FMEP Legislative Round-Up December 13, 2024

Resource

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

New:

  • New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast, How and Why South Africans Care About Palestinians, ft. FMEP Fellow Peter Beinart in conversation with writer and editor William Shoki about the history of South Africa and Israel, how South Africa’s government sees its global role, and how South Africans think about Israel/Palestine in comparison to post-apartheid South Africa.
  • Vox 12/10/24: The Supreme Court wades into the Israel-Palestine conflict [“…any issue involving Israel and Palestine inflames passions among US policymakers. So the same sympathy for the Fuld plaintiffs that inspired Congress to enact the 2019 law could also shape the justices’ decision. But a decision in favor of the Fuld plaintiffs could have sweeping implications that stretch far beyond the fraught politics of Israel and Palestine — and that potentially leave all Americans vulnerable to lawsuits before hostile judges.“]
  • Congressional Research Service report to Congress 12/9/24: Syria: Regime Change, Transition, and U.S.Policy

1. Bills & Resolutions

New legislation

  • (TARGETING WEST BANK SETTLER TERRORISTS) HR 10343/S. 5467 [bill text]: Introduced 12/10/24 in the House by Lee (D-PA) and 9 Democratic cosponsors, and in the Senate by Welch (D-VT) and 5 cosponsors (4 Democrats and 1 Independent). “A bill to codify Executive Order 14115 imposing certain sanctions on persons undermining peace, security, and stability in the West Bank,” aka, the “Sanctions and Accountability for Non-Compliance and Transparent Investigative Oversight for National Security (SANCTIONS).” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary, and the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Welch Introduces Bicameral Bill to Codify Biden-Era Executive Order on West Bank Sanctions; Rep. Summer Lee and Senator Welch Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Codify U.S. Sanctions Against Persons Enacting Violence in West Bank
  • (SPACE/SATELLITE SECURITY FOR ISRAEL & FRIENDS) HR 10353: Introduced 12/11/24 by Bacon (R-NE), “To direct the Secretary of Defense to conduct an assessment of space and satellite security relating to ally and partner countries in the Middle East.” Referred to the  Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services.
  • (NAKED TRANSACTIONALISM AS BIPARTISAN US MIDEAST POLICY) S. 5517: Introduced 12/12/24 by Budd (R-NC) and Hassan (D-NH, “to provide for the establishment, within the Food and Drug Administration, of an Abraham Accords Office to promote and facilitate cooperation between the Food and Drug Administration and entities in Abraham Accords countries wishing to work with the agency in order to develop and sell products in the United States, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Updates on Pending Bills

  • Antisemitism Awareness Act, aka HR 6090 / S. 4127 (covered in detail in past Round-Ups)

