FMEP Legislative Round-Up August 2, 2024

Resource

August 2, 2024

1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings
4. Israel/Palestine in 2024 Elex/Politics
5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

1. Bills & Resolutions

GETTING READY FOR WAR WITH IRAN

(AUTHORIZATION OF US WAR ON IRAN) S. J. Res. 107: Introduced 8/1/24 by Graham (R-SC), “A joint resolution to authorize the use of military force against the Islamic Republic of Iran if the President determines that the Islamic Republic of Iran is planning or conducts an attack against any former, current, or incoming United States Government official or senior military personnel.”Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
(AUTHORIZATION OF US WAR ON IRAN) S. J. Res. 106: Introduced 7/31/24 by Graham (R-SC), “A joint resolution to authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against the Islamic Republic of Iran for threatening the national security of the United States through the development of nuclear weapons.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Graham introduces war powers bill to strike Iran’s nuclear program [“The South Carolina senator unveiled the resolution just ahead of the Senate’s August recess, with plans to attempt to force Senate floor consideration when lawmakers return in September”] (Jewish Insider 8/1/24)
(“DETERRING” IRAN/HEZBOLLAH) S. Res. 784: Introduced 7/31/24 by Graham (R-SC), “A resolution deterring Hezbollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran for their repeated and continued acts of terrorism against the State of Israel and the United States and urging the United States to use all diplomatic tools available to hold them accountable for such actions.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: US Senator Graham calls for military force against Iran over Hezbollah threats (Jerusalem Post 7/31/24); US senator introduces bill to hold Iran accountable for proxy attacks (The Nation 7/31/24)
(REPORT ON IRAN INTERFERENCE IN US POLITICS, INCL FUNDING OF PROTESTS) S. 4883 (pdf): Introduced 7/31/24 by Cotton (R-AR), “A bill to require the Director of National Intelligence to issue a report on interference by Islamic Republic of Iran in United States domestic politics, and for other purposes,” aka the “Unmasking Networks of Virtual Election Interference and Lies (UNVEIL) Act.” Referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. Also see: press release – Cotton Introduces Bill to Unmask Iranian Election Interference; GOP Senators Push Biden-Harris Admin To Expose Iranian Election Interference Plot (Free Beacon 7/31/24)
(GIVE ISRAEL MASSIVE BOMBS TO ATTACK IRAN) HR 9206 (pdf): Introduced 7/30/24 by Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Mast (R-FL), “To authorize the President to take actions to ensure Israel is prepared for all contingencies if Iran seeks to develop a nuclear weapon, and for other purposes,” aka, “The Bunker Buster Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Also see: press release – Gottheimer, Mast Announce Bipartisan Bunker Buster Act to Combat Iranian Threats, Protect Key Ally Israel – Critical to America’s global fight against terrorism; House reps introduce ‘Bunker Buster Act’ to thwart Iranian nuclear development (Jewish News Syndicate 8/1/24)
(SANCTIONING ANYONE TRYING TO GET AROUND US BANKING SANCTIONS) S. 4858 (pdf): Introduced 7/30/24 by Rubio (R-FL), “A bill to require the imposition of sanctions with respect to financial institutions of countries of concern that clear, verify, or settle transactions with other financial institutions of such countries,” aka the “Sanctions Evasion Prevention and Mitigation Act.” Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Also see: press release – Rubio Introduces Bill to Counter Adversarial Financial Systems [“China, Russia, and Iran use alternate financial systems to evade U.S. sanctions. Our nation must bolster its economic defense against this circumvention…”]

Other stuff

(FY25 SENATE NDAA – AMENDMENTS) S. 4638: Amendments continued to pour in this week on S. 4638, the Senate’s version of the FY25 NDAA – see last week’s Round-Up for details up to last week. This week’s crop of Middle East-related amendments:

