/25 by Lummis (R-WY) and 4 Republican cosponsors, “A bill to amend chapter 1511 of title 36, United States Code, to impose certain requirements on the National Education Association, and for other purposes.“ Referred to the Committee on Finance. Also see: 

• Press release: Lummis, Fitzgerald Introduce STUDENT Act to Reform National Education Association’s Federal Charter
• Lummis X-post 7/23/25: “It’s heartbreaking & disturbing to see educational institutions weaken their ties with organizations combatting antisemitism. I’m proud to stand with Jewish Americans & introduce the STUDENT Act to bring NEA’s charter to its original purpose of supporting teachers, not politics.“
• Media: Sen. Lummis to introduce legislation barring the NEA from engaging in politics or lobbying (Jewish Insider 7/24/25) – the “Stopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today Act” or the ‘‘STUDENT Act“; text [among other things barring the NEA or its affiliates to”require or encourage staff, officers, affiliates, or members to affirm, adopt, or adhere to any belief of concept that” among other things, “promotes antisemitic beliefs or practices, including beliefs that perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Jewish people, deny or minimize the Holocaust, or promote hatred or discrimination against Jewish individuals based on identity, ancestry or connection to and beliefs about Israel“]

(TARGETING PROTEST & NON-PROFIT SECTOR) HR 4232: Introduced 6/27/25 (not previously covered in the Round-Up) by Kiley (R-CA), the “No Tax Dollars for Riots” Act.  The bill would ban federal funding to, and strip the tax-exempt status of, any non-profit organization an officer or board member of which is convicted of an offense in connection to a protest deemed by law enforcement to be a “riot.” These consequences would apply REGARDLESS of whether the convicted individual was acting in a personal capacity or as a representative of the organization in question. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Also see:

• Kiley press releases – Rep. Kiley to Introduce Legislation Targeting Rioters & President Trump Endorses Rep. Kiley Bill to Prevent Violent Riots; Kiley X-post – “I am introducing the No Tax Dollars for Riots Act, legislation to deny public funding and tax-exempt status to “nonprofits” that organize riots. The group known as CHIRLA played a central role in the chaos in LA after receiving over $34 million in public funding.”
• President Trump post on Truth Social 6/28/25: “CONGRESSMAN KEVIN KILEY’S, ‘NO TAX DOLLARS FOR RIOTS’ legislation, should be passed immediately. I am hereby instructing my Administration not to pay ANY money to these radicalized groups, regardless of the legislation. They get paid to incite riots, burn down or destroy a city, then come back to the trough to get money to help rebuild it. NO MORE MONEY!!!“
• Trump Demands Republicans Crack Down on Nonprofits That Protest ICE [“The president endorsed a GOP lawmaker’s bill to take away the tax-exempt status of groups supposedly involved in ‘unlawful riots'”] (Rolling Stone 6/28/25)

(YET MORE US AID FOR/COOPERATION WITH ISRAEL) HR 4655: Introduced 7/23/25 by Fine (R-FL) and 8 cosponsors [7 Republicans + Gottheimer (D-NJ)], “To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a grant program to increase cooperation on post-traumatic stress disorder research between the United States and Israel.“ Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

(ARGENTINA/HEZBOLLAH + IHRA) S. Res. 326: Introduced 7/17/25 (Missed this last week – sorry) by Curtis (R-UT) and Rosen (D-NV), “A resolution remembering the 33rd anniversary of the bombing of the Embassy of Israel in Buenos Aries on March 17, 1992, and the 31st anniversary of the bombing of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association building in Buenos Aires on July 18, 1994, and recommitting to efforts to uphold justice for victims of the attacks.” Includes clause in which the Senate: “commends the Government of Argentina for adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism and encourages other partners and allies to do the same.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Senators Curtis, Rosen Lead Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Victims of Argentine Terror Attacks, Confronting Rise in Global Antisemitism

(CONCERN FOR CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED BY MUSLIMS – NEVER MIND ISRAEL KILLING/INURING/DISPLACING CHRISTIAN PALESTINIANS, OR EVEN BOMBING A CHURCH IN GAZA LAST WEEK) S. Res. 327: Introduced by Hawley (R-MO) 7/21/25, “A resolution condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries and encouraging the President to prioritize the protection of persecuted Christians in United States foreign policy.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. This is the Senate companion to H. Res. 594, introduced last week. Also see:

• press release – Congressman Moore, Senator Hawley Introduce Resolution Condemning International Persecution of Christians.
• NOTE: The bill text does mention Palestinian Christians in Gaza, but not to express concern for them being killed/injured/displaced/starved by Israel, or concern about Israel repeatedly bombing churches in Gaza, but as yet another prop to deflect focus from Israel’s actions in Gaza: “Whereas, in Gaza, Christians live as an extreme minority with almost no rights under the Hamas-led government“.
• Recommended reading: The Dilemma of Gaza’s Christians (The New Yorker 1/24/24); I’m a Palestinian Christian in Gaza. I want peace—for my homeland and my family. (America Magazine 12/20/23); Under Israeli attack: Who are the Christians of Gaza? They’re small in number, but with deep roots that they are unwilling to leave behind. (Al Jazeera 11/1/23)

2. Letters

(INVESTIGATE DEATH OF AMCIT IN WEST BANK) 7/24/25: Van Hollen, 28 Senators Call on Administration to Conduct Independent, U.S.-Led Investigation into Death of American Citizen in West Bank [letter text]. Also see: 

• X-posts & press releases: Van Hollen – “Saifullah Kamel Musallet is the 7th U.S. citizen killed in the West Bank by settlers or the IDF since 2022, and the 5th in the last 19 months. Today I led 28 Senators in writing to Rubio & Bondi demanding an independent, U.S.-led investigation — and accountability for ALL these American lives lost“;  Warren (D-MA) – “We can’t stand by while Israeli settlers kill innocent civilians, including Americans, in the West Bank. Trump made this worse by revoking 30+ sanctions on extremist settlers. It’s wrong, and I was proud to join Senator Van Hollen in pressing for accountability and justice.“; Warren press release – Warner, 28 Senators Call on Administration to Conduct Independent, U.S.-Led Investigation into Death of American Citizen in West Bank
• Media: Democrats demand U.S. investigation of American’s death in West Bank (Washington Post 7/24/25); Democratic senators call on Trump to investigate US citizen killed in West Bank (The Hill 7/25/25)

3. Hearings & Briefings

July 23, 2025: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism held a hearing entitled, U.S. Diplomatic Strategies for a Dynamic Middle East (video). Witnesses were: Brian Hook, former US Department of State Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor (statement); Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East (statement); and Shelly Culbertson, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND (statement). Also see:

• Chairman Lawler (R-NY) opening statement
• Former officials warn of consequences if U.S. dials down presence in Middle East (Jewish Insider 7/24/25)

July 23, 2025: The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled, FY26 State Department Posture: Bureau of Political Affairs (video). The sole witness was Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker (statement). Of note: Rep. Castro (D-TX) focused his time on Israel/Gaza/the West Bank (starting around 2:23:08 in the video), asking about the Trump Administration’s plan to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza (he posted parts of his exchange with Hooker on X – here, here, here). The answer he got basically blamed Hamas for all suffering and deaths in Gaza, absolved Israel of responsibility, and raised the Trump Administration’s ostensible support for ceasefire and humanitarian aid. He also asked Hooker whether the Trump Administration plans to independently investigate terrorist acts by Israeli settlers, including the recent murder of a Palestinian-American (her answer suggested that no, the Trump Administration won’t).

July 23, 2025: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa held a hearing entitled, Bureau of Counterterrorism FY26 Budget Posture Hearing (video). The sole witness was Gregory LoGerfo, Acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Bureau of Counterterrorism, U.S. Department of State (statement). LoGerfo mentioned antisemitism once in his prepared remarks and once in response to a member’s question. In addition, Sherman (D-CA) asked LoGerfo to “commit to designating the Popular Resistance Committees of Gaza as either a foreign terrorist organization or a specially designated global terrorist?” LoGerfo responded: “…the department is committed to reviewing the Popular Resistance Committee in Gaza for a potential terrorist designation…” Sherman followed up: “How soon can we count on that review being done? They’ve been a terrorist organization for a couple decades now. Your predecessors have just not focused on this.” LoGerfo committed to getting back to Sherman on this “as soon as possible.” Sherman responded, “I look forward to hearing from you within a month.” [this exchange takes place starting at 26:48 in the hearing video]

July 23, 2025: The House Committee on Appropriations held a mark-up of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs (NSRP) Bill. See next week’s Round-Up for a full analysis of the Middle East-related provisions in the bill, as approved by the Committee, and the accompanying report.  For now, see: hearing video; Full Committee Mark (base bill the Committee marked up); Full Committee Mark Summary; Bill Report. Also see:

• 7/23/25 Diaz-Balart Remarks at FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill Full Committee Markup
• 7/23/25 Cole Remarks at FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill Full Committee Markup
• House Appropriations Committee backs funding increase for antisemitism envoy (Jewish Insider 7/23/25)
• Appropriations Committee Democrats criticize anti-UNRWA provisions in House funding bill  [“Rep. Madeleine Dean described the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation as a ‘death trap for starving Palestinians’”] (Jewish Insider 7/23/25)
• Dean (D-PA) X-post w/ video clip from hearing: “Gaza is starving. This week, I spoke of the complexity of addressing this scale of malnutrition. It goes beyond food — Gaza needs skilled pediatricians, nutritionists, and other specialists to save innocent people, including children, from starving to death.” Escobar (D-TX) commenting on Dean’s post – “The hunger in Gaza is catastrophic, devastating, desperate. The world’s inaction is beyond comprehension. Congress could have allocated funding to help. But didn’t. I was proud to support your amendment, @RepDean. We must continue to do all we can, especially for the children“

July 22-23, 2025: The House Financial Services Committee held a two-day markup of various measures, including HR 4427, the Syria Sanctions Accountability Act, introduced by Lawler (R-NY). During the hearing Lawler proposed an amendment in the nature of a substitute (i.e., replacing the entire bill). Discussion of that ANS occurred on Day 1 (7/22/25), starting 2:05:35 in the markup video. Hours later (starting at 6:15:40 in the video), the committee voted (1) to reject by a vote of 17-37 an amendment to Lawler’s ANS proposed by Ranking Member Waters (D-CA); (2) to adopt by a Voice Vote Lawler’s ANS to HR 4427; and (3) to order by a vote of 31-23 that HR 4427, as amended, be reported out of committee (paving the way for it to be taken up by the full House). Also see: House committee votes for bill to condition removal of sanctions on Syria (Jewish Insider 7/23/25); House committee to vote on Lawler bill modifying Syria sanctions [“The legislation stops short of full repeal of the 2019 Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act sanctions bill that other lawmakers are pushing on a bipartisan basis“] (Jewish Insider 7/21/25)

July 22, 2025: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a markup of various measure (markup video), including:

• HR 2505, the “Block the Use of Transatlantic Technology in Iranian Made Drones Act” (covered in the 4/4/25 edition of the Round-Up). Discussion of HR 2505 starts round 0:22:30 in the markup video. The committee PASSED HR 2505 by a vote of a 50-0 [voted to report it out of committee with a favorable recommendation; vote at 5:25:05 n the video]. NOTE: In his comment, Rep. McCaul (R-TX) spoke about Syria and his desire to see a repeal of the Ceasar Act (starting around 34:00 in the video) and his belief in building a secure Syria, “…the greatest beneficiary of that would be the people of Israel, to have a level of security and not a fragmented Syria…“
• HR 4335, the “Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act” (covered in the 7/11/25 edition of the Round-up). Discussion of HR 4335 starts around 1:28:00 in the markup video. The Committee PASSED HR 4335, as amended, (incorporating an Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute circulated by HR 4335’s lead sponsors, Lawler, R-NY) by a (mostly party-line) vote of 31-19 [voted to report it out of committee with a favorable recommendation; vote at 5:30:50 in the video). Democrats on the committee, while making clear they passionately support the Abraham Accords, opposed HR 4335 based on concerns that it would exempt from oversight on the use of US weapons/technology countries that the US should not be exempting from such oversight. Also see: House committee advances legislation expediting arms sales to Abraham Accords partners (Jewish Insider 7/23/25); Bipartisan House bill would expedite arms sales to Abraham Accords partners [“Rep. Lawler: ‘I am committed to strengthening our relationships with regional partners and putting our ally Israel in the best position possible to do the same’”] (Jewish Insider 7/10/25)
• HR 2633, the “U.S.-South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025″ (covered in the 4/4/25 edition of the Round-Up). NOTE: An entire section of the bill is focused on South Africa’s policies vis-à-vis Israel and the Palestinians. Discussion on HR 2633, which focused on Israel/Gaza, starts around 2:21:20 in the markup video. The Committee PASSED HR 2633 by a vote of 34-16 [after first rejecting a series of Democratic amendments, and 4 Democratic amendments and adopting one [adding one word], from Keating, D-MA).

Concern about Famine/Genocide in Gaza [all Democrats, many of whom have actively enabled/defended Israeli policies/actions for 600+ days — apparently live-streamed mass death from famine is FINALLY enough for some folks to draw some sort of line, and remarkable how many waited until Friday — as Congress goes into a month-long recess — to fing their courage…]

• Schneider (D-IL) 7/25/25: Rep. Schneider Statement on Gaza and Need to Pursue Peace for Both Palestinians and Israelis [calling for an end to the war so that aid can flow, while also placing all responsibility for suffering in Gaza on Hamas, also criticizing France for announcing it will recognize Palestine, because of course it does; also calling out Israeli ministers speaking publicly in support of ethnic cleansing of Gaza, not because he is concerned that this is Israel’s actual policy being implemented, but because speaking this way “empowers those who accuse Israel of war crimes and crimes against humanity“]
• Reed (D-RI), Durbin (D-IL), Shaheen (D-NH), Warner (D-VA), Coons (D-DE), and Schatz (D-HI) 7/25/25: U.S. Senators Call on Netanyahu to Immediately Change Course in Gaza [excerpt: “We call on the Trump Administration to use its considerable leverage to press Prime Minister Netanyahu to: Reach a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas that releases the hostages as soon as possible. Support a surge in humanitarian assistance that provides both a sufficient amount of humanitarian aid and credible mechanisms for effective distribution, including the verification and monitoring of assistance to ensure equitable distribution and to prevent Hamas from diverting assistance. Established humanitarian organizations like the World Food Programme have the experience and ability to renew their delivery of assistance without civil unrest. We must allow them to do their jobs. Dramatically reform or shut down the Gaza Humanitarian Fund and resume support for the existing UN-led aid coordination mechanisms in Gaza with enhanced oversight to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches civilians in need. Establish a ‘day after’ plan for Gaza where Hamas does not retain power, Israel disavows annexation of the West Bank and further integrates into the region, a reformed Palestinian Authority is fostered and empowered, and regional partners are included in rebuilding. Create a framework for a viable path back to a two-state solution that will allow the Israeli and Palestinian people to live side by side in security, dignity, and prosperity.”
• Kim (D-NJ) 7/25/25: “There are trucks of aid waiting just outside of Gaza – reportedly 6,000 of them – ready to enter and provide relief. They must be allowed to enter immediately. It is an utter tragedy to have this suffering of children and other civilians unfold while the resources exist right at the border. The continued denial of a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza by Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government is shameful. The nearly three month blockade of humanitarian supplies they executed earlier this year and the failed delivery system they have imposed since have had devastating and deadly results. I see more and more voices in Israel and the Jewish community in America speaking out, including families of the remaining hostages and former Israeli defense and security leaders. I urge others, including supporters of Israel, to demand a change in course. Countering Hamas and seeking the release of hostages does not necessitate restricting life-sustaining humanitarian supplies for civilians. In fact, the tragedy facing children and civilians in Gaza will only exacerbate and prolong security concerns facing Israel.”
• Lee (D-PA) 7/25/25: X-post – “Palestinians in Gaza are being starved to death. The IDF is blocking aid and shooting people waiting in line for food. People are collapsing in the streets from extreme starvation. Horrors upon horrors. The U.S. must stop funding Israel’s manufactured famine and genocide.“
• Magaziner (D-RI) 7/25/25: X-post – “The starvation in Gaza is a humanitarian crisis. Children are dying and doctors are too hungry to work. Aid must be surged and allowed in NOW.”
• Merkley (D-OR) 7/25/25: X-post – “Gaza is starving. Every moment that the U.S. fails to demand a massive influx in humanitarian aid and continues to supply Netanyahu with bombs, we are complicit.    No bombs. More aid.“
• Cleaver (D-IL) 7/25/25: X-post – “The people in Gaza are starving to death. The humanitarian crisis is not easing – it’s accelerating. Every delay in aid is a death sentence. The world cannot look away: Israel has an obligation to provide desperately needed humanitarian aid to innocent Palestinians. That’s why I joined @RepJayapal and 90+ Democrats in June to call on the U.S. administration to do more.”
• Peters (D-MI) 7/25/25: X-post – “Over recent weeks, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has worsened significantly. There are credible reports that innocent people are going days without eating and that life-threatening violence around aid distribution sites is making it too dangerous for families to get food, water, and medical supplies. It is past time for a lasting ceasefire that ensures that innocent civilians in Gaza receive desperately needed humanitarian aid, secures the release of the remaining hostages, and supports peace and stability in the region.“
• Kelly (D-IL) 7/25/25: X-post – “The surging humanitarian crisis in Gaza requires urgent action. People need food, medicine, and safety. A ceasefire agreement where all hostages can come home and aid can flow into the region is imperative. All people want to live in peace.“
• Garcia (D-CA) 7/25/25: X-post – “The growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the famine unleashed upon children and families is horrific. People are being shot who are trying to get food. We need a full flow of aid and a ceasefire immediately. The war must end so we can save lives and return hostages home.”
• Craig (D-MN) 7/25/25: X-post – “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is not acceptable. Children, families, innocent civilians, doctors and journalists are starving. Now, over 100 foreign aid groups have sounded the alarm, and the situation is only worsening. I’m calling on the Israeli government and the Trump Administration to work swiftly to reach a diplomatic solution, implement an immediate ceasefire and ensure that humanitarian aid – including food – is able to enter Gaza.”
• DeSaulnier (D-CA) 7/25/25: X-post – “The situation in Gaza is dire. Aid groups and the World Health Organization are all in agreement that mass starvation is spreading and needs to be addressed urgently. The Trump Administration needs to do all it can to put pressure on the Netanyahu regime to take immediate action.“
• Ansari (D-AZ) 7/25/25: X-post – “The intensifying starvation in Gaza and attacks on people seeking food are horrifying and must end. Gazans should be able to access aid at humanitarian sites without fear of being gunned down. Netanyahu must stop this. Trump must stop finger-pointing and commit to real diplomacy to end this war immediately.“
• Murray (D-WA) 7/24/25: X-post – “This is a crisis. While I have very little confidence in this administration, I’m calling on POTUS to intervene. No one should starve or die from disease when aid is sitting across the border. Let all humanitarian actors get aid into Gaza. Make sure it can be delivered safely”
• Doggett (D-TX) 7/24/25: X-post – “There is no justification for the pictures the world is seeing daily of emaciated Palestinian children, caught in the crossfire between Hamas’ evil and the extremist Netanyahu government. Over 115 humanitarian organizations have warned their colleagues in Gaza are starving to death. There must be a ceasefire and surge in humanitarian aid immediately.“
• Smith (D-MN) 7/24/25: X-post – “Food and water should never be politicized. Netanyahu’s disregard for civilian life is appalling. The near-total blockade of food and aid into Gaza must end – innocent children are being starved.“
• Raskin (D-MD) 7/24/25: X-post – “Hundreds of hungry Palestinians have been killed near food sites managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation which is funded in part by our tax dollars. This group should not receive our support while Gazans face starvation and violent death every day. The famine and slaughter must end now.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/24/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Earlier this year, @RepRashida and I introduced resolutions to block the sale of specific offensive weapons to Israel. We need to respond to these atrocities with restraint and the assurance that any government will uphold U.S. law and international humanitarian law.“
• Jacobs (D-CA) 7/24/25: X-post – “I am sickened by what we’re seeing in Gaza right now. The IDF has blocked aid while shooting people waiting in food lines for what little aid is actually coming from the sham Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Israel needs to lift its blockade and the U.S. needs to stop sending bombs.”
• Amo (D-RI) 7/24/25: X-post – “The people of Gaza should not starve or be targeted as they seek what little food aid is available. Trump must demand Israel immediately surge sufficient food, water, and medical supplies for Palestinians. There must be an immediate end to this war and suffering.“
• McCollum (D-MN) 7/23/25: “Since 2006, I have proudly defended the human rights of the Palestinian people living in Gaza and the West Bank. For two decades, I have maintained that the United States must not tolerate the apartheid policy of our ally, Israel. Let me be clear: I was horrified by the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7^th, and my heart aches for the remaining hostages and their families who are waiting for them to return home. However, the disproportionate response to this attack by Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist right-wing government has caused a spiral of death and destruction. Prime Minister Netanyahu is only working with the extremists in his government who would prefer that there are no Palestinians. They have corralled an entire population into an unsafe, untenable, and inhumane situation, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has commanded a barbaric military campaign that has killed or injured more than 50,000 children. The current Israeli government has effectively weaponized aid by initially accepting the provision of food and medicine from third parties and then abruptly reversing course and rejecting aid from international aid groups. The reports of death and starvation in Gaza are agonizing, and now there is credible evidence that foreign doctors, journalists, and aid workers are facing starvation along with the people they are trying to save. Instead of working with our international partners to swiftly provide food and medicine to those who need it, the Trump Administration has hastily propped up the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) which has failed to get food, medicine, or clean water to the people of Gaza. In fact, what started as nearly 400 humanitarian aid sites for 2.1 million Gazans has now dwindled down to only four active sites run by GHF. The lack of distribution sites has caused mass chaos. Palestinians who are fighting for their lives and the lives of their loved ones face nearly impossible odds to get to these distribution sites. The Israel Defense Forces’ response has been to shoot first and ask questions later. The Trump Administration is complicit in this staggering injustice. It is failing to work with other democracies and international organizations to get aid into Gaza, and the American people and the world are taking notice. Instead, this administration continues to support the failed policies of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist government. Just yesterday, House Republicans rejected an amendment in the National Security and State Department appropriations bill that would have provided funding to the East Jerusalem Hospital Network – a faith-based hospital system providing vital services to both Israelis and Palestinians. Even more shocking, the Trump administration last week incinerated 500 metric tons of food meant to help hungry children all over the world, including in Gaza, in what can only be described as a shameful episode of America abdicating its humanitarian obligation. I, along with the world, watch in horror as the Trump Administration buoys Prime Minister Netanyahu’s extremist right-wing government. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine things would get so bad. No child on this planet should be starved when the United States has the capacity to feed them. I implore my colleagues to consider: How will the world remember us?“
• Bell (D-MO) 7/24/25: X-post – “I’ve always supported Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. That hasn’t changed. But supporting this government’s actions—allowing children to starve and firing on civilians seeking food—is something I can’t stand by. This isn’t self-defense. It must stop.“
• Ritchie (D-NY) 7/24/25: X-post – “Telling Palestinians in Gaza to ‘starve away’ is an evil thing to say. The US must make every effort to secure the release of the hostages, end the war, enable new Palestinian self-governance in Gaza, build a durable peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and expand the Abraham Accords in the service of broader Israeli-Arab peace.” [responding to Fine (R-FL) post, below. Note: while taking a shot at Fine for his “starve away” comment, Ritchie conspicuously does not call for anyone to do anything to actually get urgent aid into Gaza, suggesting his dispute with Fine is more about style than substance.]
• Klobuchar (D-MN) 7/24/25: C-Span X-post – “Acute malnutrition is rising. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while seeking food, most in the vicinity of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites and others on the routes of aid convoys. This is simply unacceptable.“
• Lynch (D-MA) 7/24/25: X-post w/ video clip – “What is happening in Gaza is just wrong.   I call on the Trump Administration to condemn attacks against the civilian population.” [speech on video focused on killing of people seeking food & on malnutrition, death from famine]
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/24/25: X-post – “I’m at the Capitol with Mosab Abu Toha, a teacher, poet, and genocide survivor who escaped Gaza after losing dozens of his family members. We are here to call on my colleagues and government officials to stop funding the genocide in Gaza.“
• Dexter (D-OR) 7/24/25: X-post – “Netanyahu is weaponizing starvation in Gaza. Aid is blocked. Children are dying. The world must act. I am backing legislation reinstating UNRWA to rush life-saving aid into Gaza. I’m demanding answers on the deadly mismanagement at U.S.-backed aid sites. We cannot look away.“
• Velazquez (D-NY) 7/23/25: X-post – “Families in Gaza are starving. Children are dying. People searching for food are being shot. Israel is blocking aid, and over 100 humanitarian groups are sounding the alarm. The U.S. must act now to end the blockade and get life-saving aid to civilians. This is an emergency.“
• Simon (D-CA) 7/23/25: X-post – “Let me be clear, there is a man-made famine in Gaza right now.  This is illegal and it is inhumane, Israel must let humanitarian aid into Gaza immediately.”
• Dexter (D-OR) 7/23/25: floor statement – “I rise today as a mother, a physician, and a Member of Congress horrified by the ongoing massacre in Gaza. This is not a humanitarian crisis in abstract. It is the result of choices, choices leading to preventable famine. While bombs are leveling entire cities, the only so-called aid group  allowed in, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, is annihilating the very principles of neutrality and humanitarian relief.  Now, we are hearing reports that aid will be contingent on a cease-fire. Let me be clear: That is morally bankrupt. You do not negotiate over food. You do not bargain with medicine. Youdo not turn aid sites into deathtraps. Palestinians in Gaza deserve safety, dignity, and the right to self-determination, not starvation. Oregonians have been clear: The United States has a moral obligation to use its power to end this tragedy. A critical step is demanding the U.N. Relief and Works Agency is immediately reinstated in Gaza for large-scale aid delivery.“
• Gallego (D-AZ) 7/23/25: X-post – “When I served in war, I understood the dual obligation to combat terrorists and protect innocent civilians. Netanyahu’s current approach to humanitarian aid in Gaza is failing and must be improved. The suffering of civilians cannot be ignored.”
• Baldwin (D-WI) 7/23/25: X-post – “Starving families that were in line to get food were senselessly gunned down. It’s horrific, illegal, & unacceptable. This war has to end. Palestinian families desperately need aid, Israeli families need their loved ones home, & we need peace, security, and a two-state solution.“
• Pocan (D-WI) 7/23/25: X-post – “There is no excuse for Israel under Netanyahu to block food, bomb aid convoys, and shoot civilians at food lines. It’s abhorrent and illegal. This lifesaving aid must be allowed to enter Gaza ASAP.”
• Dingell (D-MI) 7/23/25: X-post – “Starvation is not self defense. The blockade must end.”
• Casar (D-TX) 7/23/25: X-post – “The Israeli military has killed over 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza seeking aid, and its blockade is starving innocent children. There are no words for how horrifying this is. We must end Netanyahu’s war on Gaza’s civilians, and we must end the United States’ support for it.”
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/23/25: X-post – “Netanyahu is using starvation as a weapon of war. Since March 2, he has cut off food, medical supplies, and other aid to more than 2 million Palestinians. Enough is enough! Israel must lift its blockade on aid. We must see Gaza Humanitarian Foundation for the sham that it is. The attacks on people waiting for what little aid is offered must stop. The atrocities must end.”
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/23/25: X-post – “Children are literally starving to death in Gaza. The Israeli government is using starvation as a weapon of war and using our taxpayer dollars to do it. This plain cruelty must stop.”
• Kelly (D-AZ) 7/22/25: X-post – “Israel must stop these attacks on people seeking aid. There are starving children in Gaza and more needs to be done to end this crisis.”
• Panetta (D-CA) 7/22/25: “The reported bloodshed at humanitarian aid sites in Gaza is wrongful and unacceptable.  When efforts to deliver food result in gunfire, stampedes, and civilian and child casualties, GHF must immediately reassess what it is doing and work with the Israeli government and its defense forces to revise its procedures and plans as one of the few distributors of humanitarian aid to Gaza.  GHF should consider using cleared, trusted, and verified NGOs to expand delivery corridors by land, air, and sea, and institute secure, direct-to-civilian aid routes that minimize contact with Hamas. Furthermore, there is a U.S.-led and Qatari and Egyptian-facilitated deal on the table for a 60-day truce between Hamas and Israel, which would be accompanied by the staggered release of all the hostages.  As I have said from the beginning of this conflict, the United States must continue to lead by working with both sides to immediately reach a deal. A deal that will not only stop the violence, but also prompt the release of every hostage, the security of Israel, the administrative and military dismantling of Hamas, and the safe and proper delivery of humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza. Moreover, this deal could lay a strong foundation for the larger goals in the region, including a potential resolution of the Palestinian issue, the further isolation of Iran, and a broadening normalization of relations between our Arab partners and the only democracy in the Middle East.“
• Green (D-TX) 7/22/25: video – Rep. Al Green Calls Out Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing, & Collective Punishment of Palestinians in Gaza [full statement in Congressional Record]
• Min (D-CA) 7/22/25: X-post – “What’s happening in Gaza is devastating and heartbreaking, which is why I am once again calling on the Israeli government to ensure that starving Palestinians receive food and other humanitarian aid. The suffering must end.“
• Tran (D-CA) 7/22/25: floor statement – “I rise today to express my horror at the reports coming from Gaza of hundreds of innocent civilians being killed or maimed while they are seeking humanitarian assistance. This is a humanitarian crisis. Congress and the Trump administration must take action to put an end to the violence. Killing those seeking food is incompatible with the pursuit of peace. The choice by Israeli leadership to engage in military actions at aid sites endangers all innocent Palestinians and Israelis who deserve to live with dignity. I am the child of refugees. My parents were forced to flee because they feared for their own lives in their home country. The United States must ensure that the Palestinian people can live their lives in peace without the fear that they will be killed in line for food.“
• Garcia (D-IL) 7/21/25: X-post – “As they starve under an Israeli-imposed blockade, Palestinians are being shot at for seeking food and water. I join the Pope as he once again calls for an end to the barbarity in Gaza.“
• Scholten (D-MI) 7/21/25: X-post – “I’m heartbroken and deeply concerned about the loss of innocent lives this weekend in Gaza. Innocent people seeking aid and food MUST be able to do so without harm as we work toward an end to this humanitarian crisis.”
• Foushee (D-NC) 7/21/25: X-post – “Trump’s aid plan for Gaza doesn’t work. Starving civilians are being met with gunfire at aid sites—it’s inhumane and unacceptable. I continue to call for a ceasefire to ensure the flow of aid to the region and safe return of the remaining hostages.”
• Dingell (D-MI) 7/19/25: X-post – “‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat.’ Yet, hungry people desperate to reach a legitimate food distribution center are being fired upon and killed. The desperation of hunger is not a crime. This is not defense, it’s a humanitarian failure.“