    • No luck attaching it to the NDAA: Jewish Insider 12/9/24: Schumer’s bid to add Antisemitism Awareness Act to NDAA defense bill fails [“The 2025 National Defense Authorization Act was released Saturday evening, without the antisemitism bill, following opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson“]; The College Fix 10/10/24: Bill to combat campus antisemitism stalled in Senate
    • ADL laments not attaching the AAA to the NDAA: Anti-Defamation League 12/9/24 X-post – “We’re disappointed to see the Antisemitism Awareness Act fail to move forward. As ADL’s Lauren Wolman said, “Combatting antisemitism is not and cannot be allowed to become a partisan issue.” We urge Congressional leaders to pass this important legislation quickly.“
    • New idea: add it to the Continuing Resolution! Jewish Insider reports that, having failed at adding the AAA to the NDAA, Schumer is not looking to attach it to the upcoming Continuing Resolution. The CR is another piece of must-pass legislation; given the inability of Congress to pass appropriations bills (which provide funding for government operations), a CR is required to prevent a government shut-down. It is not clear why Schumer thinks this tactic would succeed, given Johnson’s clear insistence on a Senate vote on the AAA in isolation — a demand that in effect allows Johnson and friends to dunk on Democrats for failing to pass the bill, while also enabling them to avoid dealing with the fact that a large part of the US right – across the spectrum from mainstream- to far-right – have deep reservations about (or strongly oppose) the AAA.  For example see: Jewish Insider 12/10/24: Trump DOJ civil rights pick blasted campus protests, opposed Antisemitism Awareness Act [“‘I have been a First Amendment and religious liberties lawyer for minority and majority faith communities for decades and this bill is knee-jerk anti-constitutional dreck,’ Dhillon said. ‘Do better, think harder, and be smarter, Congress. ‘Hate speech’ laws are a liberal concept.’”]
    • ADL Still Pushing Stealth passage of AAA by Attaching it to the CR: Demonstrating that they are not letting up on their campaign to have Congress pass the AAA, on 12/11/24, the Anti-Defamation League posted on action alert to followers on X: “Time is running out. If Congress doesn’t act before Dec 20th, the Countering Antisemitism & Antisemitism Awareness Acts must be reintroduced in the next Congress.   Urge @SpeakerJohnson & @SenSchumer to attach these bills to the Continuing Resolution that funds the US Government.” Center for National Policy’s Dylan Williams commented on the ADL’s post, noting (accurately – as if facts actually matter): “Nope. Much of the US Jewish community opposes the ‘Antisemitism Awareness Act’ because it targets Constitutionally-protected criticism of Israel instead of actual antisemitism. Trying to sneak it through in the bill to keep the government funded shows just how problematic it is.“
    • Conference of Presidents CEO William Daroff in Times of Israel 12/12/24: Pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act ‘”American Jews –and decent Americans of all faiths — demand Congress do the right thing: pass the Antisemitism Awareness Act before the current congressional term ends.” [In fact, lots of Americans, including Jewish Americans, have strong reservations about.objections to the AAA – but when did facts matter?]
  • Targeting the ICC  (HR 8282) (covered in detail in past Round-Ups)
    • Jewish Insider reports: “‘Talks are in motion about possible dealmaking, according to a source familiar with the situation, who mentioned International Criminal Court sanctions legislation — which has passed the House but is opposed by Senate Democrats and the White House — as a potential concession to the House speaker. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) told JI in a brief interview on Tuesday that he’s trying to jump-start talks on the ICC legislation, which have also been at an impasse, though he didn’t mention any linkage to the AAA…”
    • Lawfare 12/11/24: Dear Congress: If You Value National Security, Do Not Sanction the ICC

The FY25 NDAA

Over the weekend House and Senate conferees finalized a deal over the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, releasing text of a massive bill that includes he FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, Military Construction Authorizations, the Department of Energy National Security Authorizations and Other Authorizations, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, and the Department of State Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, along with a Joint Explanatory Statement that, among other things, lays out additional requirements lawmakers are imposing on the Executive.

This week, that compromise NDAA+ text was brought to a vote in the form of  HR 5009, the “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.” [NOTE: HR 5009 started life as something completely different – a bill to reauthorize wildlife habitat and conservation programs, and for other purposes. As often happens in cases like this year’s NDAA+, the House re-purposed HR 5009 – in effecting amending it to delete the original contents and replace them with the text of the conference text].

  •  The House passed HR 5009 on 12/11/24 by a vote of 281 – 140. Many, many members talked about the bill’s Israel and Iran provisions — check members’ websites and social media for what a particular member may have said.
  • The Senate is expected to vote on (and pass) HR 5009 early next week.

As always. the NDAA includes numerous, and highly consequential. provisions related to Israel and the Middle East. These provisions are detailed below (and I also covered them in long threads on X — thread on bill text; thread on report language).

NOTE: As discussed above, notably absent from the bill is the extremely controversial and divisive Antisemitism Awareness Act; as tracked in the Round-Up in recent weeks, following the November elections and a months-long campaign of pressure, Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY) belatedly sought to attach to the NDAA, but House leader Johnson (R-LA) blocked him (not because Johnson opposes the measure, but because he wants to force Democrats to have a roll call vote on it).

Israeli & the Middle East in the FY25 NDAA+ Bill

Israel-related funding & military supplies

  • (US Support for Israel) Section 1211. Statement of policy ensuring Israel’s defense. [“It is the policy of the United States to work with Israel to ensure adequate stocks of interceptors and weapons system components to defend Israel against air and missile threats from Iran and Iranian military proxies, such as Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, if the transfer of such interceptors and weapons system components are in the national security interests of the United States.“]
  • ($$$$ for IRON DOME, DAVID’s SLING, ARROW) Sec. 1644. Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system and Israeli cooperative missile defense program co-development and co-production. [This is a long section that authorizes: (a) not more than $110 million for the Government of Israel “to procure components for the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense system through co-production of such components in the United States by industry of the United States“; (b) not more than $40 million for the Government of Israel “to procure the David’s Sling Weapon System“; and (c) not more than $50 million for “the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program.”]
  • From the Funding Tables in the bill (totals approved by the House-Senate conference)
    • COMBATING TERRORISM TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT:  $154,139,000, of which $30 million is for “United States-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation” and $47,500,000 is for “United States-Israel defense collaboration on emerging technologies.”
    • ISRAELI COOPERATIVE PROGRAMS: $300,000,000

