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 Podcasts:

• 4/13/26: The Iran Blockade and Israel’s War Logic, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with FMEP president Lara Friedman
• 4/10/26: Iran, the DNC, and Prospects for a Ceasefire, ft. FMEP fellow Ahmed Moor in conversation with Matt Duss (Center for International Policy)

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1. Bills & Resolutions

Disapproving of Weapons Sales to Israel

S. J. Res. 32: Introduced 3/10/26 by Sanders (I-VT), Welch (D-VT), and Merkley (D-OR), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.” FAILED 4/15/26 by a vote of 40-59 (the vote was on a motion to discharge the bill from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations – a procedural vote that in effect was a vote on the underlying resolution). Voting “no” were all Republicans, along with Coons (D-DE), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Fetterman (D-PA), Fetterman (D-PA), and Schumer (D-NY). 

S. J. Res. 138: Introduced 3/19/26 by Sanders (I-VT), Van Hollen (D-MD), Welch (D-VT), and Merkley (D-OR), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of Israel of certain defense articles and services.” FAILED 4/15/26 by a vote of 36-63. Voting “no” were all Republicans, along with Blumenthal (D-CT), Coons (D-DE), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Fetterman (D-PA), Gillibrand (D-NY), Peters (D-MI), Reed (D-RI), Rosen (D-NV), Warner (D-VA), and Whitehouse (D-RI). 

Also see:

• Floor debate: Senate floor debate on S. J. Res. 32 and S. J. Res. 138 is here. Speaking in support: Sanders (I-VT), Van Hollen (D-MD), Merkley (D-OR), Kaine (D-VA). Speaking against: Risch (R-ID).
• Media, pre-votes: Democratic Senators Face Pressure on Israel Arms Sales Vote [“Activists are pushing centrist Democrats to vote against arms sales, linking weapons transfers to the unpopular Iran war.“] (Jewish Currents 4/14/26); Human Rights Mean Nothing If Congress Funds Their Destruction (A New Policy 4/14/26); Congress must act to stop the Israeli war machine (Mondoweiss 4/14/26); Congress must act to stop the Israeli war machine (Mondoweiss 4/14/26)
• Senators, pre-votes: Sanders (I-VT) 4/15/26: X-post – “For Netanyahu, the war in Gaza was not enough. Iran was not enough. He is now waging a full-blown war of expansion in Lebanon. The time is long overdue for Congress to listen to the American people and end U.S. military aid to the extremist Israeli government.” Sanders (I-VT) 4/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “No more taxpayer dollars to support Netanyahu and his extremist Israeli government.”  Sanders (I-VT) 4/15/26: X-post w/ video clip – “The American people want to make certain their tax dollars are spent responsibly. In strong and growing numbers, they do not want us to continue spending billions in support of the illegal, horrific and expansionist war policies of the Netanyahu government in Israel.” Sanders (I-VT) 4/13/26: X-post – “This week, I will be forcing a vote on legislation to block the sale of nearly half a billion dollars worth of bombs and bulldozers to the Israeli military. The extremist Netanyahu government that has committed genocide in Gaza does not need more military support from American taxpayers.”   Welch (D-VT) 4/15/26: X-post – “I will join @SenSanders to force a vote blocking the sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu is using them to displace millions of civilians in Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza. The U.S. shouldn’t finance civilian suffering. I hope our colleagues join us.” Van Hollen (D-MD) 4/15/26: X-post w/ video clip- “The Netanyahu gov helped launch the Iran war, has unleashed an offensive in Lebanon & continues to harm civilians in the West Bank & Gaza. We shouldn’t send taxpayer-funded bombs & equipment to facilitate this brutality. We must stop Trump’s arms transfer” Markey (D-MA) 4/15/26: X-post – “We should not send 1,000 pound bombs and armored bulldozers to Netanyahu that could be used not only in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, but also in Trump’s illegal Iran war. There’s no military solution to this crisis. We must solve this at the negotiating table & end this war.“
• Media, post-votes: Senate Democrats Issue Historic Rebuke Of Military Aid For Israel [“Wednesday’s votes showed the biggest-ever rejection from Congress of American weapons for the country, reflecting broad public frustration with devastating U.S.-Israeli cooperation.“] (Huffington Post 4/15/26); Nearly all Senate Democrats vote to block Israel arms sales (Jewish News Syndicate 4/15/26); Following Bernie Sanders’ lead, 40 Senate Democrats vote against arms sales to Israel [“Forty Senate Democrats voted to block sales of bulldozers to Israel, while 36 voted to block the sales of 1,000-pound bombs“] (Jewish Insider 4/15/26); In historic Senate vote, over 75% of Democrats vote to block arms sales to Israel (Mondoweiss 4/16/26); Israel hits a low point with Democrats in Congress (Axios 4/15/26); Record number of Senate Dems vote against Israel (Punchbowl News 4/16/26); In historic Senate vote, over 75% of Democrats vote to block arms sales to Israel (Mondoweiss 4/16/26); Opposing Weapons Sales to Israel Is the New Democratic Norm [“Just four years ago, it would have been unthinkable that three-quarters of Senate Democrats would back resolutions to block selling weapons to Israel. Wednesday’s vote is only a preview of how the Israel debate will play out in the Democratic primaries“] (Haaretz 4/16/26); The Dam Breaks: Democratic Senators Overwhelmingly Reject Arms Sales to Israel (The Intercept 4/15/26); In major shift, all but 7 Senate Democrats vote to block weapons sales to Israel [“Several Jewish moderates and likely 2028 presidential contenders newly voted for the resolutions“] (The Forward 4/16/26); Senate rejects blocking military aid to Israel, but bills gain majority Democrat support (Jerusalem Post 4/16/26); Senate again fails to block weapons to Israel [“But pair of votes got strong majority of Democrats on board, which some are calling an ‘historic’ turning point for Tel Aviv’s blank check.'”] (Responsible Statecraft 4/15/26); Senate vote on arms sale shows ‘massive cracks’ in US support for Israel (Al Jazeera 4/16/26)
• Senators, post-votes:  Sanders (I-VT) 4/15/26: X-post – “Today, more than 80% of the Democratic caucus stood with the American people and voted to block U.S. military aid to Netanyahu and his horrific, illegal wars.” Also see: Murray (D-WA), Baldwin (D-WI), Lujan (D-NM)  Slotkin (D-MI), Merkley (D-OR), Murphy (D-CT), Blumenthal (D-CT), Warner (D-VA), Coons (D-DE), Merkley (D-OR), Padilla (D-CA) and Schiff (D-CA), Bennet (D-CO), Shaheen (D-NH), Hassan (D-NH), Welch (D-VT)
• House members weigh in: Pocan (D-WI), Omar (D-MN), Jayapal (D-WA), and Khanna (D-CA) 4/15/26: X-post – “Chuck Schumer was one of 7 Senate Democrats to vote to send bulldozers to Israel. 40 Democratic Senators voted no. Mr. Schumer, you are out of touch with our base and the nation. Step aside.“
• Others: X-thread by Dylan Williams, Center for International Policy 4/15/26 – “The fact that 40 of 47 Democratic Senators voted to withhold military hardware from Israel is a new high water mark in holding Israel accountable for violating US and international law. It is still troubling that a few Democrats and all Republicans voted to supply the arms. With over 70% of Democratic voters in favor of halting arms sales to Israel, Senators who opposed these measures cannot truly represent the party in top positions on relevant committees or in caucus leadership—nor can they inspire the support needed to regain the White House. Ever-growing numbers of Americans are making clear that they do not want to subsidize a foreign country that pushes the United States to wage costly wars and uses our aid and arms to commit atrocities that undermine our values and security. Much of Congress needs to catch up.” X-post [with images of AIPAC message] by Bryan Metzger, Business Insider 4/16/26: “AIPAC blasted an “Action Alert” urging people to contact their senators and “thank those who voted NO on Sanders’ dangerous resolutions and express your disappointment in those who voted YES.” It includes talking points as well. Sent to me by a Hill staffer who received it…“ X-post [with images of AIPAC message] by Jacob Kornbluth, the Forward 4/16/26): “AIPAC in action alert to members: ‘It’s critical that Senators hear from pro-Israel constituents, expressing appreciation for those who voted to stand with Israel and disappointment to those who voted to block arms to our ally fighting a multi-front war.’ Talking points:”