Zero Concern About Famine in Gaza, except to blame Hamas

• Scott (R-FL) 7/25/25: X-post – “I’m sick and tired of terrorist sympathizers blaming Israel for people starving in Gaza. That’s a flat-out lie. HAMAS is stealing aid from the people of Gaza and starving innocent people, including the hostages they hold. It has been 658 days, and every day that goes by could be their last. We can’t rest until we bring them all home!“
• Scott (R-FL) 7/23/25: X-post – “While Hamas terrorists feast on food they stole from civilians in Gaza, the innocent hostages Hamas has held for 656 days are starving to death. It’s disgusting and pure evil. Enough is enough — Bring them all home!” — linked to what appears to be an old video being circulated by the IDF
• Fine (R-FL) 7/23/25: X-post – “When you wonder why I don’t give a shit about Gazans, here is one reason. As if it wasn’t enough, there are 1450 more.” Linked to X-post about a 22-year-old Israel woman killed 10/7/23 at the Nova Festival.
• Fine (R-FL) 7/23/25: X-post – “To the people fighting for Muslim terrorists, harassing staff in the cafeteria, and storming Congressional offices. I have a message for them.” with image with text: I WILL ALWAYS STAND AGAINST TERRORISTS
• Fine (R-FL) 7/22/25: X-post – “Terror raggies don’t bother me.” [referring to activists from Code Pink calling him out re: Gaza]
• Fine (R-FL) 7/22/25: X-post – “Release the hostages. Until then, starve away. (This is all a lie anyway. It amazes me that the media continues to regurgitate Muslim terror propaganda.)” This post by Fine was tsk tsk’d 7/23/25 by the American Jewish Committee (which perhaps recognized that sounding too pro-starvation of 2+ million people, even as there is now a constant stream of photos of emaciated dead and dying Palestinians, including children, is a bad look for Israel and its defenders), which posted: “The serious humanitarian situation in Gaza must not be taken lightly, especially by those at the highest levels of government. Implying that starvation is a legitimate tactic is unacceptable. All those in need of humanitarian aid should receive it promptly and safely. Our leaders must focus less on scoring political points and more on doing their jobs.”

GOP Love for Israel & Trump Admin

• Scott (R-FL) 7/23/25: X-post – “.@VoteRandyFine will do a great job standing up for Israel” [responding to news that the GOP put Fine on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, while Democrats put Rep. Omar (D-MN) back on that committee (Republicans threw her off the committee in 2023)]
• Hawley (R-MO) 7/23/25: X-post – “Hahahah – pro-Hamas CRAZIES tried to disrupt another event this morning. What a bunch of nutcases. I’m proud as ever to stand for America and our ally Israel” Fine (R-FL) responded on X: “Stand your ground, Senator. Don’t let the delusional, paid protesters push their Muslim terror narrative in America. I’ll hold it down on the House side. Americans need Republicans to be united on this.”
• Daines (D-MT) 7/23/25: X-post – “Thanks to the incredible strength of the Israeli military & the leadership of @POTUS, I’m optimistic about a ceasefire between Israel & Gaza.“
• Luna (R-FL) 7/19/25: X-post – “A few months back, I asked the Israeli government directly about a prior strike that hit a Christian church in Gaza. I also reached out to the Gov. of Syria regarding the strike a few days ago. These continued aggressions— after @POTUS has been VERY CLEAR ABOUT PEACE in GAZA and backing Syria— should not go unchecked. Thank you @GovMikeHuckabee for your strong leadership on this.”
• Fetterman (D-PA) 7/19/25: X-post – “For nearly 2 years, the media normalized hostages held in hellish places. To the tunnel rats: the world knows you and Iran have been broken. Disarming yourselves and freeing the hostages would bring peace to Gaza.”
• Bacon (R-NE) 7/18/25: X-post – “No two state solution until Palestinians are ready to have peace with the Jewish state of Israel.“

Re: Israel Looking for US Help/Supporting in Ethnically Cleansing Gaza

• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/18/25: X-post – “A truly outrageous and sickening request from the Netanyahu government. The U.S. should not be complicit in or use ANY governmental, American taxpayer resources to aid and abet what amounts to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian civilians from Gaza.  We cannot stand for this” – Responding to Axios article, Scoop: Israel seeks U.S. help on deals to move Palestinians out of Gaza

Meanwhile, re: the West Bank

• Tlaib (D-MN) 7/24/25: X-post – “It’s unbelievable that American politicians and media outlets still get away with genocide denial every single day while the Israeli government is voting overwhelmingly to put their war crimes in the legislative record. This is unambiguously illegal, and they’re proud of it.” With screenshot of Times of Israel headline, “Knesset votes 71-13 for non-binding motion calling to annex West Bank” [full article]
• Tenney (R-NY) 7/23/25: X-post – “Historic moment in Israel: the Knesset just passed a resolution supporting asserting sovereignty over Judea & Samaria. These regions are not “occupied”; they are the ancestral heartland of the Jewish people. As Chair of the Friends of Judea & Samaria Caucus, I will continue to stand with Israel & its right to exist, securely & sovereignly.“
• Quigley (D-IL) 7/23/25: X-post – “Saif Musallet was an American citizen visiting family in the West Bank. He was beaten to death by Israeli settlers. There must be an independent investigation into Saif’s murder. With violence against Palestinian civilians increasing every day, we can not let his death — the death of an American — go unanswered.“
• Quigley (D-IL) 7/22/25: “I was horrified by the murder of 20‑year‑old Palestinian‑American Sayfollah ‘Saif’ Musallet in the West Bank. There must be an independent investigation into Saif’s murder, and those responsible must be held accountable. I am a proud cosponsor of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act to bring an end to violence in the West Bank and ensure that any perpetrators are brought to justice. Amid their grief, Saif’s family has asked only for an end to the violence in the West Bank. Congress must do our part to provide them that justice. Over the weekend, I was equally horrified by the 94 Palestinians who were killed while seeking food aid and at least 33 people, including 12 children, who died of starvation. The time for Israeli reassurances about food aid has long passed. The United Nations must resume full control of humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. More than 80 children have died of malnutrition since the war began, and 90,000 women and children are now in urgent need of treatment. These conditions are unacceptable and must come to an immediate end. As Israel’s closest ally, we have an obligation to hold our friends to the same standard we would any other international actor. That is why I am urging an immediate ceasefire and for Israel to immediately reinstate UN control over humanitarian aid distribution.”
• Moore (R-UT) 7/21/25: X-post – “The death of an American citizen in the West Bank by a group of settlement residents on July 11 should have never happened and demands a full investigation from the Israeli government. The U.S. and Israel have a remarkable opportunity to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East after Operation Midnight Hammer and the decimation of Iran’s proxy terrorist network, but these types of tragedies detract from and threaten to derail that incredible potential. Ambassador Huckabee and the Trump administration are right to call for accountability.“
• Sanders (I-VT) 7/19/25: X-post – “Netanyahu’s atrocities are not limited to Gaza. He has also unleashed terrorist settlers in the West Bank who attack civilians and recently beat a young American to death. Even Trump’s ambassador, Mike Huckabee, called this a “terrorist act.” NO MORE MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL.“

We Don’t Mind Famine/Genocide but We Draw the Line at a Slogan (that we define to mean something the people who use it say it doesn’t mean)

• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/20/25: X-post w/ video clip – “There are no two sides to the meaning of ‘Globalize the Intifada.’ It’s hate speech, plain and simple. That’s why I’m proud to introduce a resolution with @RepRudyYakym condemning this antisemitic slogan. Everyone must step up to combat rising Jew hatred.” [covered in last week’s Round-Up]
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/19/25: X-post – “‘The Intifada’ refers to a horrific wave of terror attacks that killed thousands of Jews. Globalizing it is a direct call for violence against Jews. It’s time to pass my bipartisan resolution condemning this hate-filled slogan.”

Iran, Iran, Iran

• Daines (R-MT) 7/23/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Strengthening the relationship between Israel & Azerbaijan is critical for national security & countering the threats that Israel faces from Iran.“
• Daines (R-MT) 7/23/25: X-post w/ video clip – “The Iranians chant ‘Death to America” & “Death to Israel.’ They should never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.”
• Cotton (R-AR) 7/22/25: X-post – “Iran’s ‘space program’ is nothing more than a ridiculous charade designed to hide their efforts to develop long-range ballistic missiles to attack America and our allies. Don’t be fooled by their propaganda.“
• Shreve (R-IN) 7/21/25: Representative Shreve Introduces Bill to Counter Iran’s Regime of Terror [covered in last week’s Round-Up]

More $$$ & Weapons for Israel!

• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/22/25: X-post – “As the parent company of terror, Iran and its proxies continue to attack U.S. and Israeli service members, civilians, and families. I’m proud the House passed my piece of bipartisan legislation to defend our troops, protect civilians, and support our key democratic ally, Israel, against increasing threats from killer drones.” Commenting on JNS 7/18/25 article – House passes defense appropriations bill with millions for Israel
• Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) 7/20/25: X-post – “Marjorie Taylor Greene’s amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza. Of course I voted against it. What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue. I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end. That is a simple and clear difference of opinion that has long been established. I remain focused on cutting the flow of US munitions that are being used to perpetuate the genocide in Gaza.”
  • NOTE: This post from Ocasio-Cortez, responding to criticism for her vote against Greene’s amendment, sparked even more outrage and backlash, including, for example, from Human rights attorney & Professor Noura Erakat, “Saying nothing would have been better than this gaslighting. The structural problem is US provision of weapons & impunity. It’s necessary to undermine that structure. Distinguishing bw offensive & defensive weapons attempts to normalize our role in genocide & how we got here.”; from lawyer Jenin Younes, “You voted to keep sending money to a terrorist regime that’s committing genocide. It doesn’t matter what the money is earmarked for. unbelievable“; and from former UN official and human rights lawyer Craig Mokhiber, “Respectfully, Representative, you have just voted to send weapons to a regime that the ICJ and all human rights organizations have affirmed is an apartheid regime, that is on trial for genocide in the ICJ, and the leaders of which are indicted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. This is not acumen or discernment. It’s complicity. And I think you know it.“
  • This escalated further with accusations that AOC had voted for military aid for Israel during this genocide. Ocasio-Cortez responded on X: “Google is free. If you’re saying I voted for military funding, you are lying. Receipts attached. Drag me for my positions all you want, but lying about them doesn’t make you part of the ‘left.’ If you believe neo-nazis are welcome and operating in good faith, you can have them!“

Anniversary of 1994 AMIA bombing

• House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 7/18/25: X-post – “The AMIA bombing was the deadliest antisemitic attack in the West Hemisphere—85 murdered by Iran-backed Hezbollah. 31 years later, we’re still demanding justice. Was honored to host an event commemorating the anniversary with @alejandrito.“
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 7/18/25: X-post – “Earlier this week, I joined in honoring and mourning the 85 innocent lives who were brutally murdered, and the more than 300 injured, in the deadliest antisemitic terrorist attack in Argentina’s history. On July 18, 1994, the Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina (AMIA) headquarters in Buenos Aires was targeted in a blatant act of antisemitism.   As co-chair of the Congressional Latino-Jewish Caucus, I remain committed to demanding justice and accountability for the vile perpetrators of this crime, including Iran’s former Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and other terrorists.   We must never forget the victims, and we must continue to condemn the alarming rise of antisemitism and hold accountable those who commit such heinous acts.“
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 7/21/25: Díaz-Balart, Wasserman Schultz, Gonzales, Espaillat Lead Latino-Jewish Caucus in Marking Anniversary of AMIA Jewish Center Bombing, Demand Accountability [covered in last week’s Round-Up]

Mamdani Obessession

• Fine (R-FL) 7/23/25: X-post – “This is what is going to happen to flights out of NYC if Mamdani gets get elected. We can’t let Muslim Terrorists start a caliphate in our country like they have in Europe.” Responding to X-post from Eyal Yakoby: “BREAKING: Fifty Jewish French children, aged 10 – 15, were singing Hebrew songs on the plane. The Islamist @vueling airline crew said that Israel is a terrorist state and forced the children off the aircraft. I’m sure they’ll be in court soon.” Also see: the airline’s version of the story
• Gottheimer (D-NY) 7/22/25: X-post – “We need Democrats who want to combat higher taxes. We need Democrats who can lead and ensure that government runs well. We don’t need tax-raising socialists who refuse to condemn antisemitic hate speech.” [targeting Mamdani]

Targeting Academia/Free Speech/Right to Protest

• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/24/25: X-post – “Earlier this year, violent anti-Israel protesters stormed Columbia’s library — pushing security guards and trapping students studying for finals. I’m glad to see @Columbia finally hold those involved accountable. No student should ever be afraid to go to class.“
• House Committee on Education & the Workforce (GOP) 7/24/25: X-post- “America’s biggest teachers union shows its true colors once again. @NEAToday is attempting to erase the deaths of more than 6 million Jews during the Holocaust while pushing anti-Israel, antisemitic ideology masquerading as educational tools. How could anyone think this is okay?” Responding to Free Beacon 7/23/24 article – Largest Teachers’ Union in United States Erases Jews From the Holocaust
• Fine (R-FL) 7/23/25: X-post – “Extraordinary. @realDonaldTrump is dismantling Muslim Terror on our college campuses. No President has ever notched so many wins this fast. An extraordinary moment for young American Jews — and everyone who loves America.” With pic of New York Post headline, “Columbia University to pay out more than $200M after violating Jewish students’ civil rights in massive win for Trump Admin“
• House Committee on Education & Reform (GOP) 7/23/25:  “Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) issued the following statement in response to Columbia University’s agreement with the Trump administration: ‘The need for a federal settlement underscores Columbia’s lack of institutional willingness to effectively respond to antisemitism. This school and its so-called leaders have failed time and time again to keep Jewish students, faculty, and staff safe. True progress requires universities to confront antisemitism proactively, in partnership with affected communities. We will closely monitor Columbia’s purported commitment to this agreement and continue to develop legislative solutions to address antisemitism. All colleges and universities must fulfill their legal obligations under federal antidiscrimination law.'”
• House Committee on Education & Reform (GOP) 7/22/25:  “Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) issued the following statement on today’s news that Columbia is reportedly disciplining students for the violent, antisemitic encampments and takeover of the library: ‘Columbia has more progress to make before Jewish students can truly feel safe on its campus. The Committee’s work has underscored the depth and breadth of antisemitism at Columbia that can’t be ignored. We will continue to investigate antisemitism at Columbia and other universities and develop legislative solutions to address this persistent problem. Our nation’s institutions of higher education must fulfill their legal obligations under federal antidiscrimination law.'”
• Gomez (D-CA) 7/22/25: X-post – “Trump isn’t defunding Harvard to combat antisemitism on campus — he’s trying to gain control over decision-making at independent universities, even at the cost of research that saves lives and shapes our future.“
• Hunt (R-TX) 7/22/25: X-post – “Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil makes his rounds in D.C. visiting legislators who supported him during his detention. Khalil’s detention came after he started riots at Columbia University. Dem’s are making him a ‘star’ because they don’t have one.“

HOW DARE FRANCE RECOGNIZE PALESTINE?