New Joint Israel-US military programs

  • (Joint US-Israel military exercises) Section 1213. Requirement to conduct subterranean warfare military exercises. [“Beginning on January 1 of the year that begins after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall require the United States Central Command or other relevant commands, units, or organizations of the United States military services, as the Secretary determines appropriate, to conduct military exercises that—(1) occur not fewer than once in a calendar year; (2) shall include invitations for the armed forces of Israel, provided that the Government of Israel consents to the participation of its forces in such exercises; (3) may include invitations for the armed forces of other allies and partners of the United States to take part in the exercises; (4) seek to enhance the interoperability and effectiveness of the United States military services, the armed forces of Israel, and the armed forces of other allies and partners of the United States in coalition operations; and (5) shall include, if available resources permit, the following activities—(A) practicing or simulating locating subterranean tunnel entrances and exits; (B) practicing infiltrating and mapping subterranean tunnels; (C) practicing maneuvering within subterranean tunnels of varying sizes; and (D) practicing neutralizing or demolishing subterranean tunnels.“]
  • (US-Israel partnership in “defense industrial priorities”) Section 1214. Strategic partnership on defense industrial priorities between the United States and Israel. [“The Secretary of Defense shall seek to establish a partnership between the Defense Innovation Unit of the Department of Defense and appropriate counterparts of Israel in order to— (1) enhance market opportunities for United States-based and Israeli-based defense technology companies; (2) increase interoperability through dual-use and emerging technologies; (3) counter Iran and Iran-aligned adversarial proxy group development of dual-use defense technologies; and (4) in coordination with appropriate counterpart offices of the Israeli ministry of defense–(A) enable coordination on defense industrial priorities; (B) streamline emerging defense technology research and development; (C) create more pathways to market for defense technology startups; (D) collaborate on the development of dual-use defense capabilities through coordination; and (E) leverage other private capital, equity or venture funding opportunities to augment government funds for technology deployment or scaling.”]
  • (Joint Military Trauma Education & Training) Section. 1215. Establishment of program between the United States and Israel for military trauma education and training. [“(a) IN GENERAL .—The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may establish a joint education and training program with appropriate personnel of the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces. (b) EDUCATION AND TRAINING ACTIVITIES .—The joint program authorized by subsection (a) may include the following activities between personnel of the United States military health system and the Medical Corps of the Israel Defense Forces: (1) Dialogue on best practices for general trauma care, with a focus on amputation and amputee care, including the following elements of amputee care: (A) Use of prosthetics. (B) Wound care. (C) Rehabilitative therapy. (D) Family counseling. (E) Mental health therapy. (2) Training and support on trauma care, including amputation and amputee care. (3) Conducting relevant joint conferences and exchanges of military medical professionals. (4) Opportunities for personnel to attend classes offered on best practices for trauma and amputee rehabilitation. (5) Any other relevant amputee care educational activity that the Secretary of Defense and appropriate officials from the Israel Defense Forces determine appropriate.”]

