FMEP Legislative Round-Up: August 6, 2021

Resource

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
2. Hearings & Markups
3. On the Record

*Brought to you in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Round-Up was born!

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters

(LEBANON) S. Res. 337: Introduced 8/4 by Shaheen (D-NH) and Rubio (R-FL), “A resolution recognizing the anniversary of the explosion at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and expressing solidarity with the Lebanese people.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. On 8/5 Shaheen tweeted the first page of the resolution along with: “Yesterday marked a year since over 200 were killed & thousands were injured in the Beirut explosion & Lebanon is still rebuilding from this tragedy. I introduced a bipartisan resolution to support the Lebanese people & push for government accountability & justice for the victims.” As a reminder, on 7/28 Lahood, R-IL, introduced H. Res. 569, “Expressing continued solidarity with the Lebanese people after the devastating explosions at the Port of Beirut on August 4, 2020, and the continued efforts to form a secure, independent, and democratic Lebanon” – referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Shaheen press release – Shaheen Leads Bipartisan Resolution on Deadly Beirut Blast Calling for Accountability from Lebanese Government

(IRAN) S. 2607: Introduced 8/4 by Padilla (D-CA) and 5 bipartisan cosponsors, “A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the former hostages of the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981, highlighting their resilience throughout the unprecedented ordeal that they lived through and the national unity it produced, marking 4 decades since their 444 days in captivity, and recognizing their sacrifice to the United States.” Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Also see press release from: Rubio (R-FL).

(AUMF) S. J. Res. 10: Introduced 3/3 by Kaine (D-VA), and having 33 bipartisan cosponsors, “A joint resolution to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq, and for other purposes.” Passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on 8/4, paving the way for a vote on the Senate floor. See details in Section 2, below.

(FOREIGN FUNDING FOR US UNIVERSITIES) S. 2593 (text): Introduced 8/3 by Rubio (R-FL) and Cramer (R-ND), “A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve Federal oversight of foreign funding in education,” aka, the “Greater Insight into Foreign Transactions (GIFTs) in Higher Education Act.” Per Rubio’s press release, the goal of this legislation is “to target gifts and donations from designated foreign adversaries to American colleges and universities.” The bill would create a new definition in US law of “adversarial foreign governments”, to include China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, and “the government of any other country designated as an adversarial foreign government for purposes of this section by the Secretary of State.” Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Also see: Cramer press release.

Letters

(PLANS TO LIFT RAISI SANCTIONS?) Steil et al letter to Biden: On 8/5, Reps. Steil (R-WI), Banks (R-IN) and Wilson (R-SC) sent a (really poorly written) letter to President Biden demanding “that the Department of the Treasury and the Department of State hand over all records of any communications, or documents provided to Iranian negotiators to Congress with regards to the lifting of sanctions on Raisi or the potential repealing of E.O. 13876.” [That sentence is so poorly drafted it hurts just to type it here]. The letter also asks for answers to a set of questions: “Is the official report by the Iranian negotiating team to the Iranian parliament accurate that the United State has ever offered to repeal E.O. 13876, or to lift sanctions on Khamenei’s inner circle (to include Raisis)?” [Seriously? Did anyone even proofread this?] and “Does the administration intend to repeal E.O. 13876 and what efforts is it taking to defend this authority?” and “What non-nuclear sanctions is the administration considering in order to stand with the Iranian people and punish their oppressors?” And as is so often the case with this kind of letter, the story about it was broken by the Washington Free Beacon.

2. Hearings & Markups

August 10: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism will hold a hearing entitled, U.S. Security Assistance in the Middle East. Scheduled witnesses are: Mira Resnick, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Affairs, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs; and Dana Stroul, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

August 5: The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing entitled, Domestic Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Examining the Threat of Racially, Ethnically, Religiously, and Politically Motivated Attacks, Part 2. Witnesses were: Elizabeth Neumann, Former official at the Department of Homeland Security (statement); Maya Berry, Executive Director, Arab American Institute (statement); Jonathan Greenblatt, Anti-Defamation League (statement); and Brian Levin, Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism (statement).

August 4: Following its August 3 hearing on Administration perspectives on AUMFS (see below), the Committee held a business meeting to considerS. J. Res. 10, to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq (and other pending calendar business).

August 3: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing entitled, Authorizations of Use of Force: Administration Perspectives. Witnesses were Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman (statement); Department of State Acting Legal Advisor Richard Visek (statement) and Department of Defense General Counsel Caroline Krass (no written statement available).