• Ogles (R-TN) 7/25/25: X-post – “France is moving to recognize a Palestinian state; make no mistake, this is a pro-Hamas decision. Macron should be focused on rooting out the terror cells inside France, not legitimizing them abroad.“
• Tenney (R-NY) 7/25/25: X-post – “It is deeply disappointing to see President Macron push to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN, especially while radical Palestinian terrorists still hold hostages and continue a campaign of terror. Having a “Western” nation openly embrace terrorism is beyond shameful. France now aligns itself with Russia and China instead of the United States and Europe. This move rewards Hamas, undermines Israel’s right to self-defense, and dishonors the victims of October 7th.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 7/25/25: X-post – “France’s unilateral recognition of a Palestinian State will neither bring about a ceasefire or help the people of Gaza. Instead, it emboldens terrorists and their barbaric tactics. We know the path to peace demonstrated by the Abraham Accords: direct negotiations that foster economic growth and promote regional stability.“
• Harrigan (R-NC) 7/25/25: X-post – “.@EmmanuelMacron’s push to recognize a Palestinian state is reckless. It props up Hamas, buries the peace process, and dishonors the victims of October 7. The United States should oppose it completely.”
• Schneider (D-IL) 7/25/25: from his statement on Gaza – “France’s announcement of pending recognition of a Palestinian state is premature and unhelpful. It rewards Hamas’s terror rather than advancing the necessary steps to achieve peace.“
• Steube (R-FL) 7/25/25: “Grateful to have a Commander in Chief who doesn’t cater to Hamas’ demands. The French could learn a thing or two from President Trump about peace through strength.“
• Messmer (R-IN) 7/25/25: X-post – “Israel is fighting a war for its very existence against barbarous Hamas terrorism! I find it shameful that any country would choose to side with terrorists who are torturing hostages in their tunnels. Israeli citizens deserve to live in Peace. I stand with Israel.“
• House Foreign Affairs Committee (GOP) 7/24/25: X-post – “.@RepBrianMast: ‘Choosing to reward terrorism, hostage taking, and genocide against Jews is the wrong choice.’”
• Graham (R-SC) 7/24/25: X-post – “The French government’s decision to recognize a Palestinian state is curious and disturbing on multiple levels. I am certain this will embolden Hamas and make a ceasefire more difficult.   In addition, here are some questions that come to mind. Who’s in charge? What are the borders and boundaries? What is the governance structure? Does Hamas stay involved politically or militarily? Is the West Bank and Gaza part of a single state? Are they allowed to have an army? Does the education system change?   Other than these few missing details, it seems like a foolproof plan!“
• Cotton (R-AR) 7/24/25: X-post – “This is a shameful endorsement of terrorists. The best way for this conflict to end is to back Israel in its righteous mission of rescuing the hostages and defeating Hamas.“
• Fine (R-FL) 7/24/25: X-post – “France has a long history of surrendering. They surrendered their country to Muslim terrorists long ago. Now they want to surrender the Holy Land to Hamas. America and Israel don’t surrender, especially to countries like ‘Palestine’ that don’t exist .”
• Gimenez (R-FL) 7/24/25: X-post – “The democratic Jewish State of Israel is America’s closest ally on earth. President @EmmanuelMacron’s recognition of Palestine as a state is a slap to the face to the Jewish community & the state of Israel. President Macron must rethink this decision and side with freedom & democracy, not a terrorist regime.“

Other stuff

• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 7/25/25: X-post – “Another example of Petro aligning himself with malign actors, in this case with Hamas terrorists“. Responding to post from the president of Columbia (translated): “Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President @PetroGustavo ordered: Not a single ton of coal will go to Israel, and I take responsibility,’ the president assured that Colombia will not be complicit in a genocide.“
• Welch (D-VT) 7/24/25: X-post – “I met with Dylan Collins, a Vermonter and video journalist, who survived a targeted attack by Israel Defense Forces while reporting in Southern Lebanon. I’ll continue to demand that the U.S. hold the Israeli government accountable for assaults on journalists and U.S. citizens.“
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/24/25: X-post – “Sinn Féin President @MaryLouMcDonald is not afraid to speak truth to power. I am grateful for her commitment to ending the genocide in Gaza. May we live to see a free Palestine and a United Ireland.“
• Welch (D-VT) 7/23/25: X-post – “I met with Mahmoud Khalil, who was imprisoned by the Trump Administration for peacefully protesting the war in Gaza. Punishing people for exercising their freedom of speech is a danger to our democracy. His advocacy never wavered. Neither should ours.“
• Bacon (R-NE) 7/23/25: X-post – “America must be better than this. Congressional staffers, whether Republican or Democrat, should feel welcome and safe no matter their religion or ethnicity.” Responding to Jewish Insider article, The new normal for Jewish Democratic staffers on Capitol Hill: isolated, fearful, united
• Welch (D-VT) 7/22/25: Vermont Delegation Meets with Dylan Collins, Demands Accountability for Targeted Attack Against International Journalists in Lebanon
• Meeks (D-NY) 7/22/25: Meeks Statement on the Trump Administration Withdrawing the U.S. from UNESCO [“…Contrary to the Trump administration’s smears against UNESCO, our withdrawal from this body only weakens our ability to combat antisemitism and anti-Israel bias…]
• Schneider (D-IL) 7/21/25: X-post – “Turkey illegally invaded Cyprus 51 years ago. Turkey continues to illegally occupy a third of the island, and as Co-Chair of the Congressional Hellenic Israel Alliance Caucus, I remain committed to supporting Cyprus’s reunification and sovereignty. That’s why I introduced the Turkey Diplomatic Realignment Act [HR 1890] and Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act [HR 3307]. These bipartisan bills push back on Turkey’s destabilizing activities in the Eastern Mediterranean and strengthen our partnerships with key regional allies.” Linked to Reuters 7/20/25 article, Greeks mourn, Turks celebrate anniversary of invasion that split Cyprus
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/20/25: X-post – “Antisemitic, anti-Palestinian, and antimigrant [sic] violence are all rooted in white supremacy— and this weekend, our communities witnessed it once again.   As we condemn the appalling attack on our shared humanity and hold those who perpetrate hate accountable, we must recognize our interconnected struggle against all forms of bigotry. Our collective safety depends on it.”

Targeting Criticism/Critics of Israel, Free Speech, Protest

• Newsmax 7/24/25: Rep. Fine to Newsmax: ‘No More Lip Service’ From Schools Like Columbia [“‘They’re implementing the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which will say that many of these protests they had on campus were antisemitic,’ said Fine… ‘Adopting the IHRA definition is a huge deal,’ he said, explaining that means that anti-Zionism equates to antisemitism, which will have a ‘big impact’ on protester groups.”]

Congress Targeting of NGOs

• Haaretz 7/24/25: Did Biden Really Send a Billion Dollars to Sabotage Netanyahu? Inside a Conspiratorial GOP Report From a Parallel Reality
• Jerusalem Post 7/24/25: Likud seeks inquiry into foreign funding of Israeli protests [“The move comes days after Likud issued a statement citing what it called ‘astonishing revelations’ contained in an official document recently published by the US Congress.”]

Other stuff

• Jewish Insider 7/24/25: Senate committee delays ethics watchdog’s confirmation hearing amid GOP questions [“Paul Ingrassia has a record of conspiratorial comments, including calling the the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks a ‘psyop’ and defending prominent antisemites“]
• The Hill 7/23/25: Hawley temporarily escorted off stage after conference interrupted by protesters
• Zeteo 7/23/25: On a Mission: Mahmoud Khalil Visits Capitol Hill
• Jacobin 7/23/25: AIPAC-Backed Lawmakers Are Pushing AI Funding for Israel
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/18/25: Biden admin let $900m in federal funds go to terror, anti-Netanyahu protests, House panel says
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/18/25: House passes defense appropriations bill with millions for Israel
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/18/25: Bipartisan reps introduce resolution to censure use of ‘globalize the intifada’ [covered in last week’s Round-Up]

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters & Reports
3. Hearings & Briefings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 7/16/25: “Iyad El-Baghdadi on ‘Late Stage Zionism’ & What it Might Suggest for the Future of Israel and Palestine,” ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with Palestinian political analyst Iyad El-Baghdadi
• 7/11/25: A conversation with Stefanie Fox, Executive Director of JVP, ft. FMEP Fellow Ahmed Moor speaking with Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) Executive Director Stefanie Fox about the evolution of Jewish Voice for Peace as a Jewish anti-Zionist organization in the US.

—————————-

1. Bills & Resolutions

(ACTUAL GENOCIDE? MEH. BUT WE DRAW THE LINE AT A SLOGAN WHICH WE DEFINE TO MEAN SOMETHING THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT SAY IT DOESN’T MEAN) H. Res. 588 [resolution text]: Introduced 7/17/25 by Yakym (R-IN) and 13 cosponsors [11 Republicans plus Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Suozzi (D-NY)],  “Condemning the slogan ‘Globalize the Intifada’ as a call to violence against Israeli and Jewish people across the world and urging United States national, State, and local leaders to condemn it as such.“ Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see:

• Among other things, the resolution states: “Whereas the Anti-Defamation League characterizes the slogan ‘Globalize the Intifada’ as ‘generally understood as a call for indiscriminate violence against Israel, and potentially against Jews and Jewish institutions worldwide” and “Whereas the American Jewish Committee characterizes the slogan ‘Globalize the Intifada’ as ‘often understood by those saying and hearing it as encouraging violence against Israelis, Jews, and institutions supporting Israel‘”
• The resolutions resolves that: “(1) the slogan, ‘Globalize the Intifada’, is a call for violence against Israeli and Jewish people across the world; (2) the slogan undermines the safety and security of Israeli and Jewish people in their communities; (3) those truly committed to Middle East peace should refrain from affirming, chanting, or displaying the slogan; (4) organizers of demonstrations truly committed to Middle East peace should denounce participants that affirm, chant, or display the slogan; and (5) the slogan must be strongly and unequivocally condemned by national, State, and local leaders.“
• press release – Yakym, Gottheimer Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning “Globalize the Intifada”; Gottheimer, Yakym Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Condemning “Globalize the Intifada” — Phrase Is Hate Speech That Calls for Violence Against Jews

(CONCERN FOR CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED BY MUSLIMS – NEVER MIND ISRAEL KILLING/INURING/DISPLACING CHRISTIAN PALESTINIANS, OR EVEN BOMBING A CHURCH IN GAZA THIS WEEK) H. Res. 594 [resolution text]: Introduced 7/17/25 by Moore (R-WV) and 7 Republican cosponsors, “Condemning the persecution of Christians in Muslim-majority countries.”  Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Congressman Moore, Senator Hawley Introduce Resolution Condemning International Persecution of Christians

(TARGETING THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD) S. 2293 & HR 4397:  Introduced 7/15/25 in the Senate by Cruz (R-TX) and 5 cosponsors (all Republicans), and in the House by Diaz-Balart (R-FL) and 8 cosponsors (5 Republicans plus Moskowitz, D-FL; Suozzi, D-NY; and Gottheimer, D-NJ), “to require the President to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization, to direct the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress regarding such designation, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see:

• Press releases: Sen. Cruz Introduces the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act; Díaz-Balart, Moskowitz Reintroduce the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025; Sens. Ashley Moody, Ted Cruz & Colleagues Introduce the Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act
• Previous versions introduced by Cruz and Diaz-Balart: S.3151 / HR 5840 (2021),  HR 2412 (2019);  S.68 / HR 377 (2017);  S.2230 /HR 3892 (2015)
• Media: Ted Cruz Unveils Bill To Designate Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization, Anticipates Bipartisan Support (Free Beacon 7/14/25); Bipartisan House bill aims to designate Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization [“The bill takes a new tack at a previously attempted move by first designating Muslim Brotherhood branches individually”] (Jewish Insider 7/15/25);  Will Congress Act on the Muslim Brotherhood? (New York Sun 7/15/25); Cruz reintroduces bill to designate Muslim Brotherhood as terrorists (Jewish News Syndicate 7/16/25)
• Social media: Cotton (R-AR) 7/15/25: X-post – “The Muslim Brotherhood preaches death to Israel, the United States, and other western governments. These are the statements of a terrorist group, and they should be labeled as such. Proud to support @SenTedCruz’s bill.“

(MORE US $$ FOR, & COOPERATION WITH, ISRAEL) HR. 4473 [bill text]: Introduced 7/16/25 by Weber (R-TX), Pappas (D-NH), and Tenney (R-NY), “To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a bilateral research and innovation program to facilitate and coordinate efforts between the United States and Israel in certain health-related areas, and for other purposes” aka the “United States-Israel Bilateral Innovation for Research and Development in Health Act of 2025’’ aka the “BIRD Health Act of 2025.” Referred tto the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Also see: press releases — Pappas, Weber Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen U.S.-Israel Medical Innovation; Rep. Weber Introduces BIRD Health Act to Strengthen U.S.-Israel Medical Innovation. Bipartisan bill aims to expand U.S.-Israel health collaboration (Jewish Insider 7/16/25)

(TARGETING HEZBOLLAH IN LATIN AMERICA) HR 4531: Introduced 7/17/25 by Shreve (R-IN) and 4 cosponsors (3 Republicans plus Gottheimer, D-NJ), “To require a strategy to counter Iranian and Hezbollah influence operations in Latin America.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(TARGETING HEZBOLLAH IN ARGENTINA) H. Res. 597: Introduced 7/17/25 by Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and 3 bipartisan cosponsors, “Condemning the attack on the Argentine Jewish Mutual Association Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, and encouraging accountability for the attack.“ Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. NOTE: Wasserman Schultz previously introduced this resolution in 2024, 2023, and before that it was introduced (or something like it) multiple times by then-House member Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).

(DELEGITIMIZING/TARGETING US NON-PROFITS & PROTEST/PROTESTORS) S. 2305: Introduced 716/25 by Budd (R-NC) and 3 Republican cosponsors, “A bill to amend the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, as amended to treat certain tax-exempt organizations receiving funding from foreign principals of foreign countries of concern as agents of a foreign principal under such Act, and for other purposes” aka “the Foreign Registration Obligations for Nonprofit Transparency (FRONT) Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Sens. Budd, Justice, Hawley, Ricketts Introduce Bill to Increase Transparency of Foreign Funds Fueling Left-Wing Agitators [“FRONT Act would require U.S. nonprofits to register under FARA if they accept funds from hostile nations”].

(DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION – SENATE) S. 2296: Introduced 7/15/25 by Wicker (R-MS), “An original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2026 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes.” Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 115.

(DEFENSE APPROPS BILL – HOUSE) HR 4016: This week the House took up HR 4016, the FY26 Defense Appropriations bill, and passed it 7/18/25 at 12:45am by a vote of 221 – 209. The base bill includes:

“Sec. 8067. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under the headings “Procurement, Defense-Wide” and “Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide”, $500,000,000 shall be for the Israeli Cooperative Programs: Provided, That of this amount, $60,000,000 shall be for the Secretary of Defense to provide to the Government of Israel for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system to counter short-range rocket threats, subject to the U.S.-Israel Iron Dome Procurement Agreement; $127,000,000 shall be for the Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense (SRBMD) program, including cruise missile defense research and development under the SRBMD program; $40,000,000 shall be for co-production activities of SRBMD systems in the United States and in Israel to meet Israel’s defense requirements consistent with each nation’s laws, regulations, and procedures, subject to the U.S.-Israeli co-production agreement for SRBMD; $100,000,000 shall be for an upper-tier component to the Israeli Missile Defense Architecture, of which $100,000,000 shall be for co-production activities of Arrow 3 Upper Tier systems in the United States and in Israel to meet Israel’s defense requirements consistent with each nation’s laws, regulations, and procedures, subject to the U.S.-Israeli co-production agreement for Arrow 3 Upper Tier; and $173,000,000 shall be for the Arrow System Improvement Program including development of a long range, ground and airborne, detection suite.“

Prior to the House taking up the bill, the House Rules Committee met 7/14/25 to adopt a Rule governing how the bill woud be dealt with on the floor, including deciding which amendments would get floor votes. Middle East-related amendments “Made in Order,” as laid out in the Rule adopted by the committee, are listed below, along with how they fared:

• Amendment offered by Jackson (R-TX) and Schneider (D-IL) to “Increase the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide account by $10,000,000 to be used for joint United States/Israel anti-tunneling programs and efforts. This amendment is offset by decreasing the Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account by $10,000,000.”  PASSED 7/16/25 AS PART OF EN BLOC (H. Res. 46) by Voice Vote
• Amendment offered by Gottheimer (D- NJ), Garbarino (R-NY), and Gimenez (R-FL), “Increases funding by $5,000,000 to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide to increase funding for the U.S.-Israel Counter-UAS and directed energy development program by $5,000,000. Offsets from Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide.” PASSED 7/16/25 AS PART OF EN BLOC (H. Res. 46) by Voice Vote. Also see Gottheimer X-post 7/18/25 – “This week, my amendment to boost cooperation between the United States and Israel to develop technology to counter “killer drones” passed the House. Iran is the leading state sponsor of terror with a growing arsenal of deadly drones. We must continue to work with Israel to counter threats to our security.“
• Amendment offered by Greene (R-GA), “Strikes funding for the Israeli Cooperative Programs.” [Also see: Greene’s very long X-post announcing her amendments, including: “…The U.S. State Department already gives Nuclear armed Israel over $3 Billion every single year. Nuclear armed Israel has nearly decimated Hamas in Gaza all by themselves. And we just successfully bombed Iran’s and wiped out Iran’s nuclear program for Nuclear armed Israel. Nuclear armed Israel’s national debt is under $400 Billion compared to our crippling national debt of $37 TRILLION. Nuclear armed Israel seems to have their defense and debt under control, so the American taxpayers should not be required to give Nuclear armed Israel another $500 million in our U.S. defense bill. Jordan gets around $1.6 Billion from the U.S. State Department every year, why do we have to give them another $500 Million?”…P.S. Not giving another additional $500 Million to Nuclear armed Israel will not make us all anti-Semitic. Or Isolationist. P.S.S. We don’t have to pay off Jordan with another $500 Million either.”] Failed by a vote of 6 – 422. Votes in favor: Greene (R-GA), Massie (R-KY), Green (D-TX) [statement], Lee (D-PA), Omar (D-MN), and Tlaib (D-MI) [statement]. Also see: House votes 422-6 to reject MTG bid to cut missile defense aid for Israel (Jewish Insider 7/18/25); Nadler (D-NY) X-post opposing the amendment.
• Amendment offered by Steube (R-FL), “Prohibits all assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces”  FAILED by a vote of 76 – 355. Also see Steube X-post w/ video clip – “”
• Amendment offered by Greene (R-GA), “Strikes funding to support the armed forces of Jordan.” FAILED by a vote of 30 – 400
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MN), Ramirez (D-IL), and Johnson (D-GA), “Strikes the provision blocking funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.” Made in order but not voted on.

Finally: all proposed amendments to this bill, as submitted to Rules, are here. As is always the case with bills of this nature (which attracts huge numbers of amendments, many for grandstanding purposes), most proposed amendments were not made in order (and therefore did not get a vote). Yet, all are worth paying attention to all of them, since they offer a useful roadmap to the plans and priorities of various members — plans and priorities that will likely come up again in relation to other legislative vehicles. Middle East-related amendments that were NOT made “in order” on this bill are:

Re: Israel

• Amendment offered by Omar (D-MN), “Strikes $500,000,000 in funding for Israel.“
• Amendment offered by Ogles (R-TN), “Prohibits funds for military exercises with countries that boycott Israel or Israeli defense companies.“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds from being used to support the unilateral annexation by Israel of the illegally Occupied Palestinian Territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.”
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds for any Israeli military and intelligence units that assist or fail to take reasonable actions to prevent or intercede to stop Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians and their property in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.“
• Amendment offered by Ogles (R-TN), “Prohibits funds to participate in any defense exposition that has a policy of excluding participation by the State of Israel.”

Re: Lebanon

• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D- MI), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to Lebanon.”
• Amendment offered by Steube (R-FL),  “Conditions aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces.“

Re: Iran

• Amendment offered by Nadler (NY), “Requires a report detailing the battle damage assessment (BDA) of the US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the impact on the nuclear program, the remaining capabilities, any resulting difference in breakout time, an assessment of any remaining nuclear material, and an assessment of the impact of the strike on Iranian ballistic missile program and proxy activity.”
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (MI), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
• Amendment offered by Simon (D-CA), “Prohibits funds from being used to introduce U.S. forces into hostilities in Iran in contravention of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).”
• Amendment offered by Massie (R-KY) and Khanna (D-CA), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran.“

Re: Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, UAE

• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits the use of funds to maintain a U.S. military presence inside Syria after one year, unless otherwise Congressionally authorized.“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to Yemen.“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds from facilitating the unilateral annexation of Yemeni territory by the United Arab Emirates or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits the use of funds for foreign military sales to the United Arab Emirates.”
• Amendment offered by Steube (R-FL), “Prohibits all assistance to the Government of Iraq.“

Re: Antisemitism

• Amendment offered by Jackson (R-TX), “Prohibits funds made available by this act to be used by an institute of higher education that allows antisemetic [SIC] demonstrations on its campus and fails to take action to mitigate and prevent such occurrences in the future.” [Missed this in the last Round-Up due to the spelling error]
• Amendment offered by Goldman (D-NY), “Increases the Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account by $1,000,000 to support enhanced screening of civilian personnel and implementation of training programs to prevent domestic extremist, white supremacy, and antisemitic ideology within the Department of Defense workforce.“

———————

Other bills/legislation news

• See next week’s Round-Up for a comprehensive breakdown of Middle East-related elements in the FY25 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill (NSRP —  formerly known as SFOPS, formerly known as ForeignOps), marked up in the House Appropriations National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee 7/15/25.

2. Letters & Reports

• (TARGETING US NON-PROFITS & FUNDERS) 7/17/25: House Judiciary Committee press release — Memo Reveals Biden-Harris Admin Misused Taxpayer Dollars to Fund Anti-Netanyahu Organizations [memo text – pdf]. Also see: In new memo, Republicans allege Biden admin provided grants for Palestinian NGOs with terror ties (Jewish Insider 7/18/25); report on the memo in Jewish Insider sister publication eJewish Philanthropy, which states this Judiciary Committee memo “relies primarily on innuendo and suggestion.“
• (EU MUST SANCTION IRAN!) 7/17/25: Risch, Colleagues Urge European Snapback Sanctions on Iran [letter text]. Also see: Six Senate Republicans call on E3 to immediately reimpose sanctions on Iran (Jewish Insider 7/18/25)
• (TARGETING OF IRANIAN AMERICANS) 7/11/25: Representatives Dave Min, Yassamin Ansari Stand Up for Iranian Americans, Demand Answers From ICE [letter text]

3. Hearings & Briefings

July 23, 2025: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism will hold a hearing entitled, U.S. Diplomatic Strategies for a Dynamic Middle East. Scheduled witnesses will be: Brian Hook, former US Special Representative for Iran and Senior Policy Advisor to the Secretary of State; Daniel Shapiro, former U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East; and Shelly Culbertson, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND.