(SOFTENING THE LEAHY LAW/CARVE OUT FOR ISRAEL & FRIENDS) S. Amdt. 3181: Offered by Cornyn (R-TX), Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Cardin (D-MD), this amendment is an expanded version of S. Amdt. 2988, introduced last week by Cornyn and Cortez Mastro. That amendment seeks to soften the Leahy Law to allow continued US military aid/cooperation (or allow it to be re-started) in the case where the govt in question “is taking effective steps to bring the responsible members of the security forces unit to justice” — as opposed to the current law, which requires that the govt “has taken all necessary corrective steps.” S. Amdt. 3181 expands on that amendment by requiring a “Feasibility Report on Vetting of Foreign Military Units for Joint Exercises and Support of Foreign Military Units for Joint Exercises and Support.” This report would set the stage for requiring Leahy Law vetting of foreign military units involved in any joint exercises in which the U. S. participates (as things stand today under the Leahy Law, such vetting is required only when such exercises are funded by the U.S.). So in that sense, the amendment would expand Leahy Law vetting (arguably a very good thing). At the same time, the amendment quietly but quite explicitly seeks to establish a Leahy Law blanket exception/carve out for NATO members, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, and New Zealand, with respect to joint exercises, including exercises that the U.S. funds – further weakening the Leahy Law with respect to such countries.
(ARAB LEAGUE BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL) S. Amdt. 3208: Offered by Scott (R-SC), requiring a report to Congress on boycotts described in section 1773(a) of the Anti-Boycott Act of 2018 (50 U.S.C. 4842(a)) targeted at the State of Israel. NOTE: this is the longstanding U.S. law barring U.S. persons complying with coercive boycotts of Israel imposed by any foreign country (it does NOT bar US persons from boycotting Israel – or settlements – based on their own values/political beliefs – efforts to legislate against such boycotts have failed, so far).

(FY25 DEFENSE APPROPS – SENATE) S. 4921 (pdf): On 8/1/24 the Senate Appropriations Committee reported out S. 4921, “A bill making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes.” This bill includes: $500 million for “Israeli Cooperative Programs”, earmarked as follows: $110 million for Iron Dome, $127 million for the Short Range Ballistic Missile Defense (SRBMD) R&D and $40 million for SRBD co-production; $50 million for co-production activities of Arrow 3 Upper Tier; and $173 million for the Arrow System Improvement Program. Per the Republicans’ press release, the bill also includes for Israel, “$150 million for cooperative initiatives related to anti-tunneling ($47.5 million), emerging technology ($47.5 million), and countering drones ($55 million)” [note that these funds are not discussed in the bill text or the narrative of the Report, but are buried in the tables at the end of the bill, without any mention of Israel]. Also see: report accompanying the bill; committee press release; hearing video; amendments adopted in committee; Senate committee votes to boost U.S.-Israel counter-drone funding, holds counter-tunnel funding flat (Jewish Insider 8/2/24). REMINDER – funding for Israeli the Defense Approps & the NDAA are in addition to the more than $3 billion in aid included in the annual State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill.

(TARGETING UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FOR HUMAN RIGHTS) S. 4894: Introduced 7/31/24 by Rubio (R-FL), “A bill to urge the United Nations to abolish the position of Special Rapporteur on unilateral coercive measures and to withhold United States funding for such position.“ Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(NO TO MILITARY SALE TO KSA) S. J. Res. 105: Introduced 7/30/24 by Paul (R-KY), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of certain defense articles and services.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

2. Letters

WE SUPPORT ISRAEL

(STOP DELAYING WEAPONS TO ISRAEL!!!!) 8/2/24: Cotton, 47 Senate GOP Colleagues to Biden-Harris Administration: Delaying Weapons to Israel Undermines Our Ally, Accommodates Iran [letter text] – letter accuses Biden/Harris of imposing a “partial arms embargo against Israel” [not accurate] and thereby “endangering our greatest ally in the Middle East and jeopardizing the lives of our American servicemembers stationed in the region.”
(US MUST NOT STAND BY AND LET OTHER COUNTRIES BE EVEN A LITTLE HUMANE TO PALESTINIANS) 7/26/24: Cruz, Rubio, Colleagues Warn of Terrorist-Linked Gazans Crossing U.S.-Canada Border [letter text]

TARGET: FREE SPEECH/PROTEST/CRITICISM OF ISRAEL (and maybe also actual antisemitism but meh)