Provisions explicitly related to the war on Gaza

  • (Hiding Palestinian Casualty Figures) Section  1053. Assessments of casualties and fatalities during hostilities. [“In making assessments of casualties and fatalities during hostilities, the Department of Defense may not cite as authoritative in public communications, fatality figures that are derived by United States-designated terrorist organizations, governmental entities controlled by United States-designated terrorist organizations, or any sources that rely on figures provided by United States-designated terrorist organizations.“] Also see: Congress Keeps Trying to Hide the True Gaza Death Toll [The Intercept 12/12/24]
  • (Directly Supporting – with intelligence, advice, & support –  Israel’s War on Gaza) Section 1615. Intelligence advice and Department of Defense support for Government of Israel in the defeat of Hamas. [“(a) IN GENERAL .—The Secretary of Defense and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency are authorized to continue, as directed by the President of the United States, to jointly cooperate with the Government of Israel on defense intelligence, advice, and support, to the extent practicable and consistent with United States objectives, to support Israel’s pursuit of the lasting defeat of Hamas. (b) BRIEFING .—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than once every 90 days thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall provide to the congressional defense committees, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives, and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a briefing on the intelligence, advice, and support provided to assist the Government of Israel in achieving the objectives described in subsection (a).”]
  • (No $$ for *defunct* Gaza pier) Section 1708. Prohibition on use of funds for temporary pier in Gaza. [“None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may be made available for the acquisition, construction, installation, maintenance, or restoration of a temporary pier located in Gaza or off the western coast of Gaza in the Mediterranean Sea, or for the deployment of any equipment to Gaza relating to such a pier.”]
  • (Lessons learned from Israel’s war on Gaza) Section 6433. Assessment of the lessons learned by the intelligence community with respect to the Israel-Hamas war. [“...not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with such other heads of elements of the intelligence community as the Director considers appropriate, shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a written assessment of the lessons learned from the Israel-Hamas war. (2) ELEMENTS .—The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) Lessons learned from advances in warfare, including the use by adversaries of a complex tunnel network. (B) Lessons learned from attacks by adversaries against maritime shipping routes in the Red Sea. (C) Lessons learned from the use by adversaries of rockets, missiles, and unmanned aerial systems, including attacks by Iran. (D) Analysis of the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on the global security environment, including the war in Ukraine…(c) ASSESSMENT SUBMITTED TO THE CONGRESSIONAL INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEES .— (1) REQUIREMENT .—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with such other heads of elements of the intelligence community as the Director considers appropriate, shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees a written assessment of the intelligence lessons learned from the Israel-Hamas war. (2) ELEMENTS .—The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) Lessons learned from the timing and scope of the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas against Israel, including lessons related to United States intelligence cooperation with Israel and other regional partners, both bilaterally and in facilitating regional intelligence sharing. (B) An assessment of the state, strength, and limitations of intelligence relationships between Israel and regional partners, especially with respect to Hamas and Gaza. (C) A review of any failures in national and regional intelligence analysis, collection, and sharing that occurred before the October 7, 2023 attack, and any lessons learned for future intelligence activities.”]

Normalization-related provisions

  • (Normalization via military exchanges) Section 1221. Key partners for Middle East Regional Integration Military Subject Matter Expert Exchange Program. [“(a) IN GENERAL .—The Secretary of Defense, using existing authorities, including section 311 of title 10, United States Code, as applicable, and in consultation with the Secretary of State and the head of any other Federal agency the Secretary of Defense determines appropriate, shall design and implement a foreign military officer subject matter expert exchange program to be known as the ‘‘Middle East Regional Integration Military Subject Matter Expert Exchange Program’’ (referred to in this section as the ‘‘exchange program’’). (b) PURPOSE .—The purpose of the exchange program shall be to facilitate interaction, cultural exchange, and mutual learning of members of participating militaries in support of Middle East regional integration in order to deepen and expand such integration…” (long long section)]
  • (Normalization via defense integration) Section 1547. Joint partner-sharing network capabilities for Middle East defense integration. [“(a) INITIATIVE REQUIRED .—(1) IN GENERAL .—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on how to improve co-operation between the Department of Defense and allies and partners of the United States located in the Middle East to improve the use of partner-sharing network capabilities to facilitate joint defense efforts among the United States and such allies and partners to protect the people, infrastructure, and territory of the United States and such allies and partners from state and non-state actors determined by the Secretary to undermine the national security interests of the United States…”]
  • (Normalization via space/satellites partnerships) Section 1609. Middle East integrated space and satellite security assessment. [“…The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall conduct an assessment of space and satellite security for the purpose of identifying mechanisms, such as improved multilateral data-sharing agreements, that may be implemented to better protect ally and partner countries in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command from hostile activities conducted by adversaries against space systems of the United States or such countries.” The assessment shall include: “A description of progress made in—(i) advancing the integration of countries in the area of responsibility of the United States Central Command, including Israel, into existing multilateral space and satellite security partnerships; and (ii) establishing such partnerships with such countries.“]