July 22, 2025: The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will hold a markup of various measure, including – “H.R. ___, To provide authority to enhance security assistance with countries that are engaged in regional security cooperation efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, and for other purposes.” Not clear why there is no bill number/text, as this appears to be a bill covered in the 7/11/25 edition of the Round-up —  “HR 4335 (bill text): Introduced 7/10/25 by Lawler (R-NY) and 25 cosponsors [22 Republicans plus Moskowitz (D-FL), Davis (D-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ)], “To provide authority to enhance security assistance with countries that are engaged in regional security cooperation efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, and for other purposes” aka the “Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Messmer Supports the Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act; Jewish Insider 7/10/25: Bipartisan House bill would expedite arms sales to Abraham Accords partners [“Rep. Lawler: ‘I am committed to strengthening our relationships with regional partners and putting our ally Israel in the best position possible to do the same’”]”

July 15, 2025: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing entitled, “How Leftist Nonprofit Networks Exploit Federal Tax Dollars to Advance a Radical Agenda,” advertised as a hearing that would “examine how left-wing organizations have exploited federal tax dollars to advance their radical causes. In particular, the hearing will focus on how federal grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Justice Department were leveraged by these organizations to fund causes fundamentally opposed to the national interests of Americans.” Witnesses were: Scott Walter, President, Capital Research Center [statement] (and whose organization in March 2025 published a report, When Charities Betray America: How “Pro-Palestinian” Protest Groups Promote Anti-Americanism – Data analysis warns of escalating terrorism threat; and who published a July 12, 2025 op-ed, Time to End the NGO Gravy Train); also see the organization’s “DOGE Files,” listing allegedly controversial recipients of US government grants and mentioned repeatedly during the hearing;  Mike Gonzalez, The Heritage Foundation [statement] (and co-author of the June 2025 report, How the Revolutionary Ecosystem Sustains Pro-Palestinian Protesters and the BLM Movement); Tyler O’Neil, formerly of the Heritage Foundation, now senior editor of the Daily Signal [statement] (and who in February 2025 delivered testimony at the House DOGE committee, entitled USAID’s Troubling Ties to the Left’s Dark Money Network; he’s also the author of the book, The Woketopus — “The same left-wing dark money foundations that supported the anti-Israel protests are funding a radical cabal, manipulating the administrative state on education, unions, transgender orthodoxy, elections, and the weaponization of law enforcement to silence their critics.”); and Luis C. Debaca, Lawyer and former United States Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons [statement]. Some key moments from the hearing:

• Raskin: “Ambassador Debaca, is there anything illegal about not-for-profit spending money on a priority that a government agency or department also has? And I’ll give you an example, the Gates Foundation has spent $30 billion to advance vaccines, both research and spreading vaccines around the world. USAID spent $3 billion over the last decade on that. Is that either illegal or unusual, that you would have a convergence of the not-for-profit philanthropic sector with a governmental priority?” Debaca: “It’s not illegal, and in fact, it is a best practice, so that you can extend the both the governmental and the philanthropic space.“
• O’Neil, after being pressed to confirm that USAID funding to Tides was spent to support the SPLC: “We don’t have concrete proof of the fact of the Tides Center receiving [taxpayer] money that they then gave to the Southern Poverty Law Center…“
• Raskin – “Is there anything illegal about people in not for profits going to work in the federal government in a new administration?” Debaca – “No, sir.” Raskin – “In fact, a great example of that is this guy, Ed Martin, who was for a while, the acting US Attorney in the District of Columbia. They were forced to withdraw his nomination when it turned out that his close friend is a Neo Nazi who dresses up like Adolf Hitler, and they just switched over to appointing him to a non-confirmable position in the Department of Justice, believe it or not, running the Task Force on weaponization. But any event, he ran something called the Patriot Freedom Project, which is a 501, c3 not for profit organization that supported January 6 defendants and their families, more than 100 criminal defendants, including people who violently assaulted our police officers, wounding them, injuring them, disfiguring them, permanently, disabling them. And then he went into the government, and he’s got close ties. In fact, he dismissed some of the prosecutions against these people, and they have fired lots of January six prosecutors. That looks like a really tight little revolving door channel, and it’s not just him. In fact, they hired an actual January 6 insurrectionist who was convicted of crimes to go work for him at that same entity in the Department of Justice. As much as we might hate it, as much as we might think the American people should know about it, that the criminals in this soft on crime administration are taking over at the Department of Justice. It’s hard to say that there’s anything illegal about it, right? So if somebody goes from working at the Gates Foundation or the Open Society Institute at the State Department, is there anything illegal or criminal about that? Is there anything that should cause public alarm in the way these gentlemen are trying to stimulate it?” Debaca – “No, sir.“
• Raskin: “…This, this hearing, is just weird. It’s just people getting up and complaining about things that happen under administration they disagree with when the administration they agree with is doing the exact same thing on a mirror image basis.”
• Chairman Van Drew (R-NJ): “Mr. Raskin and I think Ms Crockett as well, had brought up, you know, that there’s nothing illegal. I agree. The purpose of the hearing is this wasn’t talking about the legality that we don’t know what maybe there is, but we don’t know of illegal activity. But the point is, it’s distasteful. It’s. Disturbing. It’s disgusting…”

July 15, 2025: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce held yet another hearing ostensibly on antisemitism, this one entitled, “Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology” (hearing video).  This is the 9th hearing in this Committee focused, ostensibly, on antisemitism, in the past 18 months, as pointed out by Ranking Member Scott (D-VA) in his opening statement. Witnesses were: Dr. Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University (statement); Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, The City University of New York (statement); Dr. Rich Lyons, Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley (statement); and Matt Nosanchuk, Principal, Mattnos Strategies and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education (statement). Also see:

• Chairman Walberg (R-MI) opening statement, incl: “…The Committee will be examining several factors that incite antisemitism on college campuses. First, we will examine faculty and student groups. We’ve long expressed concern about the group Students for Justice in Palestine. But after October 7th, chapters of the faculty variant of this group, Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine, proliferated at universities across the United States. Over 100 new chapters have been established in an effort to bring antisemitism into the classroom and lend institutional legitimacy to antisemitic sentiments. Second, we will examine faculty unions. Faculty unions have played a critical role fomenting antisemitism at universities under the guise of labor rights. As we’ll see today, unions across the country encourage antisemitic activism through protests, demands, and workshops. Third, we will look at Middle East Studies centers. Many such centers have become beachheads for faculty with extremist ties who seek to demonize Israel and the United States. We support the study of the Middle East and recognize that it important for our national security—but we do not support promoting antisemitism and Islamism, a radical political ideology. Fourth, we will examine foreign funding. Foreign funding can influence research priorities, faculty appointments, public statements, and events on campus. This is especially the case for U.S. universities with a separate campus abroad. We need greater transparency into foreign funding when it comes to higher education. The DETERRENT Act, passed on a bipartisan basis through the House earlier this Congress, would achieve that goal.   Finally, and more broadly, we will be examining the diversity, equity, and inclusion policies universities use, and the individuals they hire, to implement Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The DEI ideology embraced by so many university bureaucrats categorizes Jews as white oppressors—and therefore excuses, or even justifies, antisemitic harassment. The violence, fear, and alienation felt by Jewish students is, at its core, a result of administrators and their staff lacking the moral clarity to condemn and punish antisemitism that is creating a hostile environment for Jewish students on America’s campuses. Speech that is protected by the First Amendment can still contribute to a hostile environment, and universities are obligated to do something about it. Universities can choose to hire antisemitic faculty, welcome students with a history of antisemitism, accept certain foreign funding, and let the behavior of antisemitic unions go unchecked. But as we will see today, they do so at their own risk.” 
• Member press releases: Chairman Walberg Holds Hearing on Drivers of Antisemitism on College Campuses; Stefanik, Vernikov Demand Gov. Kathy Hochul Fire CUNY Chancellor Rodríguez for Failing to Hold Faculty Members Accountable for Alarming Rise of Antisemitism on Campus; Stefanik Exposed CUNY Chancellor Rodríguez for Failing to Hold Faculty Members Accountable for Alarming Rise of Antisemitism on Campus; Chairwoman McClain Presses University Presidents on Antisemitism Response During Congressional Hearing; Messmer Questions U.S. University Leaders Regarding Antisemitic Demonstrations
• Jewish/Israeli Media: House Holds Politically Charged Hearing on College Antisemitism (Jewish Link 7/17/25); US university heads grilled in Congress about anti-Israel terror support on campus (Times of Israel 7/16/25); US Republicans grill university leaders in latest House antisemitism hearing (Jerusalem Post 7/16/25); ‘Fine Scholar’: UC Berkeley Chancellor Praises Professor Who Expressed Solidarity With Oct. 7 Attacks (The Algemeiner 7/15/25); Trump cuts made campuses less safe for Jewish students, says former Dept. of Education official — Also at the Tuesday hearing, a Jewish congresswoman slammed the GOP for “weaponizing” antisemitism (The Forward 7/15/25); Anti-Israel Georgetown professor Jonathan Brown removed as Islamic studies department chair (Jewish Insider 7/15/25); Georgetown, already under scrutiny, to face questions over Qatar ties, inaction against extremism (Jewish Insider 7/15/25); Berkeley chancellor calls Hamas-endorsing professor a ‘fine scholar’ at antisemitism hearing (Jewish Insider 7/15/25); CUNY head tells Congress campuses have had 84 reports of antisemitism since start of 2024 (Times of Israel 7/15/25); Professor who called for Iran to strike US base removed, Georgetown says at House hearing (Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/25); This summer break, university leaders prepare for a congressional grilling (Jewish Insider 7/14/25)
• Other media: University Leaders Reject Republican Attacks on Campus Antisemitism (New York Times 7/15/25); Four CUNY Professors Say They Were Fired for Supporting Palestine [“As Congress grills CUNY’s chancellor, the terminated Brooklyn College faculty say Palestine activism is “the only thing we have in common.”] (The Intercept 7/15/25); UC Berkeley Chancellor weathers political storm in House antisemitism hearing (The Daily Californian 7/16/25); Chancellor Lyons Testified in House Hearing on UC Berkeley Antisemitism Policies (KQED 7/15/25); Democrats Demand Pam Bondi and Kash Patel Testify on Epstein (Daily Beast 7/15/25); Rep. Elise Stefanik skewers CUNY chancellor, calls for his ouster over ‘failed’ leadership on NYC campus antisemitism (New York Post 7/15/25)
• On 7/14/25, Chairman Walberg (R-MI) re-issued a reminder (previously issued 7/2/25) about the hearing, noting: ” “We continue to see antisemitic hatred festering at schools across the country. While much of the discussion has focused on the devastating effects of antisemitism, this hearing will focus on the underlying factors instigating antisemitic upheaval and hatred on campus. Until these factors—such as foreign funding and antisemitic student and faculty groups—are addressed, antisemitism will persist on college campuses. Our Committee is building on its promise to protect Jewish students and faculty while many university leaders refuse to hold agitators of this bigotry, hatred, and discrimination accountable.
• Selected Social Media Posts — Republicans: House Committee on Education & the Workforce 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “.”; House Committee on Education & the Workforce 7/15/25: X-post – “Antisemitism is everywhere on college campuses. Universities aren’t doing enough. Today, we’re holding a hearing to examine what’s driving it: foreign funding and antisemitic students and faculty groups. We must protect Jewish students—and all students—as the law requires.”; House Committee on Education & the Workforce 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip- “ALL FAX, NO PRINTER @RepFine tells the presidents of @Georgetown, @UCBerkeley, and @CUNY that antisemitism is out of control on college campuses across America because they allow it. University leaders aren’t doing nearly enough to protect Jews or prevent discrimination.”  Messmer (R-IN) 7/15/25: X-post – “There you have it. Yet another American university that doesn’t just let antisemites off the hook, it gives them a paycheck too. Do better, @CUNY.“; House Committee on Education & Workforce 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “If @Georgetown faculty are willing to invite an anti-Israel activist to its campus—who celebrated the brutal massacre of more than 1,200 innocents—would the school’s faculty also invite the KKK? @RepBurgessOwens exposes American higher ed’s antisemitic double standard“; Onder (R-MO) 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “At today’s @EdWorkforceCmte hearing on antisemitism in higher education, I confronted UC Berkeley’s Chancellor about the Union of Academic Workers compiling a list of UC Board of Regents members with Jewish and Israeli ties. This blatant targeting is antisemitic and deeply alarming.” House Committee on Education & Workforce 7/15/25: X-post w/video clip – “Ideologues in classrooms are driving the antisemitism we are seeing on college campuses today. Take it from the teachers themselves, who falsely say anti-Zionism isn’t antisemitism or support the anti-Israel BDS movement. They’re not even trying to hide it.” Owens (R-UT) 7/15/25: X-post – “Joining @EdWorkforceCmte to question leaders from @Georgetown, @CUNY, and @UCBerkeley on their failure to confront campus antisemitism. We will NEVER accept pro-terror groups, foreign dollars bankrolling hate, or faculty pushing division over education.”; Owens (R-UT) 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Why did @Georgetown invite a Hamas sympathizer who says Jews should ‘perish’ to speak on campus four times? This isn’t ‘listening to both sides’ — it’s moral failure and institutional antisemitism. Owens (R-UT) 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “A pro-Hamas protester interrupted our @EdWorkforceCmte hearing today — and proved exactly why we’re holding it. This wave of antisemitism is coming from the top down on college campuses. Either school leaders clean it up, or there will be consequences.”  Stefanik (R-NY) 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “WATCH: I expose Dr. Félix Matos Rodríguez (@ChancellorCUNY) for failing to protect Jewish students and faculty from the alarming rise of antisemitism on campus.“; Stefanik (R-NY) 7/15/25: X-post – “At the Education & Workforce Hearing, I just asked @ChancellorCUNY about the scourge of antisemitism on @CUNY .” Stefanik (R-NY) 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “After his failed leadership at CUNY allowing antisemitism to rage on NY campuses to his disgraceful testimony at today’s hearing, I am calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to fire CUNY Chancellor Rodriguez. Kathy Hochul controls the CUNY Board of Trustees, which hires and fires the Chancellor. New Yorkers deserve accountability and a zero tolerance policy when it comes to combatting antisemitism. We need more than just desperate words, but actual actions and results.“; Walberg (R-MI) 716/25: X-post with video clip – “The violence, fear, and alienation felt by Jewish students is, at its core, a result of administrators and their staff lacking the moral clarity to condemn and punish antisemitism that is creating a hostile environment for Jewish students on America’s campuses.“
• Selected Social Media Post – Democrats: DeSaulnier (D-CA) 7/15/25: X-post – “Today, Republicans on the Committee of Education and Workforce held yet another hearing exploiting the issue of antisemitism to attack higher education after gutting the very agency that is responsible for investigating discrimination on campuses. I spoke with @UCBerkeley Chancellor at the hearing about the progress Cal has made to address antisemitism while protecting students’ First Amendment rights.”; Hayes (D-CT) 7/15/25: X-post – “.@EdWorkforceDems held a hearing on Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology. After 9 hearings on this topic, it should be clear to Republicans that dissolving the Office of Civil Rights at the Department of Education, the sole enforcement body responsible for protecting the civil rights of students, is a horrible idea.”
• House Committee on Education & Reform X-posts of materials mentioned during the hearing: here, here, here

July 15, 2025: The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations held a Markup of Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill. Also see:

• Notice of FY26 Subcommittee Markup; Subcommittee Mark (i.e., the base bill being marked up by the Subcommittee); Subcommittee Mark Summary; press release – Committee Releases FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill
• Jewish Insider 7/15/25: House Appropriations Committee aims to leverage U.N. funding for UNRWA accountability [“The committee’s draft funding bill would ban funding for the U.N. Secretariat until the body provides the State Department with a copy of its investigations into UNRWA employees’ participation in Oct. 7“]
• Diaz-Balart Remarks at FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill Subcommittee Markup [“The bill prioritizes our national security, especially in the Western Hemisphere, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. It provides unwavering support for Israel and fully funds the United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding by providing $3.3 billion in security assistance to allow Israel to defend herself from existential threats. Other key partners and allies in the Middle East, such as Egypt and Jordan, are strongly supported.”] Also see: Díaz-Balart’s FY 2026 NSRP Bill Strengthens National Security, Slashes Waste
• Cole Remarks at FY26 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Bill Subcommittee Markup [the bill: “…reaffirms our steadfast support for our great ally Israel as they fight for their existence amidst terror and evil.”]

July 15, 2025: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to consider a slate of presidential nominees (hearing video), including Michael Walz to be US Ambassador to the UN. Also see:

• Walz’s written statement
• Chairman Risch (R-ID) Opening Statement [“…Mr. Waltz, you come to us with a breadth of experience in Congress, our nation’s military, and the executive branch, which has been detailed already this morning. This experience will serve you well as you take the lead at one of our most critical diplomatic positions as ambassador to the United Nations. The UN is always a challenge and desperately needs reform, which we have been unable to accomplish so far. Your pragmatism and patriotism are sorely needed in New York because, as you know, there is a lot of rot at the UN. Antisemitism and anti-American sentiments are on the rise, as is the influence of China and Russia.”]
• Member press releases/social media: Murphy Questions Mike Waltz on Trump Administration’s Kneecapping Of U.S. Counter-Propaganda Efforts, Failures In Yemen; Daines: “The UN is a Hotbed of Antisemitism”; Daines (R-MT) 7/15/25: X-post – “The U.N. has become a hotbed of antisemitism, and it’s absolutely unacceptable. Glad that @michaelgwaltz will address this as our next UN Ambassador & make it clear that America stands with Israel.“; Ricketts Discusses Importance of Snapback Sanctions Against Iran with U.N. Ambassador Nominee Michael Waltz (Ricketts, R-NE)
• Media: Trump’s pick for UN ambassador says he’ll work to dismantle UNRWA if confirmed (Times of Israel 7/16/25); Waltz commits to combating ‘pervasive antisemitism’ at U.N. during nomination hearing (Jewish Insider 7/15/25); Waltz vows to combat UN Jew-hatred in confirmation hearing (Jewish News Syndicate 7/15/25)

Concern over Murder of American in the West Bank by Israeli settlers 7/11/25 [I did not any statements from any Republicans]

• Frankel (D-FL) 7/18/25: X-post – “My deepest condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Saif Musallet, an American citizen from my home state of Florida, who was tragically and senselessly killed in the West Bank. I join those urging the Israeli government to conduct a swift and thorough investigation and to ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.“
• Schneider (D-IL) 7/18/25: “I am appalled and heartbroken by news of the killing of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen from Florida, by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The attack took place in Area B as defined by the Oslo Accords, a space where Israel exercises security responsibility and no settlements may be constructed. Palestinian militant attacks on Israelis and Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians are acts of terrorism. Terrorism is never justified. As a lifelong and unyielding defender of Israel’s security, and a committed advocate for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, I’ve repeatedly called on the Israeli government to address the growing number of violent attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. This violence is a threat to Israel’s security and a barrier to a better, peaceful future for Israelis, Palestinians and the region as a whole.  Israel’s democracy, like all democracies, depends on the rule of law and its equal application to all citizens. Israeli authorities must fully investigate this incident and hold the perpetrators to account.“
• Panetta (D-CA) 7/17/25: X-post – “The killing of Sayfollah Musallet, an American citizen visiting family in the West Bank, is horrible and heartbreaking. My condolences to his family, loved ones, and the community in mourning. The Israeli government must investigate this killing and hold those responsible accountable under the law. Senseless violence of this type must stop for there to be lasting peace.”
• Watson Coleman (D-NJ) 7/17/25: X-post – “Sayfollah Musallet was beaten to death by Israeli settlers. He was an American citizen, just 21 years old. His death should matter and still U.S. leaders are refusing to reconsider weapons sales to the government responsible for protecting his killers. It’s indefensible.“
• Sherman (D-CA) 7/17/25: “I am the Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus, the Ranking Member of the Congress-Knesset Friendship Group, and a lifelong advocate for an ironclad U.S.-Israel relationship. It is in the spirit of that support that I wholeheartedly condemn the heinous recent terrorist murder by extremist Israeli settlers of Sayfollah Musallet, a young Palestinian American visiting family in the West Bank. Just today I discussed this with Israel’s Consul General Israel Bachar and will be expressing these views to Ambassador Yechiel Leiter tomorrow. Mr. Musallet was attacked on his family’s property in Area B of the West Bank, where no settlements may be constructed and no settlers should be present. All settlement outposts in Area B, particularly those associated with this incident, should be dismantled. Further fueling the outrage are reports that the assailants prevented ambulances from reaching Mr. Musallet for hours while there still may have been an opportunity to save his life. I join U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee in calling this crime what it is: a ‘criminal and terrorist act. Terrorism, whether its targets be Israelis or Palestinians, is unacceptable and unjustifiable. Tolerance for terrorism anywhere and by any perpetrator is a grave threat to the safety of both Israelis and Palestinians alike. In addition, the U.S.-Israel relationship requires that the Government of Israel brings to justice anyone who commits such a heinous act against an American citizen.“
• Friedman (D-CA) 7/16/25: X-post – “The murder of 20-year-old American Sayfollah Musallet by Israeli settlers in the West Bank is horrifying and unacceptable. I am praying for his family and loved ones. The U.S. must demand accountability to the full extent of the law and act to protect its citizens.”
• DeSaulnier (D-CA) 7/16/25: X-post – “I am heartbroken and angered over the murder of 21-year-old American citizen, Sayfollah Musallet, who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers last week while visiting his family in the West Bank. As with the killing of any American citizen abroad, the government must conduct an independent investigation so that those responsible for Sayfollah’s death can be held accountable. As settler violence in the West Bank has reached epidemic levels, the Netanyahu government’s failure to intervene is unacceptable.“
• Rosen (D-NV) 7/16/25: X-post – “I’m disturbed and saddened by the brutal killing of Saif Musallet, an American citizen, at the hands of Israeli settlers in the West Bank.   There needs to be a thorough, independent investigation, and those responsible must be brought to justice.   My thoughts are with Saif’s family and loved ones.”
• Cortez Masto (D-NV) 7/16/25: X-post – “The brutal murder of U.S. citizen Saif Musallet by settlers in the West Bank is an outrage. Israel must conduct a full investigation and hold the perpetrators accountable.“
• Lee (D-PA) 7/16/25: X-post – “Another U.S. citizen murdered in the West Bank. Sayfollah Musallet deserves justice and accountability. The U.S. government must conduct a swift investigation and take action against settler violence.”
• Ansari (D-AZ) 7/16/25: X-post – “The Israeli government must conduct a full and transparent investigation into this murder and ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law. Escalating attacks on Palestinian civilians are a violation of human rights and must end immediately. If we are to play a meaningful role in securing a just and lasting peace, the Trump Administration cannot remain silent as our own citizens are killed.”
• Larson (D-CT) 7/15/25: “My heart goes out to Sayfollah Musallet’s family in Connecticut and the Palestinian American community in Connecticut’s First District and across the country…There is no place for such horrific violence. The settlers responsible for Sayfollah’s death should be swiftly brought to justice, and I join with his family in calling for a formal inquiry by the U.S. State Department and an FBI investigation. Violence in the West Bank, which clearly goes against the goal of achieving peace for Israelis and Palestinians, must end. I am a cosponsor of the West Bank Violence Prevention Act in Congress to sanction instigators of settler violence, and I urge all my colleagues to join in demanding accountability.”
• Meng (D-NY) 7/15/25: X-post – “The murder of Saif Mussallet, an American citizen, was a tragedy and an act of violence. My deepest condolences go out to his family and loved ones. I urge the Israeli authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and for all parties, including the Palestinian Authority, to cooperate fully. Those responsible must be held accountable.“
• Himes (D-CT) 7/15/25: “The murder of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen visiting his family in the West Bank, is appalling and unacceptable. My heart is with his family and community as they mourn this tragic loss. The Israeli government must immediately investigate this brutal killing, and those responsible should be brought to justice. For too long, violence in the West Bank has undermined the prospects for peace and long-term stability in the region. Earlier this year, I joined Representatives Nadler and Smith in introducing the West Bank Violence Prevention Act to ensure that instigators are held accountable for their actions. Today, I am calling on my colleagues to support this effort and move towards restoring peace and security for the Israeli and Palestinian people.”
• DeLauro (D-CT) 7/15/25: “I am disturbed and outraged by the brutal killing of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old Palestinian American citizen, by Israeli settlers in the West Bank, where he had travelled to visit family. There, he was beaten and strangled by settlers, who blocked medical personnel from reaching him for hours. He died en route to the hospital. Sayfollah had family in Florida and Connecticut, and I join them in grieving this senseless killing. Deadly attacks like this have become horrifically commonplace as Israeli settlers have pushed further and further into Palestinian communities, engaging in vigilante violence with tacit and sometimes explicit support from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. That is why I led a bicameral effort urging the Biden Administration to sanction Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, two hard-right Israeli ministers who openly support settler violence, as well as settler organizations that support illegal construction and land seizures in the West Bank. President Trump has since lifted sanctions on these organizations and withdrawn the executive order authorizing them — a boon for extremist supporters of the settlement movement. I condemn the killing of Sayfollah Musallet in the strongest terms, and demand that the U.S. Department of State and the Federal Bureau of Investigation launch a formal inquiry into this targeted killing of an American citizen. I will continue to advocate for a ceasefire that allows unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid, the release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas, and formal negotiations to end this war.”
• Garcia (D-IL) 7/15/25: X-post – “Sayfollah ‘Saif’ Musallet, a U.S. citizen of Palestinian descent, was brutally killed in the West Bank while visiting his family. The U.S. should conduct an independent investigation into his murder and demand accountability of all those involved.“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/15/25: X-post w/ video clip – “We just saw yet another US citizen killed by violent settlers in the West Bank. There must be an independent, US-led investigation NOW.“
• Velazquez (D-NY) 7/16/25: X-post – “Sayfollah ‘Saif’ Musallet was a 20-year-old American visiting family in the West Bank for the summer. He was beaten to death by Israeli settlers. The U.S. must immediately launch a full, independent investigation and demand accountability for his death.”
• Simon (D-CA) 7/15/25: X-post – “I am heartbroken to hear of the brutal murder of Sayfollah “Saif” Musallet, a 21 year old U.S. citizen, by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.”
• Welch (D-VT) 7/15/25: X-post – “A 20-year-old American was just beaten to death by a mob of Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. President Trump revoked President Biden’s sanctions against violent settlers on his first day in office. Congress should pass my bill to codify the Biden sanctions into law.“
• McCollum (D-MN) 7/15/25: X-post – “It is horrifying that two young men, including Palestinian-American Sayfollah ‘Saif’ Musallet, were beaten to death in the West Bank by violent settlers. The Israeli government must be held accountable for this unconscionable brutality. My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of these young men.”
• Subramanyan (D-VA) 7/15/25: X-post – “The killing of Sayfollah Musallet, an American citizen visiting his family in the West Bank, is horrifying and unacceptable. I strongly condemn this act and call for a full investigation so that those responsible will be held accountable.“
• Carson (D-IN) 7/15/25: X-post – “Sayfollah Musallet was a 20-year old American of Palestinian descent. He worked at his family’s ice cream shop in Tampa. He’s been described as kind and compassionate.    He was beat to death by Israeli settlers while visiting his family in the West Bank.   Any American citizen killed abroad must be independently investigated. I join Sayfollah’s family in mourning and call on the US government to fully investigate this killing, and the rise in violence towards Palestinians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank.”
• Budzinski (D-IL) 7/15/25: X-post – “The murder of two young men, including Palestinian-American Sayfollah Musallet, is heartbreaking and unacceptable. Israel must carry out a full, transparent investigation — accountability is non-negotiable. Sayfollah should be alive, and those responsible must face justice. This tragedy underscores the alarming rise in settler violence in the West Bank. I urge the Administration to impose sanctions on those fueling instability and to actively pursue a genuine path to peace.“
• Goldman (D-NY) 7/15/25: X-post – “I am outraged by the brutal murder of Saif Musallet, a Palestinian American, by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. There must be a full investigation, and those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Since the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7, I have repeatedly warned of the dangers of escalating violence against Palestinian civilians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. This conduct erodes democracy in Israel and the possibility of peace in the region, and I urge the Israeli government to nfroce the rule of law by ensuring accountability for those who perpetrated this act. My heart goes out to Saif’s family. I will continue to push for justice and democracy in the West Bank in pursuit of a lasting peace in the region.“
• Schneider (D-IL) 7/15/25: X-post – “I am appalled and heartbroken by news of the killing of Sayfollah Musallet, a 20-year-old American citizen from Florida, by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. The attack took place in Area B as defined by the Oslo Accords, a space where Israel exercises security responsibility and no settlements may be constructed. Palestinian militant attacks on Israelis and Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians are acts of terrorism. Terrorism is never justified. As a lifelong and unyielding defender of Israel’s security, and a committed advocate for peace between Israelis and Palestinians, I’ve repeatedly called on the Israeli government to address the growing number of violent attacks by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. This violence is a threat to Israel’s security and a barrier to a better, peaceful future for Israelis, Palestinians, and the region as a whole. Israel’s democracy, like all democracies, depends on the rule of law and its equal application to all its citizen. Israeli authorities must fully investigate this incident and hold the perpetrators to account.”
  • Landsman (D-OH) 7/15/25: X-post – “Agree strongly with my colleague. An American citizen was killed in the West Bank. Israel must investigate immediately and hold these criminals accountable.”
  • Castor (D-FL) 7/15/25: X-post – “”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/14/25: X-post – “An American was beaten to death by Israeli settlers backed by the military. Instead of pursuing justice for Sayfollah, our government continues to send billions to prop up the apartheid system that killed him and kills Palestinians like him every day. Arms Embargo Now.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 7/14/25: X-post – “Yet another horrific killing of an American in the West Bank. How many more times must this happen before our government demands real action? We need and deserve accountability and justice.“
• Jeffries (D-NY) 7/14/25: “The brutal killing of Sayfollah Musallet, an American citizen of Palestinian descent, while he was visiting his family in the West Bank is shocking and appalling. I extend my deepest condolences to his family, loved ones and the community in mourning. The Israeli government must thoroughly investigate this killing and hold any and all settlers responsible for the brutal death of Mr. Musallet accountable to the fullest extent of the law. The rise in violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank directed at Palestinian civilians is completely and totally unacceptable. The Trump administration cannot continue to turn a blind eye to what is happening in the West Bank if it is truly committed to finding a just and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinian people.“
• Nadler (D-NY) 7/14/25: X-post – “I am horrified by the brutal murder of 20‑year‑old Palestinian‑American Sayfollah Musallet by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Reports that the settlers prevented ambulances from reaching the victims and IDF soldiers were also present but failed to intervene are deeply disturbing. Violence in the West Bank has reached epidemic levels. That is why I introduced the West Bank Violence Prevention Act, which codifies and enshrines into law the Biden Administration’s Executive Order 14115, which sought to prevent these kind of acts of violence in the West Bank and to punish all those who commit such acts in the West Bank, regardless of their nationality. I call on my colleagues to join me and cosponsor HR 3045 in the wake of this terrible tragedy, in hopes that one day such violence will cease, and Israelis and Palestinians can live together in peace, security, and stability through a negotiated and viable two-state solution.“
• Pressley (D-MA) 7/14/25: X-post – “Sayfollah Musallet should be alive today. Instead, he was beaten to death in the West Bank by Israeli settlers, the second American killed there this year. The State Department must lead an immediate investigation and root out settler violence once and for all. There must be accountability”
• Slotkin (D-MI) 7/14/25: X-post – “Another violent week in the Middle East: in Gaza, this weekend brought the death of another 60 Palestinians who were simply seeking food and water for their families. Israel has the responsibility to allow humanitarian aid in — just as the US had the responsibility to allow aid into places like Fallujah. And if President Trump’s hand-picked aid organization can’t get food and medicine to people in Gaza a safe way, Israel has the responsibility to find one that can. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers beat a Palestinian-American U.S. citizen to death. This totals 5 Americans killed in the West Bank since October 7, 2023 and more than a dozen Palestinians killed by lawless settler violence. It’s hard to understand this lack of accountability by the Netanyahu government as anything other than tacit approval by the state — something that should be treated as abhorrent by all decent people. This violence has to end. As I saw from my own experience in places like Iraq, democratic governments have responsibilities even when under threat. If President Trump and his team truly want a lasting ceasefire (not to mention a Nobel Peace Prize), they need to extract basic humanitarian and law and order standards now.“
• Omar (D-MN) 7/14/25: X-post – “Sayfollah Musallet, a Palestinian‑American was beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. An immediate investigation into his horrific murder must take place. We can’t continue to let settler violence, or any acts of terror continue with the full backing of the United States. There must be accountability.“
• Ramirez (D-IL) 7/14/25: X-post – “Saif is the 6th Palestinian American brutally murdered in the West Bank since October 7. As we mourn Saif, the US State Dept. must launch an immediate investigation into his murder and all murders of Americans in the West Bank as a result of settler and military violence. There must be accountability.“
• Swalwell (D-CA) 7/12/25: X-post – “I have long worked to stop settler violence in the West Bank. This death of a U.S. citizen must be investigated.” Linked to Reuters article: US citizen killed in West Bank settler attack