  • Video of the hearing is here.
  • Chairman Mendendez’s (D-NJ) opening statement is here; Ranking Member Risch’s (R-ID) opening statement is here.
  • Also see: No. 2 US diplomat says Iraq war authorization ‘should be repealed’ (Defense News, 8/23)
  • Cruz (R-TX) press release, Sen. Cruz to Ambassador Sherman: ‘The Biden Administration Has Consistently Demonstrated Weakness and Appeasement Towards Iran.’ ‘The Ayatollah Has Declared Open Season on the United States and Our Interests’ (also see Cruz tweet – “Today I asked @DeputySecState to name one significant sanction the Biden administration has enacted against Iran. She didn’t. Because she can’t.”

August 3 (MANEL): The Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing entitled, Domestic Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Examining the Threat of Racially, Ethnically, Religiously, and Politically Motivated Attacks, Part I. Witnesses were: Wade Henderson, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (statement); Eric Fingerhut, The Jewish Federations of North America (statement); John Yang, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (statement); Paul Goldenberg, Cardinal Point Strategies (statement); and Seth G. Jones, PH.D., CSIS (statement).

  • Video of the hearing is here.
  • Also see opening statements from Chairman Peters (D-MI) and Ranking Member Portman (R-OH).
  • Notably, none of the witnesses raised Israel-Palestine issues in their opening statements, nor did either the Chairman or Ranking Member. Yet, Hawley’s (R-MO) line of comments/questioning was entirely focused on painting Palestinians & supporters of Palestinian rights (including Members of Congress) as antisemites/violent extremists (starting at 1:57:50 in the video. In his responses to Hawley, the JFNA’s Fingerhut – again, whose written testimony contained no hint of the kind of accusations and arguments of this nature – validated and doubled down on Hawley’s comments and framing.

3. On the Record

This week saw a surge in bad faith attacks on members of Congress who are critical of Israel – and in particular, members of Congress who are critical of Israel who also happen to be women, women of color, and Muslim. A quick review:

→ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt Attacks Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI). On 8/3, ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt published a tweet accusing Rep. Tlaib (D-MI) of antisemitism. He wrote:

“Stunning to hear @RashidaTlaib claim ‘behind the curtain,’ those who prevent a ‘free Palestine’ are the ‘same people’ who exploit ‘regular Americans.’ We’ve heard this kind of ugly #antisemitic dog whistling before, but it’s appalling when it comes from a member of Congress.” 

Greenblatt’s tweet links to a video clip of part of a Tlaib speech from which one assumes he as extracted the  “stunning” quotes. However, watching/listening to that video highlights that what is actually “stunning” is the realization that, in order to make a slanderous accusation, Greenblatt appears to have (a) manufactured one of the supposed quotes, and (b) presented the other three quotes – which are actually disconnected snippets (one of which is separated from the next one by more than 40 words) – out of order. Tlaib’s comments are transcribed below (by me). The phrases in quotes in Greenblatt’s tweet are underlined (and note that the fourth phrase simply doesn’t exist).

“…we also need to recognize, and this if for me as a Palestinian American, we also need to recognize – you know, as I think about my family in Palestine, that continue to live under military occupation and how that really interacts with this beautiful Black city I grew up in. You know I always tell people: cutting people off from water is violence, and they do it from Gaza to Detroit. And it’s a way to control people, to oppress people. And it’s those structures that we continue to fight against. So I know you all understand the structure we’ve been living under right now is designed by those that exploit the rest of us for their own profit. I always say to people: you know, I don’t care if it’s the issue around global human rights and our fight to free Palestine, or to pushing back against those who don’t believe in a minimum wage or those that believe that people have a right to healthcare, and so much more. And I tell people: those same people that, if you open the curtain and look behind the curtain, it’s the same people that make money, and yes they do, off of racism, off of these broken policies. There is someone there making money, and you saw it. It was so exposed during the pandemic, cuz all those structures, everything that was set up, they made record profit — when we were all having some of the most challenging, most difficult times in our lifetime, at that moment. And again, they make record profits. So if anything this pandemic just exposed what we’ve all been fighting against.”