Other Israel-related provisions

  • (Targeting boycotts of Israel and/or settlements) Section 855. Limitation on availability of funds for covered contractors engaged in an anti-Israel boycott [“None of the funds authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for fiscal year 2025 for the Department of Defense may be obligated or expended to knowingly enter into a contract for goods or services for the Defense Commissary Agency on or after the date of the enactment of this Act with a covered contractor that has engaged in, or engages in, a boycott of the State of Israel.“] NOTE: like most state-level anti-BDS laws, this section goes on to define “the state of Israel” so broadly as to include boycotts targeting Israel settlements in the Occupied Territories – which is of course the real focus of the provision].
  • (Anti-Tunnel Cooperation) Section 1212. Modification of United States-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation. [“Subsection (a)(1) of section 1279 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (22 U.S.C.23 8606 note) is amended, in the first sentence, by striking ‘detect, map, and neutralize underground tunnels’ and inserting ‘detect, map, maneuver in, and neutralize underground tunnels’“]

Iran-related

  • (IRAN REPORT) Section 1222. Extension and modification of annual report on military power of Iran. [among other things adding a requirement for “An assessment of the manner and extent to which the advances or improvements in the capabilities of Iran’s conventional and unconventional forces described in this section have affected Israel’s qualitative military edge during the preceding year.“]
  • (IRAN REPORT) Section 1223. Modification of report on the military capabilities of Iran and related activities.
  • (NO FUNDING IRANIAN ENTITIES) Section 1224. Prohibition on providing funding to Iranian entities. [“(a) IN GENERAL .—None of the funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Defense or otherwise made available by this Act may be made available, directly or indirectly, to—(1) the Government of Iran; (2) any person owned or controlled by the Government of Iran; (3) any person that is on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury and the property and interests in property of which are blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act; or (4) any person owned or controlled by a person described in paragraph (3). (b) EXCEPTION FOR INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES .—The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to activities subject to the reporting requirements under title V of the National Security Act of 1947 (5022 U.S.C. 3091 et seq.) or any authorized intelligence activities of the United States.”]
  • (IRAN ARMS TRAFFICKING) Section 1225. Notification relating to arms trafficking by Iran. [“(a) CONGRESSIONAL NOTIFICATION .—(1) IN GENERAL .—Not later than 30 days after any identified transfer of weapons, ammunition, or component parts by the Islamic Republic of Iran to a terrorist proxy group or state actor outside the territory of Iran, the Secretary of Defense shall provide the congressional defense committees with the notification described in paragraph (2). (2) NOTIFICATION DESCRIBED .—The notification described in this paragraph is a notification that includes the following: (A) An identification of—(i) the type and quantity of weapons, ammunition, or component parts transferred by the Islamic Republic of Iran to a terrorist proxy group or state actor outside the territory of Iran; (ii) the intended destination and recipient of such transfer; and (iii) the mode of transportation of such transfer. (B) The status of such transfer at the time of the notification.  (C) A description of actions taken or planned to be taken by the United States Armed Forces or the military forces of partner countries to expose, deter, disrupt, or interdict such transfer, and the authorities under which such actions may be taken. (b) WEAPONS , AMMUNITION , OR COMPONENT PARTS DEFINED .—The term ‘‘weapons, ammunition, or component parts’’ means—(1) conventional arms, such as firearms, artillery, and armored vehicles; (2) missiles, rockets, unmanned aerial systems, and other explosive ordnance; (3) military aircraft; (4) naval vessels and equipment related to such vessels; (5) chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons and the delivery systems of such weapons; and (6) the component parts of any item described in any of paragraphs (1) through (5). (c) TERMINATION .—This section shall cease to have effect on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this Act.“]
  • (IRAN REPORT) Section 1707. Report on Iranian oil sales proceeds.
  • (REPORT ON IRAN) Section 6436. Continued congressional oversight of Iranian expenditures supporting foreign military and terrorist activities.

Other Middle East-related

  • (IRAQ) Section 1230. Extension of authority to support operations and activities of the office of security cooperation in Iraq.
  • (IRAQ & SYRIA) Section 1231. Extension and modification of authority to provide assistance to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.
  • (SYRIA) Section 1232. Extension of authority to provide assistance to vetted Syrian groups and individuals.
  • (SYRIA/ASSAD REGIME) Section 1233. Statement of policy on recognition of the Assad regime.
  • (SUPPORT – JORDAN) Section 1643. Advice and assistance regarding enhancement of Jordanian air and missile defense.