Bipartisan Concern/Warnings/Threats to Ireland, that it BETTER NOT pass a law to boycott West Bank Settlements 

• Latimer (D-NY) 7/17/25: X-post – “It is disheartening to see a bill in the Irish Parliament advance defining the sovereign State of Israel as an “occupying” entity in the Middle East. As an American of Irish heritage, I celebrate the full Irish independence finally achieved in 1949; that sense of national identity and purpose also applies to Israel’s establishment in 1948. Economic efforts to punish American companies who do business with Ireland from also doing business with Israel is bad economic policy, and a misguided geopolitical policy.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 7/17/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposed bill boycotting Israeli goods is ill-conceived and morally bankrupt in the face of the threats facing Israel. It will also have significant ramifications on U.S. companies operating in Ireland and damage the U.S.-Ireland relationship. Ireland should know that there will be economic and trade consequences if they proceed down this misguided path.“
• Weber (R-TX) 7/16/25: X-post – “Ireland’s attempt to boycott goods from Judea & Samaria is outrageous and reeks of antisemitism. Let’s be clear: targeting Jewish communities is not foreign policy…it’s hate. I stand with Israel.“
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 7/16/25: X-post – “I am deeply concerned about the blatantly anti-Israel boycott legislation being pushed in Ireland. This is clearly based on unfounded claims. If passed, this law would not only harm the trade of Israeli goods, but also negatively impact the 1,000 U.S. companies operating in Ireland. U.S. law prohibits American companies from complying with unsanctioned foreign boycotts. Israel is a strong U.S. ally, and the United States will continue to stand in solidarity with it as it faces existential threats from Iran and Iran’s terrorist proxies.“
• Cramer (R-SD) 7/16/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposed ban against trading with Israel-occupied settlements is discriminatory, antisemitic, and strategically reckless. The United States needs to stand with our friend and ally Israel against this foolishness.“
• Rogers (R-KY) 7/16/25: X-post – “The United States’ support of Israel has been reaffirmed time and again, not only in defending and protecting our allied nation, but in bolstering economic trade. Ireland’s proposed bill to boycott trade with Israel is a blatant antisemitic move that should be stopped in its tracks.”
• Schneider (D-IL) 7/16/25: X-post – “Ireland can be a constructive voice drawing on its history of bridging divide rather than stoking division and undermining transatlantic relationships.“
• Hagerty (R-TN) 7/16/25: X-post – “Ireland’s anti-Israel BDS bill engages in discriminatory economic warfare against Israel, America’s ally. It rewards Hamas terrorists. And it creates significant legal conflicts for U.S. companies operating in Ireland. I urge and Irish lawmakers to reconsider.”
• Cotton (R-AR) 7/16/25: X-post – “Ireland’s embrace of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) is a shameful economic attack on Israel. We have laws protecting our allies from boycotts and we will enforce them.”
• Barr (R-KY) 7/15/25: X-post – “The legislation boycotting, divesting, and sanctioning Israel moving through the Irish parliament is a huge mistake and will have impacts on American companies. I urge lawmakers and Prime Minster Harris to reconsider. This would be a stain on Ireland.“
• Webster (R-FL) 7/16/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposed BDS policy is deeply troubling and risks damaging trade with American companies. Israel is a key ally of the U.S. and the Irish government’s proposal would embolden extremists while punishing businesses partnerships and peace prospects.“
• Stauber (R-MN) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland is making a serious mistake. Banning the import of goods from Israeli businesses operating in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is not only antisemitic, but it also has serious ramifications for American businesses. Ireland must reconsider.”
• Messmer (R-IN) 7/15/25: X-post – “I join my colleagues and the world in condemning this threatened antisemitic behavior, and urge Ireland to stop this appalling proposal!“
• Scott (R-FL) 7/15/25: X-post – “This foolish move not only wrongfully targets Israel & the Jewish Community, but also harms American businesses. They should think twice about the message they’re sending by passing this bill, which complicates our economic relationship & targets our ally.“
• Tenney (R-NY) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposal to ban products made in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria is not only deeply anti-Semitic but antithetical to Western values. As the Chair and Founder of the Friends of Judea & Samaria Caucus, I call on @dfatirl to rescind this radical proposal immediately“
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposal to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel is blatantly antisemitic — and it will hurt American companies too. I strongly urge Ireland to reverse course and reconsider. There is no place for this kind of hate.“
• Emmer (R-MN) 7/15/25: X-post – “The BDS law being considered in Ireland is not only biased and anti-Israel, it also creates uncertainty for American companies operating in Ireland. Ireland should reject the BDS movement, for the benefit of their own nation and the rest of the world.”
• Graham (R-SC) 7/15/25: X-post – “I hope that Ireland will reconsider their efforts to economically isolate Israel, as they are in a fight for their very existence. I do not believe these efforts would be well received in the United States and they certainly would not go unnoticed.“
• Hageman (R-WY) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposed legislation targets Jewish communities by singling out settlements tied to Israel. American companies with a presence in Ireland who complied would violate U.S. anti‑boycott statutes and face penalties in the U.S. America will continue to stand with our ally Israel and protect our companies.“
• Moore (R-AL) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposal to ban products made in Judea and Samaria wrongfully targets Israel and hurts American businesses. I ask that @dfatirl rescind this radical proposal immediately!“
• Ogles (R-TN) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposed ban of Jewish-made products is nothing short of antisemitic. This proposal not only harms American businesses but undermines the very principles of Western Civilization. I vehemently oppose this decision and urge Ireland to reconsider.“
• Crapo (R-ID) 7/15/25: X-post – “The United States opposes any foreign government-led boycotts against Israel, including those which seek to target Israeli-controlled territories. More than 36 states, including Idaho, agree with this policy, and the U.S. will not support any contradiction to this legal obligation.”
• Lawler (R-NY) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland’s draft BDS law is reckless and sets a dangerous precedent. Targeting Israel won’t bring peace, and will only reward extremism. Ireland should reject this misguided legislation and stand against hate.”
• McClain (R-MI) 7/15/25: X-post – “Any legislation boycotting, divesting, or sanctioning Israel would be a huge mistake for Ireland. This type of extreme antisemitic hate is unacceptable and should be rejected.“
• Scalise (R-LA) 7/15/25: X-post – “Ireland’s proposed boycott law is misguided, blatantly anti-Semitic, and a threat to U.S.-Ireland relations. It undermines commercial ties and empowers efforts to delegitimize and demonize Israel. Ireland must reconsider.“

Syria

• Wilson (R-SC) 7/18/25: X-post – “Israel’s strikes on Syria are suicidal. The real enemy is Tehran. Israel and Syria should work together. President Trump will deescalate the situation. Grateful to speak to @FoxNews.” With link to Fox News article: Pro-Israel congressman accuses Tel Aviv of ‘mocking’ Trump with ‘suicidal’ strikes in Syria
• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/17/25; X-thread – “The Israeli government’s rogue bombing of Syria must end. The same occupying power that ethnically cleansed Syrian Druze from the Golan is no protector. All Syrians deserve real safety. The Syrian government must end the violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and commit to an inclusive transition that protects all of Syria’s diverse communities.“
• Shaheen (D-NH) 7/16/25: “I am deeply concerned by the uptick of violence in Syria, including Israel’s decision to launch airstrikes on Damascus and Suwayda. This escalation could undermine and endanger Syria’s stability and derail progress made by Special Envoy Tom Barrack towards achieving normalization between Syria and Israel. Concurrently, Syria’s authorities must commit to peacefully restoring order in Druze areas and pursuing accountability for any security forces who have committed violations in Druze communities. The only way forward is for all sides—Druze, Bedouin tribes, Israeli forces and the Syrian government—to de-escalate immediately. Syria’s authorities need international support to build capacity, professionalize and train their forces and support our shared objectives of eliminating the threat posed by terrorist groups and other nefarious actors in Syria. To that end, we must all aim towards and support the path to a unified Syria that protects the interests of all citizens and can pursue peaceful relations with its neighbors.”
• Wilson (R-SC) 7/16/25: X-post – “I support President Trump’s efforts to de-escalate the situation in Syria. Israel’s unnecessary strikes must cease immediately. The strikes benefit Iran, the CCP, and war criminal Putin. Suicidal for Israel. Also, there must be accountability for sectarian crimes. Separatist drug traffickers with malign influence are sabotaging the most historic opportunity for peace & stability in Syria in our lifetime.“
• Sherman (D-CA) 7/16/25: X-post – “I am deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks against #Syria’s #Druze community. The Syrian government and President al-Sharaa must get serious and adopt a zero-tolerance policy for the kind of sectarian violence we’re seeing erupt in Syria once again. The international community has been much too silent as innocent Druze are targeted – the time to speak is now.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/16/25: X-post – “I am closely monitoring developments in southern Syria and strongly condemn any violence against the Syrian Druze community. A swift and immediate end to this violence is crucial for peace in Syria and the region.“

We stand with Israel in everything it does, including against Americans who criticize Israel

• Moore (R-WV) 7/17/25: X-post – “I am saddened to learn of the deaths and injuries at the Holy Family Catholic Church today in Gaza, which left three dead and nine wounded. Though it has yet to be determined how exactly this occurred, I would urge Israel to utilize their military target discrimination capabilities to ensure the protection of Catholic Churches and other Christian sites. I pray for the souls of the faithful who died. Eternal rest grant unto them, o Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them.”
• LaLota (R-NY) 7/17/25: X-post – “Iran backs terror, funds Hamas, and spreads violence. We must keep max diplomatic and economic pressure until terror ends, hostages are freed, and Hamas stops targeting Israel. Appeasement won’t work—strength will.”
• House Foreign Affairs Committee GOP/Mast (R-FL) 7/15/25: X-post – “Honored to share the stage with @AvivaKlompas at the @israelcc summit in Washington today. From war zones to college campuses, antisemitism must be combated and eradicated!”
• Davidson (R-OH) 7/16/25: X-post (responding to news of an Israeli settler attack on a Christian-Palestinian village in the West Bank) – “Christian Persecution? No, cover for arsonists trying to stop Israelis from living in Israel. Here’s the explanation I have from friends I trust, who live there: The incident in question took place in an area of the Binyamin region where Jewish shepherds have been grazing legally on public land. In recent weeks, we have witnessed a troubling trend: deliberate arson attacks by Arab residents intended to destroy grazing lands and displace Jewish presence. In this specific case, the fire was indeed set intentionally by Arabs,not by Jews. The Jewish farm owner and his workers, who were present in the area, attempted to contain and extinguish the fire. Video evidence exists showing them actively working to stop the flames. In fact, the farm owner filed three official complaints with the police regarding repeated arson attempts against his farm. Tragically, the fire spread and reached a nearby Christian cemetery, causing damage. This is deeply regrettable, and I emphasize that the damage was unintended and collateral, stemming from Arab-initiated arson and not any act by Jewish residents. Nonetheless, certain actors are now attempting to twist the narrative and accuse the very people who tried to put out the fire. There is a broader campaign underway by well-funded and politically motivated groups, including some operating under Christian labels, whose goal is to delegitimize Jewish life in Judea and Samaria by spreading false accusations and emotional misinformation. These groups seek to vilify our residents in the eyes of the international community, weaken Christian-Jewish alliances, and ultimately pressure Israel to abandon our ancestral heartland.“
• Bacon (R-NE) 7/13/25: X-thread – “There should be no room for anti-Semitism in both parties. Anti-Semitism is anti-American…I served with Israeli defense Forces and proud of it.” Responding to X-post from Sen. Murphy (D-CT) – “It’s weird that a big tent Democratic party wouldn’t include the guy who just handily won the Democratic primary in the city with the most Democratic voters in America. #votersmatter”
• Graham (R-SC) 7/13/25: X-post – “It was my great honor to speak with my friends at the Chabad of Charleston today. We shared our love for Israel and affirmed its right to exist. We also discussed the importance of ending the threat from regimes and entities who want to eliminate the one true Jewish state. We must unapologetically stand with Israel. All those who wish to destroy Israel also wish to destroy us.”
• Ernst (R-IA) 7/13/25: X-post – “My DEFEND Act created unprecedented cooperation between Israel and Abraham Accords nations, but October 7th was a reminder that our enemies are constantly evolving. By updating my DEFEND Act in the NDAA, we can ensure that America and our partners stay one step ahead of our enemies.“

Concerns/Criticisms Related to Israel, Bibi Govt, Etc.

• Sanders (I-VT) 7/15/25: X-post – “More and more Americans understand that support for the racist Netanyahu government is not only immoral, it is a gross misuse of taxpayer dollars. We should not provide billions to a government that shoots starving people waiting for food. NO MORE U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL.“
• Sanders (I-VT) 7/14/25: X-post – “Israel’s far right tried to expel Ayman Odeh, an Arab Israeli opposition leader, from the Knesset because of his opposition to Netanyahu’s war. Today, they failed. If Israel is going to be considered a democracy, it cannot expel members of parliament for their political views.”
• Sanders (I-VT) Welch (D-VT) and Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/13/25: Sanders, Welch, Van Hollen Issue Statement of Solidarity with MK Ayman Odeh Following Expulsion Efforts from the Israeli Parliament
• Omar (D-MN) 7/11/25: X-post “Get lost, your intimidation tactics aren’t working on us anymore. P.S. Tell Israel to use its own money, because I and many others don’t want $3.5 billion dollars of our money going to them.” Responding to AIPAC X-post 7/9/25: “.@RepMTG and @IlhanMN: two sides of the same radical coin. Each proposed the same legislation to weaken America and hurt our ally Israel. Cutting off funding for missile defense cooperation between America & Israel undermines U.S. national security and helps our shared enemies.“

Other stuff

• Welch (D-VT), Merkley (D-OR), Van Hollen (D-MD) & Sanders (I-VT) 7/18/25: Welch, Merkley, Van Hollen, Sanders Denounce Threats to West Bank Communities
• Bacon (R-NE) 7/13/25: X-post – “I worked on a team that stood up long-range missile defense in Israel focused against Iran in 2009 – 2010. It has paid off… this past year it has intercepted 99% of the Iranian and Houthi missiles fired at Israeli cities. I am proud of 3rd Air Force and the Israelis for the mission success and saving many lives.“
• Hagerty (R-TN) 7/11/25: Hagerty joins Varney & Co. on Fox Business to Discuss Iran Threat, Crypto Regulation Reform
• Gill (R-TX) 7/11/25: X-post – “Zohran Mamdani is as radical as radical gets. His rabid racism and antisemitism have no place in our country.”
• Omar (D-MN) 7/10/25: Column in Hometown Source – Omar on Minnesota shootings, Iran and ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

Elex/politics/Mamdani

• CNN 7/17/25: What Bernie Sanders told Zohran Mamdani about antisemitism and pushing back on Democratic leaders
• Jewish Insider 7/17/25: Gottheimer avoids confronting Mamdani over ‘intifada’ comments
• Jewish Insider 7/17/25: Fundraising reports reveal fading clout of congressional centrists [“…On the Democratic side, there were some fresh signs that mainstream, pro-Israel candidates aren’t getting quite the same fundraising traction as they have in the past...]
• Mondoweiss 7/17/25: The Shift: Pro-Israel leaders angry over Nadler’s Mamdani endorsement
• New York Post 7/16/25: Zohran Mamdani gets hero’s welcome from lefty Dems at AOC-hosted breakfast in DC
• Jewish Insider 7/16/25: Democratic pro-Israel group warns of ‘troubling developments’ within the party [“DMFI president Brian Romick cited Zohran Mamdani’s refusal to condemn ‘globalize the intifada’ rhetoric and N.C. Dems’ adoption of anti-Israel resolutions“]
• Jewish Insider 7/15/25: Nadler faces blowback from Jewish leaders for his Mamdani outreach
• The Hill 7/14/25: Jeffries: Mamdani must reassure Jewish community ‘that he’s going to stand up’ for their safety, security
• Jerusalem Post 7/14/25: Bernie Sanders openly attacks AIPAC, calls for boycott from Democrats [“Senator Sanders asked all Democrats to stop their relationship with AIPAC, calling them ‘the organization that helped deliver the presidency to Donald Trump.'”]
• Jewish Insider 7/14/25: Jewish Democrats divided over Ken Martin’s ‘globalize the intifada’ remarks

Other stuff

• Jewish Insider 7/18/25: Sen. Chris Coons: U.S. strikes on Iran could ultimately be a positive step
• Spectrum News 7/17/25: Trump administration, some Democrats denounce killing of 20-year-old Florida man in West Bank
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/14/25: Congressmen raise questions about US funding to anti-Netanyahu protest groups
• Jewish News Syndicate7/14/25: US senators on Arab MK’s pending impeachment: ‘Assault on democracy’
• Jewish Insider 7/14/25: Rep. Greg Landsman: Americans are ‘tired’ of partisanship on Iran and foreign policy
• Jewish Insider 7/11/25: Senate’s defense bill includes effort to advance Middle East air defense cooperation [“The amendment, led by Sen. Joni Ernst, highlights the ‘serious and growing’ missile threats from Iran and its proxies“]

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Briefings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New episodes of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast:

• 7/10/25: How Western journalists are complicit in Israel’s effort to silence Palestinian journalists – ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with Palestinian American journalist and writer Jennifer Zacharia about the treatment of Palestinian journalists and reporting by Israel and Western media, building on Zacharia’s recent Boston Review piece,”Can Anyone Hear Me? Palestinians are only allowed to exist if we don’t cause discomfort for those who seek to erase us.”
• 7/10/25: How to think about Gazans’ mental health during this genocide, ft. FMEP fellow Hilary Rantisi in conversation with Dr. Yasser Abu Jamei, psychiatrist and Director General of the Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP), Gaza’s leading mental health organization.