The Return of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act

(THE RETURN OF THE ISRAEL ANTI-BOYCOTT ACT) S. 4296 [bill text] Introduced 4/15/26 by Scott (R-FL) and 6 Republican cosponsors, the “IGO Anti Boycott Act of 2026,” aka, “A bill to amend the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 to apply the provisions of that Act to international governmental organizations.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bills to Defund UNRWA, Support Israel – excerpt: “…In the 1970s, Congress acted to stop the Arab League’s attempt to economically isolate Israel. They passed laws which made it clear to American companies that they would face financial consequences if they participated in this boycott. And it worked. Today however, the same campaign of economic pressure now works through international bodies—UN agencies and other IGOs that compile blacklists of Israeli companies and seek to delegitimize Israel economically. The principle is simple and vital: We in Congress can never let the whim of an international body override the security and prosperity of the American people.  America’s sovereignty means WE will decide who we support, whom we trade with, and whom we defend.”

REMINDER: This bill was last seen in 2025, in the form of  HR 867, introduced 1/31/25 by Lawler (R-NY) and currently having 19 cosponsors (15 Republicans and 5 Democrats). On 5/2/25, the GOP House leader published a list of bills to be considered by the House on 5/5/25 under suspension of the rules. That list included HR 867. The announcement sparked backlash on social media, including from some House Republicans and some major Republican influencers. Subsequently, on 5/4/25 the GOP House leader published a new notice listing bills to be considered 5/5/25 under suspension of the Rules – HR 867 was not on that new list. More details of that mini-drama – as reported in the 5/9/25 edition of the Round-Up – and about the bill itself, are below:

• My viral 5/2/25 X-thread (posted minutes after House leadership sent out notice that the bill would be on Monday’s suspension calendar): “Love it or hate it – on Monday the House will vote on HR 1867 [yes, this is a typo – the correct bill number is HR 867, as reflected in the analysis and bill link included in the rest of the thread, and as reflected in the correction I posted moments after the thread went up, and then posted multiple times again over the weekend as the thread went viral], ‘The IGO Boycott Act’, the current iteration of the ‘Israel Anti-Boycott Act’ – to impose harsh penalties, incl fines/jail on Americans who, in line with their values/political views, boycott Israel or settlements. 1/ As covered in the 2/27/25 edition of the Round-Up: HR 1867, like its predecessors, seeks to amend/expand current US anti-boycott law. That law is based on the idea of preventing US citizens from being **compelled or coerced** into boycotting Israel… 2/…as a condition for doing business abroad under the Arab League Boycott of Israel (which included coercive secondary sanctions). 3/ this bill, like its predecessors, seeks to extend this law to ‘cover US citizens who boycott Israel &/or settlements NOT because they are being compelled/coerced, but because it reflects their own values/political views, including support for intl law… 4/ …with the hook being the EU’s policy urging companies to differentiate between Israel and settlements, and the UN’s database of companies working in settlements. As a reminder, the EU policy nor the UN database are entirely informational/advisory… 5/ …neither one includes any enforcement or accountability mechanism of any kind.’ [ie, they are entirely non-coercive, at most advisory measures] 6/ Yet under this bill, ‘anyone who violates or ‘abets’ what would be a ban on VOLUNTARY, VALUES-BASED decisions to boycott Israel or settlements, grounded in Americans’ personal & political views &/or informed by respect for intl law— could face massive CRIMINAL/CIVIL PENALTIES. 7/ What do I mean by ‘massive CRIMINAL/CIVIL PENALTIES’? I mean up to $1 MILLION in fines or up to 20 YEARS IN PRISON. Think I’m exaggerating? Read the legislation that it would amend.8/ The bill (on Monday’s suspension calendar) 9/ Deeper coverage in the 2/7/25 edition of the Round-Up: 10/ Announcement of Monday’s suspension calendar 11/ ACLU letter opposing this same legislation in the last Congress  12/ For further background/analysis on this legislation see this collection of resources: (link)“
• Thread from DropSite 5/2/25 (linking to my thread); follow-up thread from DropSite 5/3/25
• Members who came out in opposition to the IGO Boycott Act: Green (R-GA) 5/3/25: X-post – “I will be voting NO. It is my job to defend American’s rights to buy or boycott whomever they choose without the government harshly fining them or imprisoning them. But what I don’t understand is why we are voting on a bill on behalf of other countries and not the President’s executive orders that are FOR OUR COUNTRY???“; Massie (R-KY) 5/3/25: X-post – “I agree with @RepMTG. I’ll be voting No on this bill as well.“; Luna (R-FL) 5/4/25: X-post – “H.R. 867, up for a vote tomorrow, aims to curb antisemitism but threatens First Amendment rights. Americans have the right to boycott, and penalizing this risks free speech. I reject and vehemently condemn antisemitism but I cannot violate the first amendment.” Massie (R-KY) 5/4/25: X-post – “Apparently HR 867 has been pulled from the schedule for this week. Thank you for your vocal opposition on this platform. It was a ridiculous bill that our leadership should have never scheduled for a vote.” Responding to a comment that the GOP would now try to sneak the bill through some other way, Massie stated: “Correct. They buried the original smaller version of this bill inside the 2018 NDAA. Look for them to do something similar in the near future for this legislation to expand the 2018 version.” Luna (R-FL) 5/5/25: X-post – “H.R. 867, a blatant violation of our first amendment, has been pulled from the vote schedule. I’m grateful to everyone who stood with the few of us fighting it. Grifter X accounts claim that I sponsored the bill. That is a lie, and you can see online for yourself. Regardless: The bill HAS been pulled”; Davidson (R-OH) 5/4/25: X-post – “I oppose this foolish, unconstitutional bill, and will vote NO. Think of the logic: – Protest America – free speech – Protest Israel – jail & bankruptcy Insane.”
• Members who came out in defense of the IGO Boycott Act: Lawler (R-NY) 5/5/25: X-post- “This bill amends existing law and focuses on institutional pressures, not personal choices, ensuring that Americans are not forced to participate in unsanctioned boycotts promoted by IGOs, like the UN. I look forward to leadership bringing this critical legislation to a vote.”
• MAGA/right-wing forces weighing in against the IGO Boycott Act: Charlie Kirk 5/3/25: X-post – “Tomorrow the House will vote on HR 867, a bill that will criminalize private boycotts of Israel. Fines up to $1,000,000 and prison time up to 20 years. Bills like this only create more antisemitism, and play into growing narratives that Israel is running the US government. In America you are allowed to hold differing views. You are allowed to disagree and protest. We’ve allowed far too many people who hate America move here from abroad, but the right to speak freely is the birthright of all Americans. This bill should not pass. Any Republican that votes for this bill will expose themselves. We will be watching very closely.” Matt Gaetz 5/3/25: X-post – “Antisemitism is bad and should be categorically rejected. Not every idea cooked up to respond to Antisemitism is a good one. There’s a real danger in passing bills like this. Somewhere Democrats are writing a bill to imprison the rest of us for 20 years if we boycott countries who sign the Paris Climate Accords…or join the UN…or bribe the WTO/WHO. And they may get power again. Which is why we shouldn’t use ours to punish dissent or ‘thought crimes’ with prison. Antisemitism is a real problem. It deserves a response far more serious and thoughtful than this dangerous and unconstitutional Lawler virtue signal.”
• Best Media Coverage: Should Sharing Information About Israeli Businesses Get You 20 Years in Prison? [“The IGO Anti-Boycott Act would dramatically expand U.S. anti-boycott laws. The House quietly postponed a vote after running into unexpected Republican opposition.”] (Reason 5/5/25)
• Other Media: House Pulls Bill Prohibiting Anti-Israel Boycotts After Conservative Backlash (Daily Caller 5/7/25); MAGA Republicans Kill Pro-Israel Bill (Jewish Press 5/7/25); Why MAGA Republicans helped kill a bill that sought to punish critics of Israel (MSNBC 5/6/25); House leadership yanks Israel anti-boycott bill from consideration due to ‘issues’ (Washington Examiner 5/5/25);  AIPAC’s Anti-BDS Bill Is Derailed, at Least for Now (Sludge 5/5/25); House cancels vote on IGO Anti-Boycott Act following right-wing objections (Jewish Insider 5/5/25); House leadership nixes vote on Israel boycott bill (Jewish News Syndicate 5/5/25); MAGA Leaders Defend Americans’ Right to Boycott Israel (Newsweek 5/4/25); Rare Right-Wing Revolt Sinks Bill Punishing Boycotts of Israel With Prison (MintPress News 5/5/25); Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie oppose bill to penalize some anti-Israel boycotts (KTUL 5/5/25)
• NOTE: On 2/12/24, the ACLU sent a letter to House members urging them to vote against this bill in the previous congress (HR 3016), noting, among other things, “it unconstitutionally targets political boycotts for criminal penalties. Although the ACLU does not take a position on particular boycotts of foreign countries, we stand firmly against any infringement of fundamental First Amendment rights, including the right to boycott. If the bill were to pass and take effect, we would consider challenging it in court.“
• For further background/analysis on this legislation see this collection of resources.