(TARGETING X/MUSK FOR ANTISEMITISM) 8/2/24: Congressman Dan Goldman Calls on Speaker Mike Johnson to Direct Oversight Committee to Hold Hearing on X’s Antisemitic Content and Possible Sanctions Violations [letter text] NOTE: while the letter does touch on ACTUAL antisemitism (hatred/threats against Jews because they are Jewish), the hook for the letter is the ADL’s allegation of a surge of antisemitism since 10/7/23 (which per the ADL’s approach is in large part if not mostly related to criticism of Israel and Zionism). Indeed, in pressing Johnson to push the Oversight Committee to convene an investigation of X, the letter explicitly links the demand to support for Israel: “Speaker Mike Johnson has reiterated his support for the Israeli people and condemned antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses. However, he has repeatedly refused to bring substantive bills to the floor that would address antisemitic hate.” Also see: Jewish Democrats call for hearing on terrorism sanctions violations, antisemitism on X (Jewish Insider 8/2/24)
(TARGETING ACADEMIA) 8/1/24: Chair Foxx Demands Answers from Columbia University –Committee’s Investigation into Antisemitism Continues Despite University Stonewalling [letter text]; excerpt: “Columbia has failed to comply with the Committee’s requests in a timely manner. The Committee is providing Columbia an additional week to fulfill them. If these requests are not satisfied by the above deadline, the Committee is prepared to issue subpoenas…” Also see: Foxx threatens to subpoena Columbia University in antisemitism investigation (Jewish Insider 8/1/24)
(TARGETING ACADEMIA) 8/1/24: E&C Republicans Open Investigation into Allegations of Antisemitism at UC San Francisco [letter text] – investigating claims of antisemitism related to protest of Israel’s war on Gaza. Also see: Lawmakers investigating antisemitism at UC-San Francisco medical centers (Jewish News Syndicate 8/1/24)

TARGET: BIDEN ADMIN (using Iran as hook for witch hunt)

(WITCH HUNT USING IRANIAN-AMERICAN IN BIDEN ADMIN TO TARGET HARRIS ADVISOR) 7/31/24: Cotton, Stefanik Demand Answers Regarding Harris’ National Security Advisor’s Communications with Iranian Influence Operation [letter text] Also see: Kamala’s NatSec Adviser Probed Over Ties to Iranian Influence Network (Washington Free Beacon 7/31/24)
(TARGETING ROB MALLEY) 7/30/24: McCaul, Risch Threaten Subpoena to Compel Response from State on Malley’s Security Clearance Suspension [letter text]

OTHER

(KSA – FREE HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATES) 7/30/24: Raskin, Wyden, Beyer and Schiff Demand Release of All Wrongfully Detained Human Rights Advocates in Saudi Arabia [letter text]

3. Hearings & Markups

July 30, 2024: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing entitled, Strategic Competition with the PRC: Assessing U.S. Competitiveness Beyond the Indo-Pacific. The sole witness was Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell (statement). Also see: Murphy (D-CT) press release – Murphy Questions Deputy Secretary Of State On Efforts To Combat Chinese Misinformation And Further U.S. Interests In The Middle East; Barrasso (R-WY) press release – Barrasso: China is “Puppet Master” Using Russia, Iran against U.S.

4. Israel/Palestine in 2024 Politics/Elex

General

Axios 8/1/24: Jewish lawmakers groan at “Genocide Josh” campaign
Washington Post 7/31/24: Trump falsely calls Schumer a ‘proud member of Hamas’ —At a rally, Trump referred to actions by Schumer — the highest-ranking Jewish official in the U.S. — when Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress last week.
Jewish Insider 7/31/24: Ernst accuses Harris of emboldening pro-Hamas demonstrators, Iran by skipping Netanyahu speech
Jewish Insider 7/31/24: New ad campaign accuses Schumer of obstructing antisemitism bill – The ads, airing in Senate battlegrounds, accuse Schumer of ‘playing politics’ over fighting hatred [excerpt: “In addition to Schumer’s home state of New York, the source noted that the ads are strategically placed to run in several battleground states that will likely decide control of the Senate, including Arizona, Maryland, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin.“] Also see my X-thread: Efforts to legislate the IHRA definition of antisemitism – in order to legally enforce quashing/criminalizing of free speech supporting Palestinian rights/lives – is stalled in the Senate, thanks to bipartisan opposition. So naturally IHRA backers are coming for Chuck Schumer | NOTE: when folks who keep saying that the Antisemitism Awareness Act is the “gold standard”, “widely adopted,” “consensus” definition and that it has broad, bipartisan support and reflects a wide expert and public consensus, have them take a look at the receipts: First set of receipts: A compendium of expert views and other resources laying out concerns/objections to the IHRA definition. Second set of receipts: Statements & Analyses Opposing Federal IHRA legislation (2024) [all of which were responses to House passage of the Antisemitism Awareness Act