—————————-

1. Bills & Resolutions

(ENSURING UNLIMITED US WEAPONS FOR ISRAEL VIA STOCKPILE) S. 2216: Introduced 7/9/25 by Banks (R-IN) and Rosen (D-NV), “A bill to extend war reserves stockpile authority” aka the “Weapons Resupply, Stockpile, and Alliance-Israel Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Rosen, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen U.S.-Israel Military Stockpile; Jewish Insider 7/9/25: Banks, Rosen introduce bill to replenish U.S. weapons stockpile in Israel – The legislation would extend the stockpile through 2029 from its current expiration in 2027

(USING US WEAPONS SALES TO INCENTIVIZE NORMALIZATION WITH ISRAEL) HR 4335 (bill text): Introduced 7/10/25 by Lawler (R-NY) and 25 cosponsors [22 Republicans plus Moskowitz (D-FL), Davis (D-NC) and Gottheimer (D-NJ)], “To provide authority to enhance security assistance with countries that are engaged in regional security cooperation efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, and for other purposes” aka the “Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Messmer Supports the Abraham Accords Defense Against Terror Act; Jewish Insider 7/10/25: Bipartisan House bill would expedite arms sales to Abraham Accords partners [“Rep. Lawler: ‘I am committed to strengthening our relationships with regional partners and putting our ally Israel in the best position possible to do the same’”]

(CENSURING REP. OGLES) H. Res. 576: Introduced 7/10/25 by Torres (D-NY) and 3 Democratic cosponsors, “Censuring Representative Andy Ogles” (for his anti-Muslim rhetoric). Referred to the House Committee on Ethics.

(DEFENSE APPROPS BILL) HR 4016: The House is getting set to take up HR 4016, the FY26 Defense Appropriations bill. That bill includes:

“Sec. 8067. Of the amounts appropriated in this Act under the headings “Procurement, Defense-Wide” and “Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide”, $500,000,000 shall be for the Israeli Cooperative Programs: Provided, That of this amount, $60,000,000 shall be for the Secretary of Defense to provide to the Government of Israel for the procurement of the Iron Dome defense system to counter short-range rocket threats, subject to the U.S.-Israel Iron Dome Procurement Agreement; $127,000,000 shall be for the Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense (SRBMD) program, including cruise missile defense research and development under the SRBMD program; $40,000,000 shall be for co-production activities of SRBMD systems in the United States and in Israel to meet Israel’s defense requirements consistent with each nation’s laws, regulations, and procedures, subject to the U.S.-Israeli co-production agreement for SRBMD; $100,000,000 shall be for an upper-tier component to the Israeli Missile Defense Architecture, of which $100,000,000 shall be for co-production activities of Arrow 3 Upper Tier systems in the United States and in Israel to meet Israel’s defense requirements consistent with each nation’s laws, regulations, and procedures, subject to the U.S.-Israeli co-production agreement for Arrow 3 Upper Tier; and $173,000,000 shall be for the Arrow System Improvement Program including development of a long range, ground and airborne, detection suite.“

The Rules Committee will meet 7/14/25 to determine which amendments will get floor votes. The deadline to propose amendments to the bill was 7/8/25 (with many amendments coming in late). All amendments submitted to Rules are here – all are worth paying attention to all of them, regardless of whether they are ruled in order, because they are a good roadmap to what these members will be trying to do with other legislation.  Middle East-related amendments submitted (as if 2pm 7/11/25) are:

Re: Israel

• Amendment offered by Jackson (R-TX) and Schneider (D-IL) to “Increase the Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide account by $10,000,000 to be used for joint United States/Israel anti-tunneling programs and efforts. This amendment is offset by decreasing the Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account by $10,000,000.”
• Amendment offered by Omar (D-MN), “Strikes $500,000,000 in funding for Israel.“
• Amendment offered by Ogles (R-TN), “Prohibits funds for military exercises with countries that boycott Israel or Israeli defense companies.“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds from being used to support the unilateral annexation by Israel of the illegally Occupied Palestinian Territories of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza.”
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds for any Israeli military and intelligence units that assist or fail to take reasonable actions to prevent or intercede to stop Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians and their property in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.“
• Amendment offered by Gottheimer (D- NJ), Garbarino (R-NY), and Gimenez (R-FL), “Increases funding by $5,000,000 to Research, Development, Test and Evaluation, Defense-Wide to increase funding for the U.S.-Israel Counter-UAS and directed energy development program by $5,000,000. Offsets from Operations and Maintenance, Defense-Wide.”
• Amendment offered by Greene (R-GA), “Strikes funding for the Israeli Cooperative Programs.” [Also see: Greene’s very long X-post announcing her amendments, including: “…The U.S. State Department already gives Nuclear armed Israel over $3 Billion every single year. Nuclear armed Israel has nearly decimated Hamas in Gaza all by themselves. And we just successfully bombed Iran’s and wiped out Iran’s nuclear program for Nuclear armed Israel. Nuclear armed Israel’s national debt is under $400 Billion compared to our crippling national debt of $37 TRILLION. Nuclear armed Israel seems to have their defense and debt under control, so the American taxpayers should not be required to give Nuclear armed Israel another $500 million in our U.S. defense bill. Jordan gets around $1.6 Billion from the U.S. State Department every year, why do we have to give them another $500 Million?”…P.S. Not giving another additional $500 Million to Nuclear armed Israel will not make us all anti-Semitic. Or Isolationist. P.S.S. We don’t have to pay off Jordan with another $500 Million either.”]
• Amendment offered by Ogles (R-TN), “Prohibits funds to participate in any defense exposition that has a policy of excluding participation by the State of Israel.”

Re: Lebanon

• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D- MI), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to Lebanon.”
• Amendment offered by Steube (R-FL),  “Conditions aid to the Lebanese Armed Forces.“
• Amendment offered by Steube (R-FL), “Prohibits all assistance to the Lebanese Armed Forces”

Re: Iran

• Amendment offered by Nadler (NY), “Requires a report detailing the battle damage assessment (BDA) of the US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, including the impact on the nuclear program, the remaining capabilities, any resulting difference in breakout time, an assessment of any remaining nuclear material, and an assessment of the impact of the strike on Iranian ballistic missile program and proxy activity.”
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (MI), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
• Amendment offered by Simon (D-CA), “Prohibits funds from being used to introduce U.S. forces into hostilities in Iran in contravention of the War Powers Resolution (50 U.S.C. 1541 et seq.).”
• Amendment offered by Massie (R-KY) and Khanna (D-CA), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran.“

Re: Jordan, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, UAE

• Amendment offered by Greene (R-GA), “Strikes funding to support the armed forces of Jordan.“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits the use of funds to maintain a U.S. military presence inside Syria after one year, unless otherwise Congressionally authorized.“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds from being used in contravention of the War Powers Resolution with respect to Yemen.“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits funds from facilitating the unilateral annexation of Yemeni territory by the United Arab Emirates or the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia“
• Amendment offered by Tlaib (D-MI), “Prohibits the use of funds for foreign military sales to the United Arab Emirates.”
• Amendment offered by Steube (R-FL), “Prohibits all assistance to the Government of Iraq.“
• Jewish Insider 7/7/25: Banks, Rosen introduce bill to replenish U.S. weapons stockpile in Israel [“The legislation would extend the stockpile through 2029 from its current expiration in 2027“]

Re: Antisemitism

• Amendment offered by Goldman (D-NY), “Increases the Operation and Maintenance, Defense-Wide account by $1,000,000 to support enhanced screening of civilian personnel and implementation of training programs to prevent domestic extremist, white supremacy, and antisemitic ideology within the Department of Defense workforce.“

Other legislation news:

• Senate Armed Services Committee 7/11/25 – Executive Summary of FY26 NDAA [Re: the Middle East – “•Directs continued cooperation with allies and partners in the Middle East with respect to implementing an integrated air and missile defense architecture. • Extends the Counter-ISIS Train and Equip (CTEF) authorities to assist the Iraqi Security Forces and Syrian partner forces to counter the threat from ISIS. • Directs a report on the Department of Defense’s plan to provide assistance to the military forces of Jordan and the military forces of Lebanon. • Extends the United States-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation initiative. • Authorizes increased funding for United States-Israel cooperation to counter unmanned aerial systems.”
• Jewish Insider 7/11/25: Senate’s defense bill includes effort to advance Middle East air defense cooperation [“The amendment, led by Sen. Joni Ernst, highlights the ‘serious and growing’ missile threats from Iran and its proxies“]
• The Commitment to Aid Workers Act: Pingree 7/7/25: Pingree Unveils Bill to Protect Aid Workers in Global Conflict Zones [“2024 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian aid workers, according to the United Nations.“]

2. Letters

None.

3. Hearings & Briefings

July 15. 2025: The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight will hold a hearing entitled, “How Leftist Nonprofit Networks Exploit Federal Tax Dollars to Advance a Radical Agenda.” This appears to be a follow-up to three letters sent by the Committee last week (covered in last week’s Round-Up). The hearing “will examine how left-wing organizations have exploited federal tax dollars to advance their radical causes. In particular, the hearing will focus on how federal grants from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Justice Department were leveraged by these organizations to fund causes fundamentally opposed to the national interests of Americans.” Witnesses will be: Scott Walter, President, Capital Research Center; Mike Gonzalez, The Heritage Foundation; and Tyler O’Neil, The Daily Signal.

July 15. 2025: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce will hold yet another witch trial/kangaroo court – sorry, I mean hearing – this one entitled, “Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology.”  Announced victims – sorry, I mean witnesses – (so far) are: Dr. Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University; Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, The City University of New York; and Dr. Rich Lyons, Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley.

• On 7/2/25, Chairman Walberg (R-MI) issued a reminder about the hearing, noting: ““We continue to see antisemitic hatred festering at schools across the country. While much of the discussion has focused on the devastating effects of antisemitism, this hearing will focus on the underlying factors instigating antisemitic upheaval and hatred on campus. Until these factors—such as foreign funding and antisemitic student and faculty groups—are addressed, antisemitism will persist on college campuses. Our Committee is building on its promise to protect Jewish students and faculty while many university leaders refuse to hold agitators of this bigotry, hatred, and discrimination accountable.”
• House Committee on Education and Reform (GOP) 7/10/25: X-post – “Unions are promoting antisemitism. Instead of listening to dues-paying members, unions spout antisemitic propaganda and sideline workers with pro-Israel views. In many cases, workers are REQUIRED to fund these organizations that discriminate against them! The disease of antisemitism runs deep.” With link to Wall Street Journal article, How Labor Unions Feed Campus Antisemitism — Questions for Congress to ask the leaders of UC Berkeley and the City University of New York.
• Stefanik (R-NY) 7/9/25: X-post – “I am preparing for the upcoming July 15th @EdWorkforceCmte Hearing on Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology with the presidents of @Georgetown @Berkeley and look forward to holding them accountable for the rot of antisemitism permeating their campuses. Unfortunately, @ChancellorCUNY is for the 3rd time attempting to back out of testifying. @ChancellorCUNY, please confirm your attendance immediately with the other college presidents to testify – and I would be remiss if I did not remind you that Congressional Republicans have subpeona [sic] authority and have used it extensively in our higher education investigations.“
• CalMatters 7/8/25: Congress is targeting these California universities in antisemitism hearings

Other hearing-related news:

• Jewish Insider 7/10/25: Trump provides ‘window of opportunity’ for U.N. reform, nominee says [“Asked by members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about antisemitism issues at the U.N. and efforts to disband the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, Bartos described the U.N. as ‘almost immune to reform’ but said that U.S. leadership from Trump as a ‘unique window of opportunity’ to force reform by leveraging U.S. funding. Jennifer Locetta, the nominee for alternate representative to the U.N. for special political affairs, who testified alongside Bartos, said that she would work with the administration on its review of U.S. participation in U.N. agencies, such as those that have shown ‘pervasive anti-Israel bias’ and would work to ensure that ‘everything that we do makes sure that America is stronger, safer and more prosperous.’”]

Bibi Returns to DC

• Thune (R-SD) 7/9/25: X-post – “Hosted a bipartisan meeting with Israeli Prime Minister @netanyahu to discuss bringing American hostages home from Gaza and building off @POTUS’ leadership to restore peace and security in the region.”
• McCormick (R-PA) 7/10/25: X-post – “It was great seeing Prime Minister Benjamin @netanyahu, at the Capitol yesterday. Dina and I last met with him during our trip to the Middle East in May. I complimented him on the magnificent performance of Israel’s military in destroying Iran’s nuclear capabily [sic], and I remain steadfast in my support for Israel in its fight against terror. Israel and the US, under President Trump’s leadership, are working together toward a future of security, peace, and stability for the region.”
• Cassidy (R-LA) 7/9/25: Cassidy Meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to Discuss Peace in the Middle East
• Daines (R-MT) 7/9/25: Daines Previews Meeting With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Fox: “It is Time for Regime Change in Iran”
• Graham (R-SC) 7/9/25: X-post – “Very good meeting with Prime Minister @netanyahu and his team today. We discussed the importance of keeping the Iranian regime in a weakened state until they change their behavior toward Israel and the region, and toward the United States. We also talked about the mutual desire to continue to integrate the region politically and economically, moving toward the light away from the darkness. I completely support Israel’s position that Hamas must be removed from Gaza as part of any peace agreement and that Iran should recognize Israel’s right to exist as a prerequisite to any peace negotiations. Israel continues to be one of the foundational partners for the United States and I have a lot of admiration for the people of Israel and the state of Israel. P.S. Appreciated the birthday cake! Bibi is a great leader… but singer? Not so much.”
  • Cotton (R-IN) re-posted this with the comment: “Great to join @LindseyGrahamSC and @netanyahu today. I share his sentiments and am proud to stand with our partners in Israel.”
• Daines (R-MT) 7/9/25: X-post – “Looking forward to meeting with PM Netanyahu today- America stands with Israel. It’s time to see regime change in Iran.”
• Tenney (R-NY) 7/8/25: X-post – “Welcome to the United States Capitol @netanyahu. Congressional Republicans stand alongside Israel in their fight to secure peace, & protect democracy & innocent lives. The world is safer when America & Israel stand together.“
• Diaz-Balart (R-FL) 7/8/25: X-post – “The United States stands solidly with our friend and ally, Israel.“
• Ciscomani (R-AZ) 7/8/25: X-post – “We stand proudly with Israel — our steadfast friend and ally“
• Fallon (R-TX) 7/8/25: X-post – “Under President Trump’s bold, decisive leadership and willingness to fully support our ally, Israel, things are headed in the right direction for the Middle East. Iran’s nuclear program has been set back years, while the strength of its terrorist proxies like Hamas, Hezbollah and Ansarallah have been severely diminished. The US-Israel alliance is stronger than ever and deals have been secured with the Gulf States. This is good for peace and security for the US, our allies and partners, and the region.”
• Mace (R-SC) 7/8/25: X-post – “Thank you President Trump. There is no better friend and ally of Israel and the Jewish people than you.”
• Gimenez (R-FL) 7/8/25: X-post – “Welcome to the United States, Prime Minister @netanyahu! The bond between our two freedom-loving nations remains unbreakable. From the U.S. Congress, we proudly stand with the democratic Jewish State of Israel as it navigates today’s many challenges.”
• Omar (D-MN) 7/8/25: X-post – “This is Benjamin Netanyahu’s third visit to DC this year. War criminals should not be welcomed by any president or Congress. He should be held accountable for his crimes, not platformed. Beyond shameful.”
  • Response from Rep. Fine (R-FL) 7/8/25: “I’m sure it is difficult to see us welcome the killer of so many of your fellow Muslim terrorists. The only shame is that you serve in Congress.“
  • Response to Fine from Democratic leadership  7/9/25: JOINT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP STATEMENT ON REP. ILHAN OMAR – “The unhinged, racist and Islamophobic comments made by Randy Fine about Rep. Ilhan Omar are bigoted and disgusting. We are just weeks removed from heinous acts of political violence targeting elected officials in Minnesota for assassination. This is an incredibly difficult time for our nation and Members of Congress should be solving problems for the American people, not inciting violence. Randy Fine must apologize immediately.”
  • Response from Fine to Democratic Leadership 7/9/25: X-post – The Hamas Caucus is upset. Boo hoo. I guess they weren’t listening when I said the Hebrew Hammer was coming.”
  • Response by “Coalition for Jewish Values” to Democratic leadership (re-posted by Fine) 7/9/25: “This bizarre statement from  @HouseDemocrats inverts hater & victim. Expecting a Jewish representative to apologize for calling out a Jew-hater warmly welcomed in the Democratic caucus is well beyond the pale. It is they who owe an apology to Jewish Americans.” and also this CFJV post with video clip – “During this morning’s interview on @NEWSMAX, Rabbi @ymenken [Executive Director of CFJV and also member of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission] applauded @RepFine for standing up to @Ilhan. Ilhan Omar is aligned with the Hamas, she is part of their terror network and she is backing their entire narrative. Bravo, @RepFine!“[for those unfamiliar with this org, see their website; also see The Forward 11/10/27 – Inspired By Trump Era, Orthodox Rabbis Launch New Political Group]
  • Additional Response from Fine to Democratic Leadership 7/9/25: X-post – “Apparently @RepJeffries has no issues with @Ilhan calling Bibi Netanyahu a war criminal but does when I call her out for doing it. I came to Washington to fight this evil. Not make peace with it.”
  • Additional Response from Fine to Democratic Leadership 7/10/25: X-post – “Jihadi Jefferies and his Hamas Caucus are just trying to distract from the huge increase in violence against ICE agents because of their rhetoric. @RepBrandonGill and I didn’t come to Congress to play their Washington games, where we have to make nice with people who hate everything about America. We came to defeat them. And we will.”
  • Response from Watson Coleman (D-NJ) to original Fine post 7/9/25: X-post – “Randy Fine is a vile racist whose presence in Congress is an insult to every decent American. When you think of Republicans, remember Randy Fine eats at their table. I will pray for this ugly hatred to leave his soul.“
  • Response from Raskin (D-MD) to original Fine post 7/9/25: X-post – “I know you’re new to Congress, Mr. Fine, but we don’t call our colleagues terrorists here. It just makes you look idiotic. At a time when MN Democrats have been targeted for assassination by a right-wing extremist, your rhetoric is seriously dangerous. Apologize now.“

• Johnson (R-LA) 7/8/25: Speaker Johnson Welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Back to the U.S. Capitol
• Johnson (R-LA) 7/8/25: X-post – “Today, I had the honor of welcoming my good friend, Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, back to the U.S. Capitol. The Prime Minister and I discussed America’s commitment to Israel’s security and our shared goal of achieving a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that is righteous, enduring, and rooted in the principle of peace through strength. America and Israel’s strong stand in the 12-Day War dealt a devastating blow to the greatest enemy of peace in the region, leaving the Iranian regime weaker than at any point in decades. We are hopeful that this marks the dawn of a new chapter of peace in the Middle East.”
• Scott (R-FL) 7/7/25: X-post – “Iran and its terror proxies like Hamas should remember that the United States stands strong with Israel. As @POTUS and @Netanyahu meet 640 days after the October 7th terrorist attacks, Iran-backed Hamas should remember we want EVERY HOSTAGE HOME!“
• Welch (D-VT) 7/7/25: X-post – “As President Trump meets with Prime Minister Netanyahu today, he must press for a ceasefire that returns hostages and allows humanitarian organizations to provide aid to Gaza. And President Trump should demand Israel works to surge aid to civilians as negotiations continue.“
• Sanders (I-VT) 7/7/25: X-post – “Today, a war criminal under indictment from the ICC will be welcomed to the White House. Trump, like Biden before him, has aided and abetted the extremist Netanyahu government as it has systematically killed and starved civilians in Gaza. It is a shameful day in America.“

Cheering Rubio for Putting Sanctions on Francesca Albanese

• Fine (R-FL) 7/9/25: X-post – “Albanese is a full-throated supporter of Muslim terror and I support @SecRubio 1000%. She embodies the moral rot that is the @UN.
• House Foreign Affairs Committee 7/9/25: X-post – “Albanese is the tip of the spear for antisemitism at the UN. Sanctioning her sends a clear message that if you target America or our allies—you will pay the price.“
• Wagner (R-MO) 7/9/25: X-post – “Francesca Albanese has a strong bias against the United States and Israel, and I appreciate President Trump and Secretary Rubio for holding her accountable for her reckless actions and statements.  I have long called on her to be removed from the UN, and I am glad to see Secretary Rubio and President Trump take such strong action against her.“
• Cotton (R-IN) 7/9/25: X-post – “Outspoken supporters of terrorism and unlawful ICC prosecution of American allies like Francesca Albanese have no business entering the United States. The UN’s support for her is exactly why Americans don’t trust the UN. Thank you President Trump and @SecRubio for defending our country and our allies from the illegitimate kangaroo court.“
• McCormick (R-PA) 7/9/25: X-post – “Thank you, @SecRubio. This is American leadership. Albanese’s antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric is a complete embarassment to the UN Charter. She has repeatedly abused her power to advance the delegitimization of Israel and I look forward to supporting more of @POTUS’s nominees at the UN who will take on this vile rhetoric.” 
• Lawler (R-NY) 7/9/25: X-post – “Francesca Albanese’s absurd campaign against the U.S. and Israel ends today. We will not tolerate antisemitic witch hunts by the UN and its affiliates. Sadly, yet again, it’s the UN harboring and legitimizing these abuses of power on the global stage.“

Weaponizing Fight Against Antisemitism

• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/8/25: Gottheimer Urges Immediate Vote on Bipartisan IHRA Antisemitism Bill in NJ Assembly, Following More Delays [“70 Percent of Assembly has Co-Sponsored Bill — Yet Still No Vote Allowed. Failure to Protect Jewish Communities is ‘Outrageous and Shameful’“] Also see: Gottheimer X-post.
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/8/25: X-post – “At a time of record antisemitic violence and rising ignorance about the Holocaust, @NEAToday members’ decision to stop using @ADL materials on antisemitism and Holocaust education is dangerous and deeply concerning. Teaching students about hate and history should never be controversial.“
• Miller (R-OH) 7/7/25: X-post – “Antisemitism has no place in our society. I’m glad we finally have a president who is holding woke universities accountable.” Linked to Fox News X-post with video clip 7/7/25 – “@RepMaxMiller attributes the rise of antisemitism to influence by countries like Iran and Russia.”

WE LOVE WITH & STAND WITH ISRAEL & JEWISH SUPPORTERS OF ISRAEL, INCL AGAINST IRAN!