Middle East in the Joint Explanatory Statement

  • On potential inclusion of Israel in the national technology and industrial base: “We direct the Secretary of Defense to brief the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, not later than September 30, 2025, on the feasibility and advisability of including Israel in the national technology and industrial base (NTIB). The briefing shall include but not be limited to: (1) A detailed assessment of the potential benefits or consequences of including Israel in the NTIB; (2) Any relevant security information that would create obstacles to expand NTIB; (3) Any identified gaps in NTIB that could be resolved by expanding NTIB; (4) Any other matter that the Secretary considers to be relevant. The briefing may include a classified annex.”
  • On prohibition on entering into contracts with a person engaged in a boycott of the State of Israel: “The House bill contained a provision (sec. 877) that would prohibit the Secretary of Defense from entering into a contract
    with a person if such person is engaged in an activity that is politically motivated and is intended to penalize or otherwise limit significant commercial relations specifically with Israel or persons doing business in Israel or in Israeli-controlled territories. The Senate committee-reported bill contained no similar provision. The agreement does not include the House provision.”
  • Re: Sec. 1211 – Statement of policy ensuring Israel’s defense: “We direct the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Government of Israel where feasible, to submit a report to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate not later than June 1, 2025, on the extent to which Israel was subject to aerial attacks, from rockets or missiles between October 7, 2023 and December 31, 2024, that Israel countered by deploying or utilizing not less than 50 Iron Dome interceptors, David’s Sling or Arrow defense systems. The report shall include: (1) A listing of the number of deployments of Iron Dome interceptors, David Sling or Arrow defense systems during the reporting period; (2) A listing of the estimated cost of deploying Iron Dome interceptors during the reporting period; (3) An identification of components or munitions required for the replenishment of Iron Dome interceptors, David’s Sling or Arrow defense systems that were deployed or utilized to counter attacks during the reporting period; (4) An estimate of the costs for any such replenishment; (5) A listing of any requests made by the Government of Israel to the Government of the United States for any such replenishment, and the response to any such requests; and (6) An estimate of the timeframe under which the United States resupplied Israel with such defense systems.“
  • Help Israel Recover the Hostages:  “…We direct the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, to provide a briefing, along with the Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs, to the congressional defense committees, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the congressional intelligence committees, not later than March 1, 2025, that contains an overview of United States diplomatic, military, and intelligence support for Israel as it works to release the hostages. The briefing shall cover the following, relating to supporting the release of the hostages: (1) An overview of United States military assistance to Israel; (2) How the United States military is assisting the Israeli military on hostage rescue planning and recovery efforts; (3) An overview of United States personnel embedded or regularly liaising with Israel’s military and diplomatic officials in support of hostage release; (4) A description of how the United States is leveraging partner nations to assist with hostage release efforts; and (5) Any other forms of assistance provided the Secretary determines relevant to Israel’s efforts to release the hostages.“
  • Statement of Congress relating to Israel and the hostages held by Hamas: “We strongly condemn the October 7th, 2023, attacks by Hamas on the people of Israel, during which approximately 1,200 people were murdered, including 46 U.S. citizens, and over 250 people were taken hostage, including 12 Americans. We urge the release of the remaining hostages, as well as a durable solution to the security challenges facing Israel, including from Iran and Iranian linked groups. We note that since 1948, Israel has been one of the strongest friends and allies of the United States. We further note that Israel is a stable, democratic country in a tumultuous region. We affirm that it is essential to the strategic interest of the United States to continue to offer security assistance and related support to Israel, which is vital as Israel confronts a number of threats, including those stemming from Iran and Iranian linked groups. We direct the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, to provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees, not later than February 1, 2025, outlining an overview of United States diplomatic, military, and intelligence support for Israel in support of Israeli efforts to secure the release of the hostages captured by Hamas in the wake of the October 7, 2023, attacks. The briefing shall include: (1) An overview of United States military assistance to Israel in support of hostage recovery efforts; (2) A description of assistance provided by the United States military to the Israeli military related to hostage rescue planning and recovery efforts. (3) A description of intelligence sharing efforts in support of hostage release efforts; (4) A description of the number of United States personnel embedded or regularly liaising with Israel’s military, intelligence, and diplomatic officials and the types of activities in which such personnel are engaged; (5) A description of how the United States is leveraging partner nations to assist with hostage release efforts; and (6) A description of any other forms of assistance provided by the United States to Israel that are determined relevant to Israel’s efforts to release the hostages.“
  • Study and report on international security measures on the border between Gaza and Egypt: “…We direct the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, to submit a report to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, not later than March 1, 2025, outlining steps that Israel, Egypt, and the United States can take to enhance international security measures on the border between Gaza and Egypt to ensure Hamas and other actors do not use tunnels or methods via the Mediterranean Sea to smuggle weapons and illicit goods. The report shall include a detailed description and map indicating existing tunnels on the border between Gaza and Egypt.“
  • Briefing on Iranian support for non-state actors in North Africa: “The agreement does not include the House provision. We direct the Secretary of Defense, not later than May 1, 2025, to provide a briefing to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives on Iran’s support for non-state   support may pose to U.S. allies, partners, and interests in the region“
  • Sense of Congress on the importance of the Iron Dome system: “We strongly support the efforts of the Department of Defense to assist Israel in defending its population from rocket and missile attacks with the Iron Dome system.”
  • Sense of Congress on international defense exhibitions: “We note that the Court of Commerce of Paris ruled in June 2024 that the provisions that were imposed on Israeli companies for their participation in the Eurosatory Exhibition were illegal. Unfortunately, the Court acted too late for Israeli companies to participate.”
  • Military cooperation with Morocco: “We recognize the twentieth anniversary of the African Lion exercise hosted by Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, and Ghana. African Lion is U.S. Africa Command’s largest joint, all-domain, multi-component, multinational exercise. African Lion builds and maintains interoperability with African and North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners and improves international efforts to meet security challenges together. We note the importance of the continuation of the African Lion exercise in future years, including efforts to build readiness to respond to crises and contingencies in Africa and address security challenges around the world. We also note the importance of the United States-Morocco security relationship and believe that close cooperation between the United States and Morocco is critical to regional security.“
  • Report on cooperative efforts to stop unmanned aerial systems: “We direct the Secretary of Defense to submit a briefing, not later than March 1, 2025, to the congressional defense committees as to the status of cooperation between the United States and Israel on efforts to counter threats from the Government of Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and any Iran-backed group operating in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, or Yemen specifically associated with the employment of unmanned aerial systems, including loitering munitions  otherwise known as ‘‘suicide’’ or “kamikaze’’ drones.”
  • United States-Israel cooperation on space matters: “We support cooperation between the United States and Israel on space matters including: between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Israel Space Agency; and between the United States Air Force and the Israeli Air Force’s newly created Space Force in the areas of research, development, test, and evaluation.“
  • United States-Israel emerging technology capabilities cooperation: “We note that we have included a $47.5 million increase elsewhere in this bill for research and development, test and evaluation, in the areas of emerging technologies capable of bolstering the capabilities of both the United States and Israel to meet emerging defense challenges, including in the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, quantum and automation.“