Missouri

NOTE: In the primary battle between Wesley Bell and Rep. Cori Bush, per its 1/1/24 FEC filings the United Democracy Project (AIPAC’s super PAC) has so far spent $8,502,459.06 in its effort to unseat Bush. This is in addition to funding from the AIPAC PAC, which as of 6/30/24 totaled $2,358,580.72 (details of July expenditures have not yet been processed by the FEC)
Salon.com 8/2/24: Rep. Cori Bush faces media smears, torrent of AIPAC cash, for speaking truth about Gaza
Democracy Now 8/2/24: AIPAC Spending Millions to Unseat Progressive MO Congressmember Cori Bush
Jewish Insider 8/2/24: Signs point to a second Squad defeat in next Tuesday’s Missouri primary
Mondoweiss 8/1/24: Activists hope grassroots outreach can overcome pro-Israel money as Cori Bush primary race enters final days
Associated Press 8/1/24: A pro-Israel super PAC helped defeat one Squad member. Now it’s going after another, Cori Bush
Teen Vogue 8/1/24: Cori Bush Primary Race Is Flooded With AIPAC Money Over Her Support for Ceasefire
The Forward 8/1/24: ‘Antisemitism is on the ballot’ in St. Louis. What does that mean? –Campaign focused on Rep. Cori Bush’s St. Louis district echoes one that helped oust Jamaal Bowman in New York [“Echoing the campaign that ousted Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York’s Democratic primary last month, a new group is trying to turn out Jewish voters in a St. Louis district represented by one of the harshest critics of Israel in Congress by saying ‘antisemitism is on the ballot’ when they go to the polls next week. The group, St. Louis Votes, won’t say exactly what that means, and its tax-exempt status prohibits it from explicitly campaigning for or against a specific candidate. But while its name suggests a citywide push, the campaign is only targeting voters in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, where Rep. Cori Bush, an outspoken progressive, is being challenged by Wesley Bell, the county prosecutor, in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. The nonprofit, which was created a few weeks ago, is staffed by veterans of a similar effort to boost Jewish turnout in Westchester County as part of a broader campaign to oust Bowman that was financed largely by AIPAC, which is also Bell’s main backer.”]
Politico 8/1/24: Knocking down the Squad: Dem prosecutor could oust second prominent House liberal [“…Although Democratic divides over Israel have barely factored into the race, the influx of outside spending prompted by the Israel policy fight have transformed it. Pro-Bell billboards dotted the city’s skyline, and ads funded by AIPAC’s political arm — the group’s super PAC has spent nearly $7 million — slamming Bush’s record and boosting Bell are inescapable on television.”]
Mother Jones 8/1/24: The Big Money Push to Oust Cori Bush [“She introduced the first bill calling for a ceasefire. Now, she is facing her toughest political battle yet.”]
Common Dreams 8/1/24: A Simple Question Those Who Smear Cori Bush Refuse to Answer [“AIPAC excels at strategic lobbying on Capitol Hill, relentlessly prodding or threatening lawmakers and their staffs to stay on the right side of a Zionist hardline, always brandishing the proven capacity to launch fierce attacks—while conflating even understated criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The basic formulas are simple: Israel = Judaism. Opposition to Israel’s lethal violence = antisemitism.Such formulaic manipulation has long been fundamental to claims that the Israeli government represents ‘the Jewish people’ and criticisms of its actions are ‘antisemitic.’That’s what the heroic Congresswoman Cori Bush is up against.“]
The Hill 7/31/24: AIPAC super PAC accused of altering Bush’s appearance in ads
The Intercept 7/31/24: AIPAC Used Distorted Photo of Cori Bush in $7 Million Negative Ad Blitz [“I shouldn’t have to ask my opponent to condemn his biggest funders for putting out an ad like this.”]
Washington Examiner 7/31/24: AIPAC allies deny group distorted image of Cori Bush for ad campaign
Jewish Insider 7/31/24: Cori Bush embellished, misrepresented anecdote during ‘Jews for Cori’ fundraiser, local activist says [“Bush claimed that Debbie Kitchen was individually responsible for AIPAC’s spending against her. Kitchen says she has nothing to do with the pro-Israel group”]
Jezebel 7/30/24: Cori Bush’s Democratic Primary Could Cost the Party Its Reproductive Justice Champion [“‘My district isn’t for sale, and it’s not going to be just a stepping stone in a politician’s career,’ Bush told Jezebel about the stakes for abortion rights in her race and the outsized role of lobbyist groups like AIPAC.“]
Common Dreams 7/30/24: Nearly Two-Thirds of All Campaign Funds for Cori Bush Challenger Came From AIPAC [“‘Wesley Bell is now the No. 1 recipient of AIPAC cash this cycle—receiving $3 million and counting,’ Justice Democrats noted.“]
Sludge 7/30/24: AIPAC Is Trying to Buy Another House Seat
Jacobin 7/30/24: Cori Bush’s Opponent Is Swimming in Right-Wing AIPAC Cash
Drop Site 7/30/24: Leaked Audio: “I’m NOT Running Against You,” Cori Bush’s Primary Challenger Told Her Months Before Running Against Her [“Progressive prosecutor Wesley Bell pledged to stay out of the race—before millions of dollars enticed him in“]
American Prospect 7/30/24: Different Circumstances in the Next Squad Primary Fight [“Cori Bush faces off against Wesley Bell—and millions in super PAC money. But the story isn’t that simple.”]
Roll Call 7/29/24: Rep. Cori Bush faces well-funded prosecutor in Missouri primary [“‘Squad’ member’s support for Palestinians draws heavy pro-Israel spending”]
Jewish Insider 7/29/24: Wesley Bell builds momentum in final days of Missouri primary – Challenger to Rep. Cori Bush opens up six-point lead in new poll
Newsweek 7/29/24: Cori Bush Could Lose Primary as Israel Divides Democrats
Jacobin 7/27/24: The Right Is Hoping to Defeat Cori Bush Next
Kansas City Defender 7/26/24: The Diverging Paths of Cori Bush and Wesley Bell: Following the Money Trail to Missouri’s 1st Congressional District Race [“The impending primary election in Missouri’s 1st Congressional District offers the voters of St. Louis a choice between a vocal advocate for the people and a prosecutor beholden to paid interests.“]