Targeting UNRWA & the UN

(TARGETING UNRWA & THE UN) S. 4295 [bill text]: Introduced 4/15/26 by Scott (R-FL) and 8 Republican cosponsors, the “Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026″  aka, “A bill to prohibit aid that would benefit Hamas, to place restrictions on funding for United Nations entities that are led by countries that support terrorism, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Also see: press release – Sen. Rick Scott Introduces Bills to Defund UNRWA, Support Israel – excerpt: “For decades, UNRWA has operated as a permanent refugee bureaucracy. But since the October 7 terrorist attacks, evidence has clearly shown that UNRWA employees actively supported Hamas, have promoted antisemitic and extremist content in schools, and have even participated in atrocities against Israeli civilians. This bill will make permanent what has rightly been U.S. policy since October 7: an end of all funding to UNRWA, as well as related entities related to it or any that may come after it. This bill will revoke the privileges and immunities that UNRWA officials currently hold under the International Organizations Immunities Act—so those who support terrorism can be held directly accountable in our courts rather than shielded by diplomatic status. More broadly, the bill ensures that U.S. taxpayers will never again be forced to sponsor U.N. bodies chaired by governments that the State Department itself identifies as repeatedly supporting terrorism. The American people should not have to hand over their hard-earned money to support organizations that funnel their resources to state sponsors of terror.”

War Powers Resolutions – House

(REMOVE US FORCES FROM HOSTILITIES WITH IRAN) H. Con. Res. 40: Introduced 6/23/25 by Meeks (D-NY), and currently having 90 cosponsors, “Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.” FAILED 4/16/26 by a party-line vote of 213-214, with 1 voting “present.” Three members broke with their parties: Massie (R-KY) voted “yes“; Davidson (R-OH) voted “present“; and Golden (D-ME) voted “no.” Also see:

• Floor consideration of the resolution is here.
• Media:  Democrats’ Iran war powers push fails in the Senate once more [“Even after their fourth failed attempt, Democrats say they intend to continue forcing such votes weekly”] (Jewish Insider 4/15/26); House narrowly blocks Iran war powers resolution, as most Democratic defectors fall in line [“All but one of the four Democrats who had opposed the previous war powers effort flipped their votes in support“] (Jewish Insider 4/16/26); Iran war powers resolution fails in House by single vote (Jewish News Syndicate 4/16/26); Scoop: Democrats eye new strategy after Iran war powers fail (Axios 4/16/26); US House rejects effort to pull forces from Iran war as Republicans stick with Trump [“Democratic rep. warns of conflict with ‘no exit ramps,’ while GOP member accuses rivals of hypocrisy for not giving Congressional approval to Biden’s bombardment of Houthis in 2024″] (Times of Israel 4/16/26)

(LEBANON WAR POWERS RESOLUTION) H. Con. Res. 84: Introduced 4/13/26 by Tlaib (D-MI), “Directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from Lebanon.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Iran War Powers Resolutions – Senate

(REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 123: Introduced 3/10/26 by Duckworth (D-IL) and 5 Democratic cosponsors, “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. FAILED 4/15/26, by a vote of 47 – 52 (the vote was on a motion to discharge the bill from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations – a procedural vote that in effect was a vote on the underlying resolution).  All Republicans other than Paul (R-KY) voted “no” and all Democrats and Independents other than Fetterman (D-PA) voted “yes.” Floor debate on the resolution is here.