→Ex-StandWithUS staffer attacks Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO). On 8/3, a former StandWithUs staff member tweeted out a clip of Bush (D-MO) speaking on the House floor (without providing a link or any context), in which she speaks against occupation and human rights abuses and suggests that aid to Israel could instead pay for important things in the US, with the comment:

“Cori Bush blames the Jews for homelessness in St. Louis…And we wonder why antisemitism is rising. Elected officials are openly scapegoating Jews”. 

Her tweet was promptly re-tweeted by Sen. Scott (R-FL), who commented

“.@CoriBush is blaming Israel for the homelessness in her district. The disgraceful anti-Semitism she displayed has no place in America or Congress.”

Left out of these tweets is some key context. Like the fact that:

  • Bush’s speeh was delivered on May 13th, in the context of deep concern in Congress regarding ongoing violence in Israel/Palestine, as is clear to anyone who actually reads the entire transcript (here).
  • Her speech was part of an organized group of Special Order speeches, in which she spoke along with Pocan (D-WI), Tlaib (D-MI), Omar (D-MN), McCollum (D-MN), Pressley (D-MA), Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Schakowsky (D-IL), Gracia (D-IL), Carson (D-IN), and Castro (D-TX).
  • As the JTA’s Ron Kampeas observed in a tweet: “The speech is from May, during the Gaza conflict, and @CoriBush is memorializing a late friend, Bassem Masri, who drew a line between US poverty and the Israel conflict. That doesn’t make her speech unobjectionable, but the context would seem to be critical to determining intent.”
  • Her speech never once mentions Jews or Judaism. The ONLY way one can view Bush’s words as “scapegoating Jews” is if one believes that criticism of Israeli actions automatically equals criticism of Jews, which is the flip-side of holding Jews collectively responsible for Israel’s actions. Which, of course, is antisemitic.
  • All of which is a great example of one of the central rules imposed by those who weaponize antisemitism against critics of Israel, which goes as follows: It’s antisemitism when critics of Israel conflate Israel & Jews, AND it’s antisemitism when critics of Israel don’t conflate Israel & Jews, because criticizing Israel ipso facto is criticizing Jews.

→”Zioness” Attacks Rep. Ilhan Omar. As noted below, on 8/2 Rep. King (R-IA) tweeted a blatantly offensive tweet in effect defending the use of antisemitic tropes when attacking George Soros based on the argument that Soros isn’t Jewish (a tweet the ADL’s Greenblatt did not feel it necessary to even comment on):

“Israeli Olympic gold medalist can’t marry the love of his life in Israel. Under Israeli law, he is not a Jew. Even though his father is a Jew, his mother is not. Same for George Soros. Criticizing Soros is NOT antiSemitic.” (linked to a Times of Israel article, Israel’s Olympic gold medalist can’t marry in the country, his mother laments).

On 8/5, Rep. Omar (D-MN) quote-tweeted King’s tweet, adding a photo of herself and Rep. Tlaib (D-MI) making facial expressions that clearly send a message of shock/disapproval. Zioness (a self-described progressive, Zionist organization that is perhaps best known for attacking progressives, including Omar, over criticism of Israel) — tweeted –

“.@IlhanMN is such a depraved antisemite that she is retweeting a white supremacist so sick and hateful that the Republican Party stripped him of his committees. First David Duke endorsed Ilhan. Then Ilhan endorsed Steve King“.

Omar then deleted the tweet, tweeting:

“Lesson of the day: When mocking people like Steve King, don’t use a meme. Twitter humor isn’t for  everyone.”

Spinning Omar’s deletion of the tweet as a confession of guilt, Zioness went on to Tweet a screenshot along with the comment:

“If you can’t see the tweet @IlhanMN has now deleted, in which she is sharing in racist, antisemitic, white supremacist Steve King’s obsessive Jew hatred and demonization of Israel”.

Pressed by various Twitter commentators on the matter (including some who suggested that Zioness had made an honest mistake), Zioness doubled, tripled, and quadrupled down on the accusation against Omar (and by extension against those defending her/calling out the idiocy of the accusation being made).