• LaLota (R-NY) 7/10/25: X-post – “For decades, Iran has armed terrorists like Hamas, Hezbollah & the Houthis to attack Americans, Israelis & our interests. Republicans & Democrats must stand united to contain this threat before it spreads further.”
• Frankel (D-FL) 7/10/25: X-post – “em>Forced nudity, physical and verbal sexual harassment, sexual assaults, and threats of forced marriage.” The Dinah Project’s new report sheds light on the horrors Hamas terrorists perpetrated on and since October 7–including to those they held in captivity. Rape and sexual violence as tools of war are never acceptable. We will continue to uplift survivors, tell their stories, and hold those who commit these atrocities accountable.”
• Johnson (R-LA) 7/9/25: Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries Re-establish House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group
• Moskowitz (D-FL) 7/9/25: X-post- “It is an honor to be named by @RepJeffries to this bipartisan group, which reaffirms the enduring alliance between the U.S. and Israel. I look forward to working with my House colleagues and Knesset counterparts to strengthen the relationship between our nations.“
• Kustoff (R-TN) 7/9/25: X-post – “I’m excited to announce that I’ve been reappointed as Chair the House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group for the 119th Congress. The U.S.—Israel relationship is more important than ever. Thank you @SpeakerJohnson for your trust. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Washington and Jerusalem to keep this alliance strong!” Also see: press release.
• Wagner (R-MO) 7/9/25: X-post – “I am proud to once again be appointed to the House-Knesset Parliamentary Group. Israel is our greatest ally in the Middle East, and I look forward to working with my bipartisan delegation and our counterparts in Israel to strengthen this vital partnership and advance peace and stability in the Middle East. Thank you to @SpeakerJohnson for entrusting me with this responsibility at such a vital time for the region.”
• Crenshaw (R-TX) 7/9/25: Long X-thread attacking Tucker Carlson over interview with the president of Iran, closing with: “BOTTOM LINE: Tucker didn’t conduct an interview. He handed a mic to the Iranian regime and let propaganda flow unchecked. I should also note, the Iranian regime doesn’t even allow real journalism in their country. What does that say about Tucker? If he won’t challenge our enemies, I will.“
• Scott (R-FL) 7/8/25: op-ed in the Washington Times – Trump did the world a favor with strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites — He sent a strong message to Tehran and the world: We will eliminate threats with force if necessary
• Scott (R-FL) 7/8/25: X-post – “Innocent civilians have spent 641 days in the hands of Iran-backed Hamas terrorists. It breaks your heart to think about what they must be going through. Thank God we finally have a Commander-in-Chief who stands with Israel and is committed to bringing every hostage home.“
• Bilirakis (R-FL) 7/8/25: X-post – “Let’s hope this momentum brings us closer to lasting peace in the Middle East and strengthens the security of our closest ally, Israel.” Linked to Fox News article: US champions Lebanon’s response to Hezbollah disarmament, hints at Abraham Accords opportunity
• Scott (R-FL) 7/6/25: X-post – “Don’t forget—Hamas terrorists are still holding innocent people hostage 639 days later in tunnels throughout Gaza. People just like you and me who were going about their day, when suddenly they were dragged into captivity by these monsters. We can’t forget that. We can’t rest until we bring them all home!”
• LaLota (R-NY) 7/6/25: X-post – “Not long ago, both parties stood with Israel and against a nuclear Iran. Now’s the time for unity—not partisanship—to keep America and our allies safe.“
• Torres (D-NY) 7/5/25: X-post – “Murdering Jews for being Jews is not ‘political’—it’s antisemitic. The cold-blooded assassination of Yaron and Sarah outside the Capitol Jewish Museum. The arson attack on peaceful Jewish demonstrators calling for the release of the hostages. The firebombing of a Jewish governor’s residence. To downplay or deny the antisemitism at the heart of these attacks is to turn a blind eye to the dangerous and deadly resurgence of Jew-hatred staring us all in the face. America ignores the obvious at its own peril.” [an enraged response to this brilliant op-ed in the New York Times by Jewish intellectual/author/journalist Masha Gessen]
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/4/25: X-post – “Iran’s UN Ambassador made it clear: they have no intention of stopping uranium enrichment. The United States must continue applying maximum pressure and stand with our key ally, Israel, and ensure Iran can never build a nuclear weapon.“

Targeting Mamdani/Progressive Dems

• Gill (R-TX) 7/11/25: X-post w/ video clip – “Zohran Mamdani is as radical as radical gets. His rabid racism and antisemitism have no place in our country.”
• Gottheimer (D-NJ) 7/6/25: X-post w/ video clip – “As commonsense Democrats, we’re against socialism, higher taxes, and antisemitism. ‘Globalize the Intifada’ refers to a horrific wave of terror — attacks that left more than a thousand Jews dead. With antisemitic violence at record highs, @ZohranKMamdani’s refusal to condemn violent and hateful rhetoric is unacceptable.“

Concern for Palestinians, Int’l Law

• Tlaib (D-MI) 7/9/25: X-post – “For nearly two years, world leaders have failed to act to end the Israeli apartheid regime’s genocide in Gaza. While the U.S. government attacks international law, South Africa and Colombia’s Hague Group is taking action to save lives.”
• Welch (D-VT) 7/8/25: X-post – “Infants in Gaza are facing starvation because baby formula is being blocked. It’s unacceptable. The government of Israel must immediately allow baby formula and medicine through its blockade to avoid more senseless deaths of innocent children.“
• Van Hollen (D-MD) 7/3/25: X-post – “It is unconscionable that American taxpayers are paying for these killings. Shame, shame on Donald Trump and the complicity of everyone who continues to look the other way.” With link to article: US contractors say their colleagues are firing live ammo as Palestinians seek food in Gaza (Associated Press 7/2/25)

Elections/politics (Mamdani & more)

• Jewish Insider 7/11/25: Rep. Nellie Pou [D-NJ] adapts to political life in a swing district
• Times of Israel 7/10/25: Some Jewish Democrats in US Congress raise concerns about Mamdani’s anti-Israel stances
• The National Desk 7/9/25: Jewish lawmakers call Mamdani’s embrace of ‘disturbing’ anti-Israel rhetoric ‘dangerous’
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 7/9/25: Jewish Democrats in Congress raise concerns about Zohran Mamdani’s anti-Israel positions [“While some Jewish Dems have raised alarm at the mayoral candidate, others have cautiously endorsed him.“]
• The New York Post 7/9/25: Jewish Democrats in Congress on edge after Zohran Mamdani’s NYC primary win: ‘Huge problem’
• The Hill 7/9/25: Jewish Democrats in Congress sound the alarm on Mamdani
• Jewish Insider 7/8/25: Effie Phillips-Staley plays to progressive base as she targets Rep. Mike Lawler [“The Democratic candidate for New York’s 17th Congressional District called the U.S. strikes on Iran ‘alarming and unprecedented’”]
• Jewish Insider 7/7/25: Michigan Senate hopeful Mike Rogers underscores his support for Trump’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear program [“Rogers, a former House Intel Cmte chair: ‘I was for all of this when it wasn’t very cool to be for all of this’“]’
• Jewish Insider 7/7/25: Mike Rogers campaign names anti-Israel influencer as county chair [“Jackson Karki was named as a county chair for the Upper Peninsula counties of Baraga, Delta, Gogebic, Houghton, Keweenaw and Marquette”]
• Jewish Link 7/3/25: NJ Democratic Nominee Mikie Sherrill’s Mixed Messages on Israel Raise Serious Concerns

Bibi Visits White House/Congress (again)

• CBS News 7/9/25: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with congressional leaders
• UPI 7/9/25: Netanyahu talks Mideast matters with U.S. senators, defense officials in D.C.
• Jewish Insider 7/10/25: Netanyahu, Senate leaders discuss Gaza, Iran and Abraham Accords [“A senator in attendance told JI that Netanyahu took a different tone discussing negotiations with Hamas: ‘It sure felt like he’d been told by Trump to get to a ceasefire’“]
• Politico 7/7/25: Senate leaders to meet with Netanyahu
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/7/25: ‘Shameful,’ says Sanders of Israeli prime minister’s arrival in Washington [“‘Trump, like Biden before him, has aided and abetted the extremist Netanyahu government as it has systematically killed and starved civilians in Gaza,’ wrote Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).”

Promoting IHRA Definition as Law

• City & State PA 7/10/25: Opinion: To deal with a surge in ‘the oldest hatred,’ a new approach is needed
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/9/25: Gottheimer criticizes NJ Assembly for delaying vote on antisemitism bill
• Insider NJ 7/9/25: Gottheimer Demands Vote on Anti-Semitism Bill
• YellowHammer News 7/7/25: Rep. Barry Moore pushes ‘Define to Defeat’ Act to cement antisemitism definition into law, strengthen hate-crime prosecutions
• Jewish Link 7/3/25: Antisemitism Awareness Act Remains in Limbo After Senate Markup
• The Hill (Mark Goldfeder) 7/3/25: To defeat antisemitism, we must first define it

Defending Settlements/Israeli Impunity, Opposing Intl Law/Accountability

• Jewish Insider 7/7/25: Risch threatens economic consequences if Ireland continues ‘antisemitic path’ [“Ireland’s foreign minister urged the U.S. to push for the end of Gaza war at the embassy Fourth of July party; Dublin moved to ban products from Israelis in the West Bank“]

Other

• Jewish Insider 7/11/25: Leading GOP senator [Wicker, R-MS] says Houthis ‘need to be totally eliminated’ [Also: “Asked if the U.S. should become involved directly against the Houthis again, Wicker said, ‘I wouldn’t rule that out.'” Also: Kelly (D-AZ):  “we’ve got to figure out a path forward on how to respond. It can’t be a long-term thing for ships to go around the Horn of Africa.” Lankford (R-OK): “…We have to decide, and Israel has to make a determination — as they have, of late — to be very, very clear. And Israel has carried out additional strikes on the Houthis to try to make that stop.” Rounds (R-SD): “I’m not sure what our interests are there right now, but most certainly, we have told them in the past that if they want to have a ceasefire, we’ll support a ceasefire. If they want to get back in the middle of it, I suspect that the administration may very well have a response to that.“]
• Breitbart 7/10/25: Senior Israeli Official: Congress Should Deny F-35’s to Turkey
• Jewish News Syndicate 7/9/25: Bipartisan House-Knesset Parliamentary Friendship Group to be renewed
• Zeteo 7/9/25: We Asked Republican Senators if They Knew How Many Americans Israel Has Killed Since Oct. 7. None of Them Did [“‘I haven’t even given it much thought,’ one senator said. ‘I am pro-Israel,’ another replied.”]
• New York Sun (Foundation for Defense of Democracies op-ed) 7/4/25: As American Scrutiny of Muslim Brotherhood Increases, Lawmakers Overlook Qatar’s Support of the Extremist Group

 

 

 

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Briefings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New from FMEP:

• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, The Urgency of Telling Palestinian Stories, ft. FMEP fellow Hilary Rantisi in conversation with author & architect Suad Amiry and film & TV director/actor/producer Cherien Dabis. They discuss Cherien’s latest film, All That’s Left of You, an intergenerational story that goes back to the 1948 Nakba and arrives at the present and premiered at Sundance in early 2025. They talk about one of Suad’s most famous books, Sharon and My Mother-in-Law, about life under Israeli occupation on the West Bank, and its upcoming adaptation to the screen, which Cherien will direct. Along the way, they discuss the effect of humor in storytelling, the role of diaspora Palestinians and relationship to the broader Palestinian collective, and the urgency of telling Palestinian stories.

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1. Bills & Resolutions

War Powers Act

(NO US ARMED FORCES INVOLVEMENT IN IRAN WAR) S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”  Defeated 6/27/25 by a roll call vote of 47-53 [a party-line vote except for Paul (R-KY) voting “yes” and Fetterman (D-PA) voting “no”]. See members’ websites for statements. Also see: floor statements/discussion.

Re: Iran, Iran-Israel, & Trump

(BUNKER BUSTERS FOR ISRAEL!) HR XXXX [bill text]: On 7/2/25, Rep. Gottheimer (D-NJ) issued a press release: Gottheimer, Lawler Introduce Bipartisan Bunker Buster Act to Equip Israel Against Iran’s Continued Nuclear Threat, Strengthen U.S. National Security. The press release notes that this is “legislation that authorizes the president to support Israel’s defense by providing the Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP), or ‘bunker buster’ bomb, and the aircraft required to deploy it — to take out Iran’s underground nuclear infrastructure” and argues that “Equipping Israel with this capability directly strengthens American national security by eliminating Iran’s pathway to a nuclear weapon.” Gottheimer also posted on X – “Iran is the world’s leading state sponsor of terror and is responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans. As Iran rebuilds its nuclear program, we must maintain maximum deterrence. My bipartisan Bunker Buster Act will give Israel the tools she needs to deter Iranian aggression and take out their underground nuclear sites — strengthening U.S. national security.” Also see:

• This legislation was previously introduced by Gottheimer and Lawler (R-NY) in 2002 (HR 7148) and 2024 (HR 9206). Press releases: 2024 – Gottheimer, Mast Announce Bipartisan Bunker Buster Act to Combat Iranian Threats, Protect Key Ally Israel; 2022 – Gottheimer, Mast Introduce the Bipartisan Bunker Buster Bill to Combat Iranian Threats, Protect Key Ally Israel.
• 2025 Media: US ready to arm Israel with bunker-busting bombs if Iran goes nuclear (New Y0rk Post 7/2/25); Trump could arm Israel with US B-2s and bunker busters if Iran tries to go nuclear under new proposal (Fox News 7/2/25); Gottheimer, Lawler push to provide Israel with bunker busters after U.S. strikes (Jewish Insider 7/2/25); Bill in US Congress would give Israel access to B‑2 stealth bombers (YNet 7/2/25)

(SUPPORTING TRUMP’S MILITARY ATTACK ON IRAN) H. Res. 554: Introduced 6/27/25 by Baumgartner (R-WA) and 4 Republican cosponsors, “Supporting President Trump’s decisive actions to dismantle Iran’s nuclear weapons program and affirming unwavering support for the State of Israel’s right to self-defense.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Armed Services. Also see: press release – Baumgartner, Pfluger, Nunn Champion Resolution to End Iran’s Nuclear Threat and Defend Israel

(MEDALS FOR THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN IRAN BOMBING) HR 4254: Introduced 6/30/25 by Gonzales (R-TX) and 12 Republican cosponsors, “To establish a military service medal to be issued to members of the Armed Forces who served in support of operations related to the Iran-Israel War, including Operation Midnight Hammer.” Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services. Also see: press release – Rep. Tony Gonzales Introduces Bill to Create Military Campaign Service Medal for Iran-Deployed Troops

Weaponizing “Fighting Antisemitism” to Target Free Speech/Protest/Civil Society

(SANCTIONS ON THE “IRAN-ALIGNED” POLISARIO FRONT) HR 4119: Introduced 6/24/25 by Wilson (R-SC) and Panetta (D-CA), “To provide for the imposition of sanctions with respect to the Polisario Front, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary. Also see: House bill aims to impose sanctions on Iran-aligned Polisario Front (Jewish News Syndicate 6/27/25)

2. Letters

• (TARGETING ACADEMIA) 7/1/25: Stefanik Leads Letter Exposing Columbia University’s Leadership for Potential Title VI Violations and Betrayal of Jewish Students and Board Members [letter text]. Also see: Acting Columbia president called for removal of Jewish board member in texts obtained by Congress [“The texts from Claire Shipman, published in a letter by the House Education Committee, call a Jewish board member a ‘mole’ and ‘extremely unhelpful’“] (Jewish Insider 7/1/25); House ed panel demands Columbia answer for its president seeming to mock Jew-hatred on campus [“The House education panel sought ‘clarity’ from Claire Shipman over ‘messages you sent that appear to downplay and even mock the pervasive culture of antisemitism on Columbia’s campus.’”] (Jewish News Syndicate 7/1/25). NOTE: Columbia’s Claire Shipman apologizes for leaked messages calling for removal of Jewish trustee (Jewish Insider 7/2/25). Shortly after that article was published, Stefanik (R-NY) responded with a post on X: “RESIGN”
• (TARGETING ALLEGED BIDEN ADMIN FUNDING OF OPPOSITION TO NETANYAHU GOVT AND ITS POLICIES) 6/30/25: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jordan and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Mast sent 3 letters inquiry, all based on allegations that under the Biden Administration, USAID used U.S. tax-payer funds to undermine the Netanyahu government. The letters target an Israeli organization, Blue White Future, and two U.S. groups, the Abraham Initiatives and The Tides Network (aka the Tides Foundation). With respect to the latter two letters, Jordan and Mast request all documents related to the two groups and their funding-related interactions with a long list of U.S. and Israeli organizations (including, with respect to the Tides letter, the Foundation for Middle East Peace)
• (OPPOSING ISRAEL’S STARVATION OF GAZA) 6/30/25: Tlaib Leads Colleagues in Opposing Israeli Government’s Use of Starvation as a Weapon [letter text]. Also see: ‘We Cannot Be Silent’: Tlaib Leads 19 US Lawmakers Demanding Israel Stop Starving Gaza (Common Dreams 6/30/25); Tlaib (D-MI) X-post – “Eighteen Members of Congress joined me in a letter urging the Trump Administration to stop the Israeli government’s mass starvation of Gaza and killing of hungry Palestinians.”; Garcia (D-IL) X-post – “What we’re seeing in Gaza is the systematic starvation of its people by the Israeli govt., along with frequent attacks near aid distribution centers that should be safe. We must do everything in our power to stop this mass starvation. Thank you @RepRashida for leading the charge.“

3. Hearings & Briefings

July 9, 2025: The House Committee on Education and the Workforce will hold yet another witch trial/kangaroo court – sorry, I mean hearing – this one entitled, “Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology.”  Announced victims – sorry, I mean witnesses – (so far) are: Dr. Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University; Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, The City University of New York; and Dr. Rich Lyons, Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley. On 7/2/25, Chairman Walberg (R-MI) issued a reminder about the hearing, noting: ““We continue to see antisemitic hatred festering at schools across the country. While much of the discussion has focused on the devastating effects of antisemitism, this hearing will focus on the underlying factors instigating antisemitic upheaval and hatred on campus. Until these factors—such as foreign funding and antisemitic student and faculty groups—are addressed, antisemitism will persist on college campuses. Our Committee is building on its promise to protect Jewish students and faculty while many university leaders refuse to hold agitators of this bigotry, hatred, and discrimination accountable.”

Cotton (R-IN) 7/2/25: X-post – “The murderous Hamas terrorists, who are still holding hostages, are the obstacle to peace in the region not our Israeli allies. President Trump warned Hamas and now they will face the consequences if they don’t immediately release all the hostages and surrender.”

Luna (R-FL) 7/2/25: X-post – “POTUS just brokered a 60 day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. EVERY SINGLE MEMBER of Congress should have the common sense to agree this is a MAJOR STEP TOWARDS PEACE and give him credit where it is due!”

McCollum (D-MN) 7/1/25: X-post – “I am horrified to learn about the disgusting attacks on the Palestinian village of Kafr Marlik in the West Bank. These are blatantly illegal attacks by Israeli settlers—under both international and Israeli law. They must stop. The Israeli government must meet their own standards and hold those accountable for their crimes.” With link to New York Times 7/1/25 article, In an Attack at Sunset, Israelis Set a Palestinian Village Ablaze – The violence last week in Kafr Malik, in the West Bank, comes amid a surge in assaults by Israeli settlers. It also set off a chain of violence in the area.

Risch (R-ID) 7/1/25: X-post – “Ireland, while often a valuable U.S. partner, is on a hateful, antisemitic path that will only lead to self-inflicted economic suffering. If this legislation is implemented, America will have to seriously reconsider its deep and ongoing economic ties. We will always stand up to blatant antisemitism.” Linked to Jerusalem Post article, Ireland becomes first European country to introduce ban on trade, imports from Israeli settlements

Hamadeh (R-AZ) 6/30/25: X-post – “Congressman Hamadeh is encouraged to hear that several of Israel’s Arab neighbors may be joining the Abraham Accords. Strengthening the Accords is a top diplomatic priority. That’s why the Congressman & @RepSchneider introduced the bipartisan PEACE Act.” [sic]

Tenney (R-NY) 6/30/25: X-post – “Chanting ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Death to the IDF’ at a major music festival isn’t activism; it’s promoting terrorism. The Left’s refusal to condemn this rhetoric is fueling the dangerous rise in anti-Semitism.”

Bacon (R-NE) 6/30/25: X-post – “I ran on a message of wanting a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and won five times. You know why? Because most in our district agrees.”

Walberg (R-MI) 6/30/25: Chair Walberg on Antisemitism Task Force Finding Harvard Violated Civil Rights Law

Graham (R-SC) 6/29/25: X-post (incl video clip) – “True peace will only come when Iran abandons its ambition to destroy the State of Israel. That must be the prerequisite for any negotiations.”

Cornyn (R-TX) 6/29/25: X-post – “<While Israel and the U.S. were bombing Iran’s nuclear sites, another battlefield emerged behind the scenes: the financial infrastructure that keeps Tehran connected to the world“. With link to Wall Street Journal article, How Israel-Aligned Hackers Hobbled Iran’s Financial System – Broken cash machines, halted payments and a crippled crypto exchange were all the result of pro-Israeli efforts

LaLota (R-NY) 7/29/25: X-post – “Taxpayer dollars have no place funding colleges that enable antisemitic rhetoric that leads to campus violence. That was my message at the ‘Run For Their Lives’ event in Commack, where we stood united against antisemitism and proudly in support of Israel.”

Van Hollen (D-MD) 6/27/25: X-post – “Outrageous. Yesterday the Trump admin announced $30M for GHF—the shadowy group at the center of the scheme to replace humanitarian aid orgs in Gaza w/ mercenaries, leading to the killing of starving civilians trying to collect food. Taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for this outrage” Linked to Haaretz article, ‘It’s a Killing Field’: IDF Soldiers Ordered to Shoot Deliberately at Unarmed Gazans Waiting for Humanitarian Aid

Casar (D-TX) 6/27/25: X-post – “In the past month alone, 549 unarmed Palestinians in Gaza have been killed while waiting for food and aid. Over 4,000 have been shot and wounded. ‘It’s a killing field,’ one soldier said. ‘They’re treated like a hostile force – no crowd-control measures… just live fire.’ This is horrifying. It must end, and the US must stop funding Netanyahu’s massacre in Gaza.”

Other stuff

• Jewish News Syndicate 6/30/25: Connecticut Democratic senator calls US strike on Iran ‘illegal’ [“Sen. Chris Murphy wouldn’t sign onto an effort to impeach the president but told ‘NBC’ that Trump’s second term is ‘much more unconstitutional.’”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/29/25: Sen. Graham: Any Iran deal requires Israel recognition first [“In an interview, Lindsey Graham added: Now is the time to deepen the security alliance with Jerusalem.“]
• New York Times 6/29/25: The Sheikh Who Conquered Soccer and Coddles Warlords [“…In Washington, growing disquiet over the Emirati role in Sudan’s war has become a bipartisan issue in Congress. At his confirmation hearing in January, Marco Rubio, now the U.S. secretary of state, criticized the Emirates, accusing the country of supporting a “genocide” led by General Hamdan. Prominent Democrats have pressed for a ban on U.S. weapons sales to the Emirates until it stops arming General Hamdan’s Rapid Support Forces.“]
• Jewish Insider 6/27/25: Rifts remain in House following classified Iran briefing – Republicans praised the strikes, while most Democrats remained skeptical
• Jewish Insider 6/27/25: Mast said to confront Rwandan, Jordanian, Qatari ambassadors over relationships with Iran and China: source [“The Foreign Affairs chair reportedly said ‘they would have to figure out which side they were on: American or China/Iran’”]
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/27/25: Florida rep introduces legislation to designate CAIR a terror group [“‘Enough is enough,’ said Randy Fine, a Republican Jewish legislator.“]

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Briefings
4. Selected Members on the Record
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New from FMEP:

• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, How Iranians Have Reacted to the US & Israeli Attacks, ft. FMEP fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with journalist Negar Mortazavi.
• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, Jewish Anti-Zionism and the American Left, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with author Benjamin Balthaser.

Also see:

• FMEP’s Lara Friedman interviewed by Mitchell Plitnick for his Cutting Through podcast, talking Iran, Gaza, US, antisemitism, and more.

Also – reminder – The annual Christians United for Israel Summit [“Together, we will make Israel stronger and her people safer as we obey the Biblical mandate to bless God’s Chosen“] will take place in DC June 29 – July 1, including lots of lobbying Congress [“visit your elected officials on Capitol Hill with other constituents from your state to advocate for Israel and the Jewish people.“] Watch the intro video to the summit here (these folks pull no punches in telling the world who they are and what they are doing — people would do well to pay attention/believe them).

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1. Bills & Resolutions

War Powers Act

(NO US ARMED FORCES INVOLVEMENT IN IRAN WAR) S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”  This week S. J. Res. 59 loomed over the Senate, with the Senate expected to vote on the measure on Friday afternoon (June 27 – after this Round-Up was published). Note: three substantive amendments were introduced to the measure (below).