Newly-introduced:

• (REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 161: Introduced 4/13/26 by Kelly (D-AZ), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Also see Kelly press release.
• (REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 163: Introduced 4/13/26 by Merkley (D-OR), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Also see Merkley press release.
• (REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 171: Introduced 4/13/26 by Kim (D-NJ), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.“
• (REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 172: Introduced 4/13/26 by Warnock (D-GA), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Also see Warnock X-post 4/14/26 – “I will be forcing a vote on my War Powers resolution to stop this illegal and unjust war in Iran. Something as serious as war deserves a debate and deserves a vote. The American people do not want this war, and I intend to hold this unhinged President accountable.”
• (REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 180:  Introduced 4/13/26 by Van Hollen (D-MD), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.”Also see Van Hollen press release.
• (REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 181:  Introduced 4/13/26 by Gillibrand (D-NY), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Also see Gillibrand press release.
• (REMOVE U.S. FROM UNAUTHORIZED WAR WITH IRAN) S. J. Res. 183: Introduced 4/13/26 by Booker (D-NJ), “A joint resolution to direct the removal of United States Armed Forces from hostilities within or against the Islamic Republic of Iran that have not been authorized by Congress.” Also see Booker press release.

Also see:

• Press releases/X-posts: Kaine (D-VA), Baldwin (D-WI)
• Media: Six more Democratic senators file new war powers resolutions to stop conflict in Iran (Jewish Insider 4/13/26)

Other Stuff

(NO FUNDS FOR SHAM “BOARD OF PEACE”) S. 4278 [bill text]: Introduced 4/13/26 by Kelly (D-AZ), “A bill to prohibit funding for the Board of Peace that is not authorized by Congress, and for other purposes,” aka the “Prohibiting Expenditures for an Accountability-Circumventing Entity (PEACE) Act.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: press release – Kelly Introduces Bill to Block Unauthorized Funding for Trump’s “Board of Peace” 

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Media/posts/analysis related to other legislation:

• Roy (R-TX) 4/13/26: X-post – “‘The ‘Designating Hamas Affiliates in America Act’ cuts off CAIR’s money and power. It sends a clear message that groups supporting terrorism have no place in the United States.’ Rep. Roy’s bill takes the fight to those who aid terrorist groups.“
• Jerusalem Post 4/12/26: Texas Congressman presents bill to designate CAIR a terror org., revoke NGO status, over Hamas ties

2. Letters

• (TRUMP ADMIN SHADY CRYPTO PLAN FOR GAZA) 4/17/26: Merkley, Warren, Van Hollen, Sanders Probe Trump-Backed Board of Peace’s Plan to Rebuild Gaza with Shady Cryptocurrency [letter text]
• (TURKISH BANK CRIMINAL CHARGES DROPPED) 4/16/26: Sens. Schiff, Leader Schumer, Blumenthal Probe DOJ’s Decision to Drop Criminal Charges Against Turkish Bank, Raises Concerns of Trump’s Political Interference [letter text]. Questions include: “Was dismissing the Halkbank prosecution a condition of Turkey’s assistance in Gaza, and if so, what was the potential financial value to the Turkish government?”
• (INSIDER OIL TRADING BEFORE CEASEFIRE) 4/14/26: Rep. Ritchie Torres Calls on SEC and CFTC to Investigate $950 Million Oil Futures Trade Ahead of U.S.-Iran Ceasefire [letter text embedded in press release]
• (IRS TARGETING OF PROGRESSIVE GROUPS) 4/14/26: Democrats Launch Inquiry into Weaponization of IRS [letter text]. Excerpt: “...The President’s use of the IRS to target any particular taxpayer is both unlawful and unacceptable. Therefore, we are deeply troubled that not only has the IRS compiled a list of Democratic donors and “left-leaning” nonprofit organizations, but that the Administration is moving to label these groups as domestic terrorists…“
• (YEMEN TPS STATUS) 4/14/26: Tlaib Leads [23] Lawmakers Demanding Trump Administration Redesignate and Extend TPS for Yemen [letter text]
• (TARGETING ACTBLUE RE ALLEGED DONATIONS FROM FOREIGN NATIONALS) 4/14/26: Chairmen Steil, Jordan, and Comer Demand ActBlue Immediately Comply with Past Subpoenas [letter text]
• (BETTING ON US MILITARY ACTION) 4/13/26: Vindman Demands Polymarket Turn Over Records on Bets Tied to U.S. Military Actions [letter text embedded in press release]

3. Hearings & Markups

April 21, 2026: The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe will hold a hearing, Iran’s Support for Russia and Lessons Learned from Ukraine. Scheduled witnesses are: Ilan Berman, senior vice president, American Foreign Policy Council; Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director, Iran Program, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies; and Aaron Zelin, Gloria and Ken Levy Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

April 16, 2026: The Senate Committee on the Budget held a hearing, “The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Proposal [hearing video].” The sole witness was Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget (statement). Also see: President’s Budget Request – U.S.-Israel Aspects of Note (A New Policy 4/3/26).