→AIPAC attacking Omar, Bush, AOC, and Tlaib [late addition to the Round-Up]. Writing on August 8 on Twitter, Journalist Eli Clifton noted in a thread:

“AIPAC just started running some harsh, and misleading, new Facebook ads against @IlhanMN, @CoriBush @AOC and @RashidaTlaib. This one, in particular, seems like a pretty egregious attack for @AIPAC to launch against a member of Congress. AIPAC claims that @IlhanMN sees ‘no difference America and the Taliban, between Israel and Hamas, and between democracies and terrorists.’ [with screenshot] Also, @AIPAC is accusing @RashidaTlaib, @AOC, @CoriBush and @IlhanMN of ‘inciting hate by demonizing Israel and spreading vicious, dangerous lies about our democratic ally.’ [with screenshot]”

Members on the Record

Re: Israel/Palestine

Meeks (D-NY) 8/6: Tweets – “Chairman@RepGregoryMeeks: I condemn in the strongest terms Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on northern Israel and stand by Israel’s right to defend itself. Such terrorist actions must immediately cease. 1/2” and “Unfortunately, this is part of a broader pattern of Hezbollah’s abhorrent practice of using civilian areas for terrorist operations. I commend Lebanese citizens of Shwaya for standing up to militants and reiterate calls for full implementation of UNSCR 1701. 2/2“. Linked to article, Hezbollah claims responsibility for new rocket fire into Israel, raising fears of escalation (Washington Post)

Deutch (D-FL) 8/6: Tweet – “I look forward to welcoming Mike Herzog as Israel’s new Ambassador to the U.S. There’s so much we can do together to advance our shared interests and values!” Linked to announcement on Twitter from Yair Lapid that Herzog will be the next ambassador to the US

Roy (R-TX) 8/4: Tweet – “Biden’s rush to funnel millions into UNRWA is reckless and irresponsible. Rep. Roy introduced the UNRWA Accountability & Transparency Act to ensure that not a single dime of taxpayer money is used to undermine or endanger our friend and ally, Israel.” Linked to article, Over 100 UNRWA teachers incite violence, antisemitism online – report (Jerusalem Post)

Scott (R-SC) 8/4: Tweet – “Had the honor of meeting Israeli Ambassador @giladerdan1 today and emphasized the importance of the special bond between our 2 nations. With the rise in antisemitism across the globe, it is crucial that the US stands alongside one of our greatest allies in the Middle East.”

King (R-IA) 8/4: Tweet – “The @RJC never had a single word or action from me that could be objectively construed as anti-Semitic. I remain an ally of the horribly persecuted Jewish people and a loyal friend of Israel. I am to the right of the Likud. They are the RINO RJC.” Linked to article, RJC: we won’t be ‘canceled’ over tweet criticizing Jewish Democrat group (Jewish News Syndicate)

Hyde-Smith (R-MS) 8/3: press release – Hyde-smith Wants To Stop U.S. Funding For U.N. Program With Links To Hamas Terrorist Organization

McCollum (D-MN) 7/31: Tweet – “Thank you @PeterWelch for co-sponsoring #HR2590, the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children & Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act. Learn more about the bill here:” Linked to press release, Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act

Gillibrand (D-NY) 7/30: Press release – Gillibrand Calls For Senate Appropriations Committee To Support Israel’s Emergency Request For Iron Dome Assistance [see last week’s Round-Up for details of the letter]

Westerman (R-AR) 7/30: Tweet – “I recently signed a letter by @RepMcCaul to @POTUS asking for his continued support for Israel and action to cut off Iranian support to Palestinian terrorists. As the only true democracy in the Middle East, Israel is vital to the region’s stability and our national security.” Linked to May 19 letter (covered in the May 28 edition of the Round-Up)

 

Re: Lebanon & Israel-Lebanon

Gonzales (R-TX) 8/6: Tweet – “Israel is under constant terror from Hezbollah and other terrorist organizations.” Linked to article, Hezbollah, Israel trade fire in dangerous Mideast escalation (AP)

Hudson (R-NC) 8/5: Tweet – “Rocket fire on #Israel from Lebanon is just the latest example of aggression most likely backed by Iran. These attacks are unacceptable and it is essential that the US fully support and help defend our greatest Middle Eastern ally.” Linked to press release, Hudson Supports Israel’s Right to Self-Defense

Van Hollen (D-MD) 8/4: Tweet – “On the 1-yr anniversary of the Beirut blast, Lebanon faces a deepening crisis w/ regional impact. I support @POTUS’s pledge today of humanitarian aid. We must also demand accountability, incl. joining EU sanctions agnst ANY member of political elite obstructing democratic reforms”

Menendez (D-NK) & Risch (R-ID) 8/4: Menendez, Risch: Lebanon’s Political Leaders Must Advance Genuine Reform

 

Re: Iran, incl. Syria

Cohen (D-TN) 8/5: Tweet – “I am saddened to see #EbrahimRaisi sworn in as president of #Iran today. The Iranian people deserve free and fair elections and a ruler that respects human rights. Raisi is a danger to a secular and democratic Iran, and to world peace.”