2. Letters

3. Hearings & Markups

December 11, 2024: The House Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing entitled, An Assessment of the State Department’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan by America’s Top Diplomat. The sole witness (more correctly, the defendant) was Secretary of State Blinken (statement). Unsurprisingly, members used this appearance of Blinken on the Hill to weigh in on the aspects of the Biden Administration’s foreign policy unrelated to Afghanistan, including Israel and Israel’s war on Gaza. Also unsurprisingly, protesters took advantage of this rare appearance of Blinken in Congress to protest the Biden Administration’s Gaza policies. You can watch the whole spectacle here (to see what members said on Israel/Gaza/Palestinians, word searches of the accompanying auto-transcript work well). Also see:

December 10, 2024: The House Committee on Natural Resources’ Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a 2-panel “hearing” entitled, “Desecrating Old Glory: Investigating How the Pro-Hamas Protests Turned National Park Service Land into a Violent Disgrace.” Panel 1 witnesses were: Mark Lee Greenblatt, Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior (testimony); and Charles Cuevelier, Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (testimony). Panel 2 witnesses were: Kenneth H. Spencer, III, Chairman, United States Park Police Fraternal Order of Police (testimony); Alex Goldenberg, Director of Intelligence, Network Contagion Research Institute (testimony) [learn more about NCRI and its Israel-focused work]; and Scott Walter, President, Capital Research Center (testimony) [you can see their work on Israel-related issues here]. Hearing video is here; post-hearing Committee press release – Committee Investigates Foreign Funded Riots, Flag Burning and Anti-American Activities