April 16, 2026: The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing, ISO Subcommittee Hearing: Defense Intelligence Enterprise – Challenges, Priorities, and Resourcing for Fiscal Year 2027 [hearing video]. Witnesses included Defense Intelligence Agency Director, Lt. Gen. James H. Adams III, USMC, whose statement included a section on the Middle East (pp. 23-25).

April 15, 2026: The House Budget Committee held a hearing, “The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request [hearing video]” The sole witness will be Russell Vought, Director of the Office of Management and Budget. Also see: President’s Budget Request – U.S.-Israel Aspects of Note (A New Policy 4/3/26). Also see Budget Committee press release – Top Moments from House Budget Committee’s Hearing on the President’s FY 2027 Budget Request

April 15, 2026: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing entitled, Reforming the UN: Assessing U.S. Efforts and Priorities [hearing video]. Witnesses were: US Representative to the UN Mike Waltz (statement); and Jeff Bartos, US Representative to the UN for UN Management and Reform. Predictably, issues related to Israel, alleged antisemitism, UNRWA, etc. featured in the hearing, most notably in remarks made by Scott (R-FL), who used the hearing as a springboard to announce the introduction of new legislation targeting UNRWA and the UN; and the introduction of the 2026 edition of the IGO Anti-Boycott bill, which is the current title of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act – both discussed in Section 1, above. See Scott’s press release for details and for a transcript of his statement during the hearing.

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – GENERAL

Extra fun: Kalshi is running a betting pool on the performance of AIPAC-backed candidates for Congress, with people betting on how many of these candidates will lose their primaries.

• Jewish Currents 4/17/26: In Democratic Primaries, Leading Candidates Oppose Selling Iron Dome Interceptors to Israel [“Weeks after Ocasio-Cortez’s dramatic turnabout, the politics of the US-Israel military relationship are transforming.”]
• TRT World 4/17/26: How the powerful pro-Israel lobby keeps controlling Democrats in the US [“By voice vote, the Democratic Party rejected a resolution condemning AIPAC-linked ‘dark money,’ a term used to denote election-related spending in which the exact donor source is not clearly disclosed.“]
• Common Dreams 4/17/26: AIPAC Is Wasting Its Money on Democrats (And That’s a Good Thing) [“Let’s do the math on congressional votes this week and AIPAC’s return on investment with Democratic lawmakers.”]
• Washington Times 4/16/26: Not your father’s Democratic Party: Israel loses its grip on the left
• Zeteo 4/16/26: AIPAC Is ‘Toxic’: Top Senator Calls on Dems To Stop Taking Money From the Pro-Israel Lobby [“Peter Welch was also one of 40 senators who voted in favor of blocking the US sale of arms to Israel in what he calls a ‘historic moment.’“]
• Times of Israel 4/16/26: Why US funding for Israel’s Iron Dome is losing support on both sides of the aisle [“Budgeting for the purely defensive anti-missile system was once a given, but since Oct. 7, left-wing progressives, financial conservatives, and liberal Zionists all have reasons to see it go“]
• Israel Policy Forum 4/16/26: The New American Reality of the Politics of Israel [“...Israel is now viewed by many Americans across the political spectrum as a drag on the U.S., whether due to a perception that it creates too many foreign policy and military entanglements or due to a perception that its actions erode American values and moral authority. This is the driver of why the traditional politics of Israel have broken down, and absent very different Israeli governments and wholesale shifts in Israeli policies, those politics will not be reassembled in the manner to which the pro-Israel community and American Jews have been acclimated for decades. We need to absorb that the shift is structural and adjust in order to safeguard our core principles. That means reassessing what is achievable, and what policies those core principles can and cannot reasonably accommodate in an environment where to be pro-Israel is to be a political minority.”]
• Mondoweiss 4/15/26: The Israel lobby is fracturing as young Jews abandon Zionism
• Jewish Journal 4/15/26: The Young Are Turning on Israel [“Both the Gallup and Pew polls showed that opposition to Israel is much stronger among young people in both parties.“]
• DropSite 4/15/26: Voters Think Candidates Who Won’t Stand Up To AIPAC Won’t Fight On Other Issues, Either: New Poll [“A new poll from Drop Site and Zeteo finds Democratic Senate voters in Michigan care more about limiting AIPAC’s influence than Hasan Piker’s.”]
• Jewish Insider 4/15/26: Inside the DNC working group at the center of Democrats’ Israel fight [“The question facing the Middle East working group’s members is whether they will actually be able to agree on anything — or if the group is simply a way to push the issue off until 2028“]
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 4/14/26: Most American Jews oppose AIPAC spending in Democratic primaries, survey finds [“Most have ‘not heard much’ about the role pro-Israel groups have played in this year’s primaries, another survey found.”]
• Haaretz 4/15/26: Most U.S. Jews Oppose AIPAC Spending in Democratic Primaries, Poll Shows
• Washington Times 4/14/26: Jewish Democrats, led by younger voters, express rising opposition to AIPAC’s role in primaries
• Jewish Insider 4/14/26: New survey of Jewish voters finds partisan divide over pro-Israel political engagement [“The poll found AIPAC viewed more favorably by Jewish Republicans and independents, while Democrats gravitated more to DMFI“]
• Organized Money (David Dayen & Matt Stoller) 4/14/26: How AIPAC Tries to Dominate the Business of Politics
• Jewish Insider 4/14/26: As filing deadline hits, campaign cash shows the power of online extremes
• The Nation 4/14/26: A Major Taboo Was Broken at the DNC Last Weekend [“An AIPAC-specific resolution didn’t make it through the party’s meeting. But I’ve never seen such an open debate about the role of pro-Israel money before.“]
• Union for Reform Judaism 4/13/26: URJ Statement on AIPAC, Campaign Rhetoric, and Antisemitism [“…to single out and disproportionately demonize AIPAC as a distinctively harmful dark-money entity crosses the line into antisemitic tropes about sinister Jewish political influence.“]
• The Forward 4/13/26: US funding for Israel’s Iron Dome air defense system used to enjoy bipartisan support. Not anymore.
• Wall Street Journal 4/13/26: Bernie Sanders Is Back as a Left-Wing Kingmaker [“The senator is helping progressives win primaries, but some Democrats worry that won’t translate to victories in general elections”]
• Jewish Insider 4/13/26: The left’s shifting Overton Window on Israel [“A growing number of progressive candidates are now racing to disavow all military support for Israel, including for defensive systems such as the Iron Dome“]
• Times of Israel (Blogs) 4/12/26: When ‘Dark Money’ Becomes a Political Weapon [“AIPAC is being singled out because of what it represents, not because of how it spends its resources. In today’s progressive climate, AIPAC represents a worldview that rejects the ideological framing on the progressive left. And so ‘dark money’ becomes the perfect political weapon. Not to fix a broken system, but to discredit a political adversary.”]
• NBC News 4/12/26: AIPAC may be a new litmus test for Democratic candidates. Leaders say voters’ heads are elsewhere. [“Last week’s Democratic National Committee meeting illustrated a party trying to stay focused on economic issues while grappling with strong, changing opinions on Israel.“]
• Politico 4/10/26: Inside the DNC’s Middle East (not) working group [“The Democratic National Committee set up a task force to tackle the Middle East. Seven months later, the working group still has work to do.“]
• Jewish Insider 4/10/26: Elissa Slotkin warns against equating Jewish donors with ‘Israel lobby’ [Slotkin was responding to a question about pro-Israel money, not about Jewish donors – so in fact it was Slotkin, not critics of AIPAC, either engaging in this equating or raising a straw man argument about people doing the alleged equating…]
• Jewish Insider 4/10/26: Former Rep. Eliot Engel, Foreign Affairs Committee chair and stalwart supporter of Israel, dies at 79 [“Engel, who was Jewish, rose to become the chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee when Democrats retook the House in 2018, after serving as the ranking member from 2013 to 2018. He was a strong and vocal advocate for the U.S.-Israel relationship and the Jewish community, also acting as a co-chair of the House antisemitism task force…In an exit interview with Jewish Insider in 2020, Engel said that he had committed himself throughout his career to being ‘the best friend that Israel ever had in Congress, and I think that I have kept up that bargain’…”]
• Mondoweiss 4/9/26: Military aid to Israel emerges as the latest political litmus test for Democrats