• (PRAISING US MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN) S. Amdt. 2356 to S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 6/24/25 by Cruz (R-TX), to add to S. J. Res. 59 [introduced 6/16/25 by Kaine (D-VA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress”] an additional finding, reading: “Members of the United States Armed Forces and intelligence community, and all those involved in the planning and successful execution of Operation Midnight Hammer on June 21, 2025, including President Donald J. Trump, should be commended for their efforts in a successful mission.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.  Also see: Cruz amendment to Senate war powers resolution seeks to praise Trump’s Iran strikes [“The Texas Republican introduced the amendment in anticipation of a vote later this week on the resolution, which would curtail the president’s ability to take any additional action targeting Iran without congressional approval”] (Jewish Insider 6/25/25)
• (DO NOT WORRY – WAR POWERS ACT WOULDN’T LIMIT TRUMP’S ABILITY TO WAGE WAR OR TO PROVIDE CONTINUED UNCONDITIONAL, UNLIMITED SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL TO DO SO) S. Amdt. 2357 to S. J. Res. 59: Announced 6/24/25 – Sens. Schiff [D-CA], Kim [D-NJ], Kaine [D-VA] Announce Amendment to War Powers Resolution to Underscore Continued U.S. Assistance for Israel’s Self-Defense After Repeated Attacks by Iran. Amendment reads: “Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the United States from– (1) defending against an attack on the United States or its personnel or facilities in other nations; (2) collecting, analyzing, or sharing intelligence, including with the State of Israel and other nations and international organizations as appropriate, related to threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran or its proxies; or (3) assisting the State of Israel and other nations– (A) in taking defensive measures to protect their territory from retaliatory attacks by the Islamic Republic of Iran or its proxies; or (B) by providing defensive materiel support for such defensive measures.“
• (IRAN IS BAD!) S. Amdt. 2359 to S. J. Res. 59: Offered by Slotkin (D-MI), to add to the resolution – “(7) The Government of Iran is a leading state sponsor of terrorism and has repeatedly engaged in a range of destabilizing and malign activities across the Middle East and around the world. (8) These actions include harassment and direct threats to United States personnel, kidnapping and detention of United States citizens and dual nationals, support to proxy forces attacking United States personnel and interests, cyberattacks against United States infrastructure and entities, and the continued enrichment of uranium close to levels that could be used to develop a nuclear weapon and beyond what is necessary for any conceivable civilian purposes.“

Media:

• Khanna (D-CA) 6/25/25: Rep. Khanna, Progressive Caucus Demand Congress Reclaim Its Power: Pass the Iran War Powers Resolution Now
• The Intercept 6/25/25: War Powers Resolution From House Democratic Leaders May Not Limit Trump’s War Powers [“In an apparent nod to Israel, some Democrats want to give Trump power to defend ‘an ally or partner of the United States from imminent attack.'”]
• Jewish Insider 6/25/25: Support among Democrats for Senate war powers resolution growing [“Sens. Adam Schiff, Andy Kim and Tim Kaine announced plans to introduce an amendment to ensure that the U.S. can continue to share intelligence with Israel and to assist Israel’s defense“]
• The Intercept 6/23/25: Hakeem Jeffries Said Trump’s Attack on Iran Was Unconstitutional. What’s He Going to Do About It? [“High-ranking Democrats are working on their own way to stop a war with Iran — instead of signing onto a war powers resolution.“]

Re: Iran, Iran-Israel, & Trump

(THREE CHEERS FOR TRUMP’S MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN!) S. Res. 307: Introduced 6/26/25 by Cornyn (R-TX) and 14 Republican cosponsors, “A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Cornyn, Senate GOP Colleagues Introduce Resolution Supporting Operation Midnight Hammer – Senators Say President Trump Worthy of Nobel Peace Prize

(ATTACKING OBAMA’S NOBEL PRIZE & THE JCPOA, & CALLING FOR TRUMP NOBEL PRIZE FOR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST IRAN) S.Res.305 [resolution text]: Introduced 6/25/25 by Moreno (R-OH), “A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate concerning the nomination of President Donald John Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release –Moreno to Call on Senate to Formally Nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

(REMOVE US FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITH IRAN) H. Con. Res. 40: Introduced 6/23/25 by Meeks (D-NY), Smith (D-WA) and Himes (D-CT), “Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Meeks, Smith, Himes Introduce War Powers Resolution to Cease U.S. Hostilities on Iran; Democratic efforts to block Trump war powers to continue despite Iran ceasefire  (Jewish Insider 6/24/25)

(IMPEACH TRUMP FOR ILLEGALLY WAGING WAR ON IRAN) H. Res. 537: Introduced 6/24/25 by Green (R-TX), “Impeaching Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.” The resolution states, among other things: “President Trump’s unilateral, unprovoked use of force without congressional authorization or notice constitutes an abuse of power when there was no imminent threat to the United States, which facilitates the devolution of American democracy into authoritarianism, with an authoritarian president who has instigated an attack on the United States Capitol, denied persons due process of the law, and called for the impeachment of federal judges who ruled against him– making Donald J. Trump a threat to American democracy.“ Considered by the full House 6/24/25 (privileged resolution), defeated by a bipartisan vote of 344-79 (all Republicans plus 128 Democrats voting “no”). Also see: Scott (D-VA) – Scott Statement on Vote to Table Impeachment Resolution; Moulton (D-MA) – Vote Explainer — H. Res. 537 Impeaching Donald J. Trump

Targeting Antisemitism, and Also Free Speech/Protest/Civil Society

2. Letters

(SEEKING DE-NATURALIZATION & DEPORTATION OF NYC PRIMARY WINNER ZOHRAN MAMDANI) 6/26/25: Rep. Ogles (R-TN) posted on X: “Zohran ‘little muhammad’ Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York. He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings. Attached is my letter to @AGPamBondi.” The letter suggests that Mamdani is guilty of “affiliations or sympathies” [with terrorists] that he hid from the US government at the time of his naturalization, based on a line in a rap — which Ogles suggests signals a direct affiliation with people whose organization was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in 2001, when Mamdani was 10 years old (leading to a trial that ended in convictions in 2008, when Mamdani was 17 year old) — and for refusing to denounce the phrase “globalize the intifada.” Letter text – page 1, page 2]. Also see: ‘Investigate Zohran Mamdani if he concealed…’ Rep Andy Ogles writes to DOJ, says his rap lyrics were problematic (Times of India 6/26/25). See section 4, below, for more from Ogles on Mamdani.

(CONGRESS MUST BE KEPT INFORMED) 6/26/25: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Demands Trump Administration Follow the Law, End Reported Plan to Withhold Intelligence from Congress Following Iran Strikes [letter text]

(TARGETING SCHOOLS FOR ALLEGED ANTISEMITISM – THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!) 6/26/25: Chair Walberg Continues Investigation into Antisemitism at DePaul, Haverford, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Following May 7 Hearing [Letters: DePaul University, California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo); Haverford College]. Also see: Congress has more questions for Cal Poly president about antisemitism on campus (The Tribune 6/26/25); House Education Committee asks for more information from colleges after hearing (Jewish Insider 6/26/25)

(EU MUST NOT DO ANYTHING TO HOLD ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE UNDER ITS OWN AGREEMENTS WITH THE EU REGARDING INTL LAW) 6/24/25: Schneider, Bilirakis Oppose Downgrade of EU-Israel Agreement (letter text – dated 6/20/25)

(VETERANS IN CONGRESS: CONGRESS HAS WAR POWERS AUTHORITY) 6/23/25: Congressman Pat Ryan Leads Fellow Democratic Veterans in Asserting Congressional Authority Over War Powers [letter text]

(RE-CONVENE HOUSE TO DEAL WITH MIDDLE EAST SITUATION) 6/20/25: As President Trump Is Saber Rattling, Thompson Leads Letter Demanding Congress Reconvene to Address Evolving Situation in the Middle East [letter text]

(CONCERNS ABOUT GAZA “HUMANITARIAN” MECHANISM) 6/20/25: Warren Demands Answers on Trump’s Potential Contract with Shadowy Humanitarian Group, Urges More Aid to Gaza Through Responsible Partners [letter text]

(CONCERNS ABOUT OUTRAGEOUSLY INTRUSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA CHECKS ON VISA APPLICANTS) 6/18/25: Sens. Markey (D-MA), Wyden (D-OR), Van Hollen (D-MD), Welch (D-VT), and Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter [letter text] to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem opening with: “Recently, the State Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have sought to expand the role of social media screening in consular and immigration decisions. This policy change threatens to weaponize online speech against immigrants and foreign nationals, granting government officials broad and ill-defined authority to penalize individuals for their expression. Social media posts — often taken out of context and stripped of nuance — are an unreliable basis for such high-stakes determinations. Moreover, the government has never identified any evidence that these screenings help protect national security. In practice, this enhanced social media review appears designed to chill dissent, discriminate against particular viewpoints, and punish individuals for speech the Administration finds objectionable. We urge you both to immediately reverse this latest Trump administration attack on visitors to the United States and immigrants…” Later the letter notes: “…although we strongly oppose antisemitism in all forms, the Administration’s heavy focus on antisemitism on college campus may create implicit pressure on career employees to reject any student visa applicant who has posted any pro-Palestinian content on social media. In so doing, the directives seem designed to punish speech that the Administration dislikes and create fertile ground for abuse and discrimination.”

3. Hearings & Briefings

June 24, 2024: Trump administration officials were supposed to brief members (classified) of the House and Senate on the U.S. military action against Iran — reportedly the briefers were to have included Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine. The Trump Administration subsequently postponed the briefings, reportedly to enable Secretary of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio can participate. Speaker Johnson (R-SC) posted on X 6/24/25 that the reason was “ongoing developments in the Middle East” and later that day posted, “I have just confirmed with the White House that the classified bipartisan briefing for all House Members will now be held on Friday. Senior Administration officials will present the latest information pertaining to the situation involving Israel and Iran. Details to follow.” Subsequently the briefing took place for Senators on 6/26/25, with briefing for House members scheduled for 6/27/25. Also see:

• Selected Members of House & Senate express varying degrees of anger/frustration/etc over delay: Schiff (D-CA), Jeffries (D-NY), Doggett (D-TX), Pelosi (D-CA), Meeks (D-NY) + Himes (D-CT) + Smith (D-WA), Schumer (D-NY), Ryan (D-NY), House Democratic Leadership Conference, Gonzalez (D-TX), Schneider (D-IL), Massie (R-KY), Doggett (D-TX), Clarke (D-NY)
• Selected Members of House & Senate, post- briefing: Van Hollen (D-MD) — “Nothing I learned from the briefing today would justify President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran or his failure to obtain Congressional approval as required by the Constitution…”]; Weber (R-TX) — “I just left the classified briefing about what’s going on between Israel and Iran. I have never been more proud to be an American than right now! And never been more proud of our great fighting men and women in the military! And of course the President & his team too! USA!“; Rogers (R-AL) – “Rogers: There’s no Question that We Delivered a Decisive Blow to Iran’s Nuclear Program“
• Media: ‘Slap in the face,’ Congress members say after Trump admin postpones Israel-Iran briefing [“‘Maybe Donald Trump doesn’t want Congress or even America to know the truth about what’s going on,’ said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.“] (Jewish News Syndicate 6/25/25); Senate Democrats Left Unsatisfied by Trump Administration’s Classified Iran Briefing (New York Sun 6/27/25); Senators remain divided on extent of damage from U.S. strikes after classified Iran briefing (Jewish Insider 6/26/25);  “a Republican Senator who received Iran briefing today said understood would take 1-2 years to get back after strikes. Say 2026. Deal Trump quit had restrictions til 2031, some for in perpetuity (no enrichment above 3.67%. No enrichment at Fordo)” (journalist Laura Rozen on X, 6/26/25)

June 24, 2024: The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing entitled, Rising Threat: America’s Battle Against Antisemitic Terror (video). Witness were: Kenneth Marcus, Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law (testimony); Dan Schneider, Media Research Center (testimony); Debra Cooper, End Jew Hatred and Jewish Advocacy Research and Writer Group (testimony) and Mathew Nosanchuk, listed as “Practitioner in Jewish community” (testimony). Also see:

• Subcommittee Ranking Member Crockett’s [D-TX] Opening Statement at Subcommittee Hearing on Trump’s Weakening of the U.S.’s Ability to Combat Antisemitism [“Today, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Oversight, delivered opening remarks at a subcommittee hearing on how Republicans are weaponizing antisemitism for political gain while defunding the very agencies charged with fighting hate crimes and domestic extremism.”]
• press release 6/25/25: Democrats Urge Republicans to Get Serious About Stopping Antisemitism Rather Than Exploiting It for Political Gain
• Testy House judiciary panel hearing on antisemitic terrorism (Jewish News Syndicate 6/24/25); Republicans and Democrats clash over antisemitism solutions at emotional hearing (Cleveland-dot-com 6/24/25); Congress clashes over approach to quelling antisemitism in America (The Center Square 6/24/25); Capitol Hill divided on source of rising antisemitic violence [“Politicians suggest blame lies with TikTok, immigrants, legacy news, Trump admin policies”] (Washington Times 6/24/25)

• Hunt (R-TX) 6/23/25: X-post – “ALERT: Just DAYS after a federal judge orders the release of Mahmoud Khalil he throws an anti-Israel rally at Columbia. Khalil is NOT a legal citizen yet a federal judge has granted him the position to continue spewing anti-American rhetoric.“
• Balint (D-VT) 6/23/25: X-post – “After 104 days, Mahmoud Khalil is free. Despite Donald Trump and Marco Rubio’s illegal efforts, the First Amendment lives another day.”
• McGovern (D-MA) 6/21/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil should never, ever have been detained. @SenMarkey, @RepPressley and I went to see him in April and have continued to advocate for his release. We must not stop fighting until no person is jailed for simply exercising their First Amendment rights.“
• Ramirez (D-IL) 6/21/25: X-post – “For more than three months, Mahmoud Khalil was a prisoner of this administration, solely because he dared to dissent. Today, he is finally back with his family and newborn. May this be a reminder to the administration that we are not giving up on our constitutional rights nor our neighbors. We will fight back.“
• Jayapal (D-WA) 6/20/25: “Today’s judicial ruling that Mahmoud Khalil had to be released from ICE detention is a critical step on the road to justice. Mahmoud Khalil will finally be reunited with his wife and newborn baby, whose birth he missed while unjustly detained by the Trump Administration for more than three months. His detention has been a stain on our immigration and justice system in this country: an attack on the constitutional free speech protections guaranteed to every single person in our country, utilizing the immigration system to prevent him from engaging in this constitutionally protected political speech. In this case, as in several others, we see the Trump Administration is continuing to simply target people of all legal statuses, including legal permanent residents and even U.S. citizens, simply for disagreeing with their administration in any way. That is not American and is a gross violation of all of our fundamental rights. Every single person in America should understand that if this Administration can do this to Mr. Khalil, they can do the same thing to you. Today, I celebrate with Mahmoud Khalil and his family. There is more work to do to bring full justice to this situation, and to stop the attacks on so many across this country.”
• Schneider (D-IL) 6/20/25: X-p0st – “Though I completely disagree with Mahmoud Khalil and think many of his arguments against Israel are not only wrong, but dangerous, he is entitled to due process before the law, and like anyone else, entitled to be considered innocent until proven guilty. The Constitution protects the rights of all Americans, and all people living under its jurisdiction. It is the founding document that not only defines the way we govern ourselves, but I believe is the primary source of our nation’s greatness.” REMINDER: Khalil has not been charged with any crime, so crying “innocent until proven guilty” entirely misses the point (and adding it to a statement suggesting that criticism of Israel is “dangerous” suggests sympathy/support for targeting Khalil for exercising free speech…).
• Velazquez (D-NY) 6/20/25: X-post – “The Trump admin jailed Mahmoud Khalil for over 3 months, not because he committed a crime but because he exercised his free speech rights. His ongoing detention was a threat to the civil liberties of all Americans. I’m relieved he’ll finally be reunited with his family.”
• Nadler (D-NY) 6/20/25: X-post – “I welcome today’s decision directing the release of Mahmoud Khalil. As I have said before, his prolonged detention—without charges—is a chilling, McCarthyesque action in response to the exercise of First Amendment rights to free speech and raises serious constitutional concerns. While I do not agree with all of the content of Mr. Khalil’s protected speech, we must protect these rights even and especially of those who exercise protected speech we disagree with. The court’s decision today affirms the principles of due process and civil liberties that must remain at the core of our country’s values and rule of law. Today’s decision is a welcome rebuke of the Trump Administration’s weaponization of antisemitism for their own political gain. Indeed, as I have said, if the Trump White House were serious about rooting out antisemitism in America, they should start with their own Administration.“
• Lee (D-PA) 6/20/25: X-post – “I look forward to the day Mahmoud Khalil is returned home to his wife and meets his newborn son after this administration illegally detained him.“
• Pressley (D-MA) 6/20/25: X-post – “Free Mahmoud Khalil. Now.”
• Larson (D-CT) 6/20/25: X-post – “This was the right decision. The Trump Administration has no right to silence someone’s speech because they disagree with what they said. In the United States of America, everyone is entitled to due process under the law.”
• Tlaib (D-MI) 6/20/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil is finally free! He was targeted solely for speaking out against U.S.-backed genocide. His release is a victory for everyone fighting for our First Amendment rights, our immigrant neighbors, and Palestinian freedom.“
• Jacobs (D-CA) 6/20/25: X-post – “Mahmoud Khalil will finally be free after being wrongly detained for over 3 months. No matter if you agree with Khalil or not, the First Amendment protects his speech and he shouldn’t be jailed for his views.”
• Hunt (R-TX) 6/20/25: X-post – “BREAKING: Federal judge orders NON-U.S citizen Mahmoud Khalil to be freed from ICE detention. Khalil was arrested for promoting pro-Hamas RIOTS at Columbia University. These judges need to realize that they do NOT hold more power than the President.”

Other stuff

• Walberg (R-MI) 6/26/25: Chairman Walberg Speaks at March for Jewish Civil Rights [excerpt – “…We have seen college protestors wave signs with slogans like, ‘Anti-Zionism does not equal antisemitism’ to justify hostile intimidation of Jewish students and faculty…”].  Note: this was the March on Washington for Jewish Civil Rights (originally scheduled for 6/24/25); promoted to what appear to be tiny audiences on X (90 followers) and Facebook (42 followers). Note that no major, mainstream Jewish organizations are listed as sponsoring or taking part in the event, but Ralph Reed’s “Faith and Freedom coalition” is, along with a rag-tag group of small pro-Israel, anti-woke, and evangelical Christian-Jewish Zionist groups.  Based on the absence of any photos or reporting from the day of the event (other than Walberg’s press release), one might suspect that very few people actually showed up.
• Ramirez (D-IL) 6/26/25: X-post – “I am proud to stand in solidarity with advocates for peace in Chicago, who are on day 11 of a hunger strike to demand an end to the deadly military campaign Israel’s government has waged on Gaza. We must challenge policies that destroy life, take a first step toward accountability, and pass the Block the Bombs Act to stop the transfer of U.S. military weapons to Israel.“
• Cotton (R-IN) 6/26/25: X-post – “I condemn the unlawful and partisan leak. Wherever it came from, no one is above the law.” Commenting on Free Beacon article – Classified Report That Suggested Iranian Nuclear Program Still Intact Likely Relied on Faulty Info From Iranian Sources, Former Intel Officers Say
• Tenney (D-NY) 6/26/25: Loooooooong X-post opening with “I twice nominated President Donald J. Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize & why I’ll do it again until he is awarded this much deserved honor...”
• Durbin (D-IL) 6/26/25: X-post – “My Senate colleagues and I met with Israeli Ambassador, Michael Leiter. Amid the Israel-Iran conflict, the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the continued holding of Israeli hostages by Hamas, it was timely to discuss a long-term vision for stability and peace in the region.” Also see: Durbin, Senators Meet With Israeli Ambassador To The U.S.
• Ernst (R-IA) 6/25/25: X-post – “It is disgusting for a Georgetown professor to cheer for an Iranian attack on our brave servicemembers and call for more harm to Israel.   Antisemitic campus crazies continue to have a shameful obsession with supporting Iran and its terrorist proxies.“
• Lucas (R-OK) 6/25/25: X-post – “At today’s NATO summit, @POTUS displayed to the world America’s renewed and rightful place as the dominant global superpower. He delivered peace to a region plagued by conflict, leant needed support to our friends in Israel, and instilled fear in our adversaries. I thank President Trump for his continued legacy of peacebuilding and for reinforcing that peace through strength is a necessary component of American foreign policy.”
• Schneider (D-IL) 6/24/25: SCHNEIDER RETURNS FROM MIDDLE EAST TRIP FOCUSED ON ABRAHAM ACCORDS AMID ISRAEL – IRAN CONFLICT [“The trip was organized and sponsored by the N7 Initiative, a partnership between the Atlantic Council and the Jeffrey M. Talpins Foundation which is focused on advancing US interests by strengthening cooperation between the United States, Israel, and Arab and Muslim countries.“]
• Kean (R-NJ) 6/24/25: X-post – “It was great to meet with the NJ Jewish Business Alliance (NJJBA) this afternoon. We discussed the rise in antisemitism, strengthening U.S.-Israel relations, and how we can grow a stronger, more competitive economy that supports Main Street and drives American & NJ business forward. Thank you to the NJJBA for making the trip to Washington!“
• Crapo (R-ID) 6/23/25: Weekly Column: We Must Combat Antisemitism In All Its Forms [but focused 100% on post-10/7/23 developments related to Palestine protest]
• Senate Judiciary Committee (GOP) 6/20/25: SCOTUS Unanimously Upholds Grassley Law to Secure Justice for American Victims of PLO Terrorism
• Cantwell (D-WA) 6/18/25: Floor speech on TikTok [including: “In December 2023, Rutgers University found that TikTok’s algorithm disproportionately amplified anti-Israel and, by extension, antisemitic content compared with other social media platforms. This amplification observed in the context of a major geopolitical events, such as the portrayal of the Israel-Hamas conflict, and such hashtags, “I stand with Israel” or “Pray for Israel,” were unrepresented. That means they weren’t represented at a ratio of six to one. According to the Jewish Federation of North America, individuals on TikTok for over 30 minutes a day were 17% more likely to be antisemitic. And last year, antisemitic comments on TikTok rose 912%. My fear is that a similar study would show that in between the issues that we do think are legitimate businesses on TikTok, that there is a bias and anti-American content being pushed about even the current hostilities now in Iran.“

Trump & Friends Target Rep. Massie

• Yashar Ali on X 6/26/25: “‘Massie sided with Democrats and the Ayatollah.’ President Trump’s anti-Thomas Massie SuperPAC is out with its first ad against the Kentucky Congressman.”
• Jewish Insider 6/26/25: New Trump-aligned super PAC begins $1M ad blitz against GOP Rep. Thomas Massie
• Daily Caller 6/26/25: EXCLUSIVE: AIPAC Seeking Out Challengers To Unseat Rep. Thomas Massie
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/24/25: The unapologetic antisemite in Congress [“Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie has voted against antisemitism measures in Congress, called for the U.S. to stop sending military aid to Israel and railed out against the ‘Israel lobby.’“]
• Axios 6/22/25: Scoop: Trump launches MAGA PAC in effort to oust Rep. Massie from Congress

Accusing Schumer of Failing the Jews & Israel

• Jewish News Syndicate 6/26/25: A ‘shanda,’ not a ‘shomer’ — America and its Jews need more bell-menders and fewer charlatans.
• Jewish Insider 6/25/25: Schumer struggles to live up to ‘shomer’ designation amid pressure from his party [“The self-dubbed ‘guardian of the people of Israel’ is now the guardian of a caucus that has drifted increasingly leftward, especially when it comes to its support for Israel”]

Other stuff

• Jewish News Syndicate 6/27/25: White House demands congressman apologize for telling Jewish official ‘go back to 1930s Germany’
• Jewish News Syndicate 6/26/25: Jewish groups hold ‘emergency’ security sessions on Capitol Hill [lots of quotes from members about their eternal and unconditional support for Israel]
• Zeteo 6/25/25: AIPAC Has Too Much Influence on Congress, Says Rep. Ro Khanna
• Politico 6/24/25: MTG suggests a link between JFK’s assassination and his opposition to Israel’s ‘nuclear program’