Arizona

Jewish Insider 7/30/24: Phoenix House race features two Democrats with differing views on Israel [“The race pits Yassamin Ansari, the former vice mayor of Phoenix, against Raquel Terán, a former state legislator and party chair“]
Jewish Insider 7/29/24: ‘The dirtiest, nastiest congressional race in all the country’ comes to a head [“Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh face off in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District on Tuesday”]

Minnesota

Star Tribune 7/30/24: Minnesota’s primary elections are two weeks away. Here are four key races to watch. [“
Star Tribune 7/27/24: Pro-Israel groups stay out of Ilhan Omar, Don Samuels rematch so far [“Omar meets all the qualifications for being a top priority for defeat by pro-Israel groups, but the fact they have stayed out of her primary suggests she’s seen as tough to beat in the August primary.“]

Florida

VIN NEWS (press release outlet) 7/9/24: Former Trump Ambassador To Israel David Friedman Endorses Bryan Leib for Florida’s 25th Congressional District [“I know Bryan will be a fearless leader in Congress in supporting President Trump, the Jewish community in South Florida, in confronting the Islamic Republic of Iran head on, and in taking the US-Israel alliance to new heights. Bryan will always put America First while never wavering in standing tall with the State of Israel.“]

5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Escalation on all fronts

Jewish Insider 8/1/24: U.S. lawmakers wary of regional unrest after Haniyeh assassination [“Legislators supportive of efforts to remove Hamas leadership while expressing concern“]
Politico 7/31/24: Congress scrambles to make sense of Hamas leader’s death
Fox News 7/31/24: Sen. Lindsey Graham calls on Israel to ‘destroy’ Iranian oil refineries
Budd (R-NC) 7/31/24: Budd Statement on Death of Hamas Political Leader [“The death of Hamas’ political leader sends a clear and resounding message to terrorists that those who kill and kidnap Americans will ultimately face justice. Terrorists with American blood on their hands should be mourned by no one, especially by a major non-NATO ally like Qatar. Maximum pressure on Hamas terrorists is the best way to secure the release of hostages.”]
McCaul (R-TX) 7/31/24: Chairman McCaul Issues Statement on Iran’s Extraterritorial Threats
McCaul (R-TX) 7/31/24: Chairman McCaul Presses Biden Administration to Fast-Track Critical Weapons to Israel
Daines (R-MT) 7/29/24: Daines Statement on Hezbollah’s Attack on Israel
Jewish Insider 7/29/24: Schumer calls for de-escalation as other lawmakers back potential Israeli response to Hezbollah [“Sen. Ted Cruz: ‘This continued appeasement directly endangers the security of Israel and therefore the safety and prosperity of Americans”]
Cruz (R-TX) 7/28/24: Cruz Condemns Hezbollah Attack on Israel, Blasts Biden-Harris Efforts to Block Israeli Response
Stefanik (R-NY) 7/27/24: Stefanik Statement on Hezbollah’s Violent Attack Against Israelis At Playground And Soccer Field