Sullivan (D-AK) 8/5: Tweet – “The new President of #Iran Ebrahim #Raisi was sworn in today. Iranian Americans & human rights advocates have taken this occasion to erect a powerful display on the Mall in D.C. highlighting the regime’s—and this ruthless leader’s—history of killing thousands of their own people.”

Wilson (R-SC) 8/5: Tweet – “The #Biden administration should be supporting the thousands of protesters across Iran rather than offering to lift sanctions on Raisi who has the blood of the Iranian people on his hands.” Linked to article, Lawmakers Probe Biden Admin Bid To Nix Sanctions on Iran (Free Beacon)

Cheney (R-WY) 8/4: Tweet – “The Biden Admin’s push to revive the disastrous Iran Deal will make the U.S. & our allies more vulnerable to their hostile behavior & reward the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. Putting Iran on a pathway to a nuclear weapon is not the answer.”

Menendez (D-NJ) 8/4: press release – Chairman Menendez Condemns Attacks on Civilians in Daraa, Syria, Calls for Accountability. Linked to article, Another Iran Message for Biden (Wall Street Journal editorial)

Tenney (R-NY) 8/3: Tweet – “Just days after Iran carried out a fatal drone strike on an oil tanker, the @eu_eeas sends a senior representative to attend the ceremony of its new ‘president,’ who was elected in a sham election that was neither free nor fair. It’s absolutely shameful.”

Newman (D-IL) 8/3: Tweet – “The world cannot afford to ignore the atrocities that have been committed in Syria. Bashar Al-Assad and those who back him must be held accountable.” Linked to Risch tweet (below)

Bacon (R-NE) 8/3: Tweet – “Time and time again, #Iran has attacked the US and its allies, yet @POTUS still insists on returning to a bad nuclear deal. Negotiating with Iran’s terrorist regime while it attacks oil tankers, plots kidnappings & bombs our allies is foolhardy.” Linked to article, Another Iran Message for Biden (Wall Street Journal editorial)

Hagerty (R-TN) 8/3: Tweet – “As Biden Admin calls for Congress to repeal one of the authorities used to justify Trump’s strike on Iran’s terrorist-in-chief Qassem Soleimani, Iran-backed terrorists appear to be hijacking another tanker in the Arabian Sea.” Linked to article, UK sources see Iran involved in potential vessel hijack, says Times newspaper (Reuters)

Hagerty (R-TN) 8/4: Tweet – “I’m going to keep pushing Congress to modernize military authorizations and counter Iran-backed attacks on Americans.” With pic of his statement re: replacing AUMF.

Wilson (R-SC) 8/3: Tweet – “The criminal Assad regime aided by Iran and Russia must stop its massacre of innocent civilians in #Daraa. Doing nothing is not an option. I call on the #Biden administration to stop the killing in Syria. #Daraa_Under_Attack”

Cornyn (R-TX) 8/2: Tweet – “The U.S. confirms Iran’s attack on a commercial oil tanker, but it still wants a nuclear deal with the regime.” Linked to article, Another Iran Message for Biden (Wall Street Journal editorial)

Kinzinger (R-IL) 8/2: Tweet – “The Assad regime and Iran must immediately cease the brutal siege and their ongoing military operations against nearly 50,000 innocent civilians in #Daraa. It’s time for the Biden administration to take action and end the ongoing atrocities in #Syria”

Ernst (R-IA) 8/2: Tweet – “Iran’s malign & destabilizing activities continue to pose a threat to the U.S. and our allies.   The Biden Admin’s effort to rejoin the failed Iran Nuclear Deal is a direct threat to peace and security.” Linked to article, Another Iran Message for Biden (Wall Street Journal editorial)

Risch (R-ID) 8/2: Tweet – “#Iran’s drone attack on an #Israeli-owned tanker off #Oman represents a blatant act of terrorism & must be met with a firm response. My condolences to the families of the 2 civilians killed in the attack. More must be done to address Iran’s drone program & regional terrorism.”

