Media

  • FMEP Legislative Round-Up: December 15, 2023

    1.Bills, Resolutions 2. Letters 3. Hearings & Markups 4. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements New from FMEP December 12, 2023: Lara Friedman interviewed on the…

  • US lawmaker: Backing Israel is the ‘path of least resistance’ (Responsible Statecraft)

    “‘I’d be curious to know what he means by ‘path of least resistance,’” Foundation for Middle East Peace President Lara Friedman told Responsible Statecraft. “Does he mean, ‘this is the path that gets me rewarded in terms of campaign support,’ or, on the other hand, ‘how I avoid other possible negative consequences like someone giving massive support to my primary opponent?’”…

    More than two months after the attacks, members of Congress are increasingly voicing concern about Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and President Biden called Israel’s bombing campaign ‘indiscriminate,’ positions that appear to have become more acceptable weeks after the call in which Himes referred to pro-Israel positions as the ‘path of least resistance.’ Friedman credits that shift, at least partially, to growing engagement by voters concerned about the civilian death toll in Gaza. ‘Constituent engagement matters, especially since the Gaza war started,’ said Friedman. ‘Members are now talking about ceasefire and other things we didn’t hear in the first few weeks. Members are starting to show a bit more empathy and concern for what is happening in Gaza.’”

  • Republicans say they believe in free speech. Except when it comes to Israel. (Washington Post)

    “…Under this reasoning, the commission will have broad powers to investigate any criticism of Israel that could be deemed unfair or overly exacting — including calls for a cease-fire or citing Israel’s disregard for Palestinian civilians in its targeting. As the Foundation for Middle East Peace’s Lara Friedman, who monitors legislative activity on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, put it, ‘The GOP wants to formally open an era of modern McCarthyism, with criticism of Israel [and] fake concern about antisemitism as hooks to target progressive Americans.’ There’s no need to speculate about intentions. Leading Republicans have already made clear that something as unobjectionable as posting a Palestinian flag is beyond the pale.”

  • FMEP Legislative Round-Up: December 8, 2023

    1.Bills, Resolutions 2. Letters 3. Hearings & Markups 4. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements NOTE: For the foreseeable future, given the scope and pace of…

  • Settlement & Annexation Report: December 8, 2023

    Welcome to FMEP’s Weekly Settlement Report, covering everything you need to know about Israeli settlement activity this week. To subscribe to this report, please click here.…

  • FMEP Legislative Round-Up: December 1, 2023

    1.Bills, Resolutions 2. Letters 3. Hearings & Markups 4. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements NOTE: For the foreseeable future, given the scope and pace of…