Israel/AIPAC (and Iran) in US elex & politics – STILL Making Hasan Piker the Big Story [also see related stories below, in the section on Michigan & Pennsylvania]

• The Atlantic 4/16/26: Israel Moderates Are Losing the Democratic Party – Their position has become untenable. But liberal Zionists can adapt
• Jewish News Syndicate 4/16/26: Hasan Piker is the Democrats’ Tucker Carlson, only worse [“The rise of the popular podcaster illustrates the left’s normalization of antisemitism. Rather than shunning him, liberal opinion leaders are tolerating his extremism.“]
• Semaphor 4/15/26: The fizzling of Piker-gate shows cancel culture may be over for campaigns
• Jewish Insider 4/15/26: Rep. Ilhan Omar praises Marjorie Taylor Greene, Candace Owens for breaking with Trump [“Omar is finding common cause with Greene over their anti-Israel views, even though the Republican wanted her deported from the country”]
• Free Press 4/15/26: Actually, Hasan Piker Is the Democrats’ Enemy
• Identity Crisis (Yehuda Kurtzer) 4/14/26: Ezra Klein and the Perils of Misplaced Pluralism
• Times of Israel (Blogs) 4/13/26: What Ezra Klein Gets Wrong about Anti-Zionism
• New York Post 4/13/26: New York Times faces backlash for changing headline of op-ed on far-left streamer Hasan Piker
• The Week 4/13/26: Hasan Piker: Too toxic for Democrats?
• Jewish Insider 4/13/26: Hasan Piker doubles down on Hamas support
• New York Post 4/13/26: Increasingly lost Dems are cozying up to Hasan Piker in quest for youth vote — but setting themselves up to fail again
• New York Post 4/12/26: Sen. Elissa Slotkin calls out far-left streamer Hasan Piker, asks what ‘normal’ person would go on such an antagonistic show
• New York Times 4/12/26: This Is Why There’s No Liberal Joe Rogan [original headline: “Hasan Piker Is Not the Enemy.”]
• The Message Box [Dan Pfeiffer, Pod Save America] 4/11/26: The Counterproductive Campaign Against Hasan Piker