Blackburn (R-TN) 8/2: press release – Blackburn, Cotton, Colleagues, Call on President Biden to Deny Entry to Iranian President, Senior Iranian Officials (covered in last week’s Round-Up)

Hagerty (R-TN) 8/1: Tweet – “Iran’s terrorist-sponsoring regime won’t believe the Biden Admin’s words unless they’re followed by tough actions. @POTUS should start by resuming maximum pressure against Iran, including new secondary sanctions against those still buying Iranian oil.” Linked to article, U.S. and U.K. blame Iran for drone strike on oil tanker (Axios, 8/1)

Steil (R-WI) 7/30: Tweet – “I stand with the Iranian people who are calling out for freedom and basic human rights. We must stand with the Iranian people against the oppressive Iranian Regime in Tehran.”

Deutch (D-FL) 7/30: Tweet – “As protests spread in cities across Iran, the @StateDept is monitoring reports of internet outages & security forces firing on protestors. The Iranian regime has a deplorable human rights record. I support the Iranian people’s right to protest & demand basic human rights.” Linked to State Department statement on protests in Iran.

Re: Miscellaneous

Menendez (D-NJ) and Risch (R-ID) 8/4: press release – Menendez, Risch: Lebanon’s Political Leaders Must Advance Genuine Reform

Murphy (D-CT) 8/3: press release – Murphy Discusses Need for U.S. to Withhold Security Aid to Egypt with Human Rights Advocate Mohamed Soltan

King (R-IA) 8/2: Tweet – “Israeli Olympic gold medalist can’t marry the love of his life in Israel. Under Israeli law, he is not a Jew. Even though his father is a Jew, his mother is not. Same for George Soros. Criticizing Soros is NOT antiSemitic.” Linked to article, Israel’s Olympic gold medalist can’t marry in the country, his mother laments (Times of Israel)

Menendez (D-NJ) 8/2: press release – Chairman Menendez Applauds Qatari Government’s $100 Million Contribution in Humanitarian Assistance for Yemen

 

Media & Other Reports

Ohio Special Election

Algemeiner 8/4: Pro-Israel Democrats Cheer Shontel Brown’s Upset ‘Victory’ in Ohio Congressional Race

JTA 8/4: In upset, pro-Israel backed candidate wins key Cleveland area Democratic primary

JNS 8/4: Pro-Israel voters likely tipped scales in favor of Shontel Brown’s ‘stunning upset’ in Ohio, say observers

Washington Free Beacon 8/4: Jewish Groups Slam Nina Turner’s Anti-Semitic ‘Evil Money’ Remark

Jewish Insider 8/4: Shontel Brown defeats Nina Turner with support from Cleveland’s Jewish community

Times of Israel 8/4: In upset, pro-Israel-backed candidate wins Ohio Democratic congressional primary

i24 News 8/4: Pro-Israel Democrat wins Ohio primary with help from Jewish groups

Jerusalem Post 84: Pro-Israel Democrat Shontel Brown defeats rival Turner in Ohio primary

Haaretz 8/4: Pro-Israel Democrat Shontel Brown Defeats Progressive Nina Turner in Ohio Democratic Primary

The New Arab 8/3: Why are pro-Israeli PACs weighing in on an Ohio special election?

Jewish Inside 8/2: Shontel Brown’s number is seven in Ohio 11 [“Brown supports continued security assistance for the Jewish state, rejects the BDS movement as antisemitic and defended Israel’s ‘right to defend its citizens’ from Hamas’s rocket attacks as violence escalated in May, when she stood with the local Jewish community at a pro-Israel rally in Cleveland organized by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland and the Israeli-American Council. In 2018, Brown visited Israel on a trip sponsored by the AIPAC-affiliated American Israel Education Foundation. ‘It gives you a much greater and tangible and realistic appreciation for the vulnerability of this state,’ Brown told JI in February.”]

Other topics

Washington Free Beacon 8/5: Lawmakers Probe Biden Admin Bid To Nix Sanctions on Iran

CombatAntisemitism 8/5: U.S. Senators Lankford and Rosen Make Bipartisan Call for Wider Adoption of IHRA Antisemitism Definition

Arutz Sheva 8/5: Israeli Ambassador meets Sen. Feinstein amid Ben & Jerry’s boycott

Times of Israel/JTA 8/5: Pro-Israel groups split over whether new US spending bill conditions foreign aid

Washington Examiner (FDD) 7/31: Congress must fix UNRWA’s Hamas problem [calling for beneficiary vetting, among other things]

Times of Israel 8/4: 7 Dems urge US Treasury to review tax-exempt status of pro-settlement charities