Palestinians/Gaza Strip

Gottheimer (D-NJ) 8/1/24: Gottheimer Statement Marking 300 Days Since Hamas’s October 7 Terrorist Attacks — Reaffirms call for hostages to be released
Jewish Insider 8/1/24: [the same day Israel assassinated the guy they are ostensibly negotiating a ceasefire with] Cardin maintains that Hamas is to blame for the lack of a cease-fire deal [“The Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman said that the framework for a Saudi-Israel deal is ‘pretty well-developed’ and could be finalized quickly“]
Jewish Insider 7/30/24: Lindsey Graham vows UNRWA won’t receive ‘one dime’ from U.S.
Jewish Insider 7/30/24: House Abraham Accords Caucus meets with Abraham Accords ambassadors on Gaza reconstruction [“The House Abraham Accords Caucus met last week with the ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco to the United States last week to discuss the reconstruction and future of the Gaza Strip, as the U.S. pushes for Arab states to become involved in the ‘day-after’ plan for the territory.“]
Jewish News Syndicate 7/29/24: Legislators meet with ambassadors of UAE, Bahrain, Morocco to advance Gaza group [“‘Moving forward, it is imperative that we continue to facilitate these dialogues with global leaders to ensure Gazans can rely on a free and fair democracy,’ said Rep. David Trone (D-Md.).”]
New York Times 7/29/24: Aides in Congress Create Dissent Channel to Protest Support for Israel [“An anonymous group of junior staff members has modeled its effort on an internal State Department messaging system, hoping to create an outlet for calls for a cease-fire in the war in Gaza.“]
Jewish Insider 7/29/24: Senate Appropriations Committee votes to extend U.S. freeze on UNRWA funds [“Sens. John Tester, Joe Manchin and Krysten Sinema voted with Republicans in favor of the continued freeze”]
Kaine (D-VA) and Warner (D-VA) 7/29/24: Senators Kaine and Warner call for Israel-Hamas ceasefire

Reflections/analysis re: Bibi Address to Congress

Mondoweiss 8/1/24: The Shift: Netanyahu protests lead to more bills targeting protesters
Arab Center Washington/Khalil Jashan 7/31/24: Netanyahu’s Demagoguery Before Congress over the Gaza War
Mondoweiss 7/28/24: Congress applauded the genocide in Gaza, but Netanyahu’s speech showed the political consensus on Israel is over
Haaretz 7/28/24: Shame on the U.S. Senators and Congress Members Who Cheered Netanyahu
Haaretz 7/28/24: Netanyahu Pulled an Old, Cruel Trick on Congress, and on Israel’s Hostages
The Hill 7/28/24: Van Hollen says it was a ‘mistake’ for Democrats to support Netanyahu addressing Congress
Jerusalem Post 7/27/24: ‘No way to treat an ally at war’: WSJ editorial slams protests targeting Bibi’s Congress address

Targeting Free Speech/Protest

House Environment and Water Public Works Committee 8/1/24: VIDEO: Capito, Ricketts: EPA, Vice President Harris Doling Out Inflation Reduction Act Funds for Radical Groups [Capito: “…in our investigation, we found that a lot of this money that’s going out really has little to do with the environment and a lot to do with funding groups that are basically engaged in what I characterize as anti-American activities. They’re anti-American, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, anti-police and anti-border security.”; Ricketts: “When you’re giving money to organizations like the Climate Justice Alliance, and they are funding the march on Washington and they are waving the Free Palestinian flags and so forth, we’re paying them to lobby our government. Everyday Nebraskans don’t think that’s a good idea that our tax dollars should go to radical organizations to lobby our own government. That’s just crazy.“]
House Ways & Means leadership 8/1/24: What They Are Saying: How Ways and Means Legislation Will Protect Jewish Students and Help Parents Save for Kids’ Education
Jewish News Syndicate 8/1/24: Congress should investigate ‘The Washington Post’ and ‘The New York Times’
Jewish News Syndicate 7/29/24: ‘As if my home turf no longer mine,’ students tell senators about school Jew-hatred