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Michigan

• Zeteo 4/15/26: EXCLUSIVE POLL: Michigan’s Dem Senate Race Is Wide Open, AIPAC Is Toxic, Hasan Piker Is Not
• Fox News 4/14/26: Far-left Senate hopeful’s radical ties to ‘Maduro cronies’ could torpedo campaign: ‘Tired of the chaos’
• The Bulwark 4/12/26: What I Saw When Hasan Piker and Abdul El-Sayed Came to Town
• Jewish Insider 4/10/26: Anti-Israel groups organize behind Gaza doctor in N.J. House primary [“Adam Hamawy has been endorsed by CAIR, Justice Democrats and a new group affiliated with the Institute of Middle East Understanding“]
• The Forward 4/10/26: Temple Israel rabbi criticizes Michigan Senate candidate for ‘offensive’ remarks about attack

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New Jersey

• The New Republic 4/17/26: Progressive Democrat Wins Special Election in Huge Rejection of AIPAC
• Politico 4/17/26: AIPAC’s 3D chess pays off [“I’m just kidding with that email subject line. The AP called the race for Analilia Mejia seven minutes after polls closed. It was never close…”]
• Haaretz 4/15/26: In Further Blow to AIPAC, Democrat Who Accused Israel of Genocide Wins NJ Special Election [“Analilia Mejía – the former national political director for Bernie Sanders – defeated Joe Hathaway to narrow the Republicans’ House majority”]
• The Forward 4/11/26: After AIPAC-backed primary loss, Tom Malinowski endorses rival who says Israel committed genocide [“Analilia Mejia, running in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, was also endorsed by the liberal pro-Israel group J Street“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – New York

• Washington Post 4/13/26: Voters grill Republican lawmaker in crucial swing district on Iran war [“The conflict has animated voters in the suburban district of Republican Rep. Mike Lawler ahead of the midterm elections.”]
• Brown Daily Herald 4/13/26: Congressional candidate Brad Lander argues for ‘good neighborism’ at Brown Democrats talk [“…When asked about AIPAC, Lander told The Herald that ‘AIPAC is not unique here. There’s crypto PACs and AI PACs and Wall Street PACs, and all kinds of dark money.’ He added that AIPAC is a large ‘political backer of unconditional U.S. support for Israel while (Benjamin) Netanyahu is lighting the Middle East on fire.’ AIPAC did not respond to a request for comment. At Thursday’s event, he said Israel had committed genocide in Gaza — ‘even though I still have hope for some vision of a Jewish and democratic Israel,’ he said — later telling The Herald that Israel’s actions ‘are catastrophically bad for Palestinians and Israelis and Americans and human beings on planet Earth.’“]
• The Forward 4/10/26: Brad Lander joins call to end U.S. aid to Israel, in quest to replace Rep. Dan Goldman [“Following AOC’s lead, the Jewish New York Democrat says he now seeks to end Iron Dome defense funding, citing Israel’s war conduct”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• The Forward 4/11/26: Dan Bilzerian wants to ‘kill Israelis’ and thinks Judaism is ‘terrible.’ Now he’s running for Congress.
• The Hill 4/8/26: Influencer Dan Bilzerian files paperwork to challenge Fine in Florida

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Tennessee

• TN Holler 4/10/26: Do Tennessee Democratic Congressional Candidates Support Ending Aid to Israel?

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Minnesota

• Drop Site News 4/17/26: Rep. Angie Craig’s Campaign Is Quietly Distancing the Minnesota Senate Hopeful From AIPAC
• Jewish Insider 4/14/26: Angie Craig calls on Minnesota Democrats to investigate antisemitism ahead of state party convention [“Delegates are expected to take up divisive anti-Israel resolutions at the convention being held next month“]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maine

• Jewish Insider 4/15/26: ‘I dig it’: Graham Platner praised Hamas tactics in 2014 graphic video of killings of Israeli soldiers [“Platner, in Reddit post on Hamas terrorist attack: ‘From a strictly professional standpoint, this was a damn fine looking and successful raid against a superior opponent’”]

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Maryland

• Maryland Matters 4/17/26: Millions already raised, spent on handful of Maryland congressional primaries

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Connecticut

• News From The States 4/16/26: Larson, Bronin in a tight battle for campaign donations

Israel/AIPAC in US elex & politics – Florida

• The Floridian 4/16/26: Congressional Holy War Brewing in Florida’s 6th District [“The anti-Israel, anti-Jewish sentiment continues to flourish in Florida“]

Iran

• Jewish Insider 4/15/26: Several top Senate Republicans, including John Thune, express hope Iran war winds down
• Jewish Insider 4/14/26: Senate Republicans maintain Iran should have no enrichment capacity, amid reports of 20-year pause proposal

Other Stuff

• Jewish Insider 4/17/26: Elise Stefanik showcases her fight against campus antisemitism in new book ‘Poisoned Ivies’