  • For a sense of what this hearing was about, see the helpful hearing memo published by the Committee 9/16/24 (for when the hearing was originally scheduled). That memo, among other things, laments that at the protest in question involved “burning American flags, assaulting police officers, and raising foreign flags on American soil.” As a reminder: (a) yes, assaulting police officers is of course illegal; (b) whether some members of Congress like it or not, the Supreme Court has ruled that burning the American flag is protected free speech; (c) it is entirely legal to fly foreign flags on US soil — and it is so commonly done that except in cases like this hearing memo, it is so totally unremarkable — just consider the annual parades in which Americans celebrating various hyphenated national heritages raise/carry/wear the flags of other countries (including Israel), or the Israeli flags flown across the US by supporters of Israel, etc… [there are rules regarding the flying of the US flag alongside a foreign flag].. The memo also asserts — as a matter of fact, rather than as unsubstantiated allegations (which they are) — that the groups involved in these protests “have ties to foreign organizations like Hamas and the Chinese Communist Party” [an updated version of that memo, dated 12/10/24, amends that allegation to read: “have ties to adversarial foreign organizations like Hamas and the Chinese Communist Party” – in case the intent wasn’t clear enough without the word “adversarial“].
  • press release – Yakym [R-IN] Presses Biden Administration on Inadequate Response to Violent Union Station Protests and Unlawful American Flag Burnings
  • House hears testimony about flag-burning at ‘arrest Netanyahu’ protest (Jewish News Syndicate 10/10/24); Federal officials say government has little ability to block anti-Israel protest groups with history of violence (Jewish Insider 12/10/24)
  • Anti-Defamation League 12/11/24: X-post – “Thank you, @NatResources, for convening this hearing on the anti-American & anti-Israel chaos that occurred outside Union Station this summer. ADL has been tracking antisemitism at protests & urges Congress to provide law enforcement the ability to stem any ensuing violence.”

4. Selected Members on the Record

Incoming HFAC-Bibi lovefest

  • On 12/10/24, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu posted on X his congratulations to Rep. Mast (R-FL) for being named the new chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — “Congratulations to Congressman Brian Mast on his important House Foreign Affairs committee appointment. @RepBrianMast is a great American patriot and a true friend of Israel“. As a reminder, Mast served as a volunteer in the IDF and a week after the 10/7/23 Hamas attacks on Israel, he showed up in Congress wearing his IDF uniform.
  • That same day, Mast reposted Netanyahu’s X-post, with the comment: “Friendships, trust, and relationships matter. The bond between America and Israel is cherished by myself and our incoming administration!“

Defending Palestinian Lives/Rights

  • Tlaib (D-MI) 12/11/24: X-post – “A horrific genocide is happening right now and it should be documented in the Congressional Record. The silence and indifference in Congress is disturbing. I submitted @Amnesty’s 296-page report concluding that the Israeli government is committing genocide against Palestinians.“
  • Tlaib (D-MI) 12/6/24: X-post: “People attacking the Amnesty report only want to see Palestinians one way: dead.”

Congress Cares About Hostages in Gaza (but doesn’t seem to mind that the govt of Israel DOES NOT)

  • Note: Stefanik (R-NY) publishes an X-post in support of the hostages pretty much every day
  • Johnson (R-LA) 12/12/24: X-post “It’s been 433 days since Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel and yet more than 100 hostages are still being held by Hamas. I will continue pressing on behalf of the family members of these hostages. Our hearts break for them as we hear the stories of their loved ones and the horrors they are enduring at the hands of these terrorists. The pain for these families is unimaginable, but it does not deter them. They continue to work tirelessly day and night to bring their loved ones home. We will not give up. We must bring an end to this madness.“
  • Wilson (D-FL) 12/11/24: X-post – “Today, I met with a released Israeli hostage and families of the hostages. Their stories are heart wrenching. Enough is enough! It’s time we #BringBackTheHostages and every Wednesday is #WearBlueWednesday until we bring all of them home.“
  • Rutherford (R-NE) 12/11/24: X-post – “Today, I met with the families of 3 Israeli & American hostages taken by Hamas. They’ve been waiting 432 days to bring their loved ones home. I agree with President Trump, if hostages are not released by January 20th, there will be hell to pay.“
  • Bilirakis (R-FL) 12/11/24: X-post – “Honored to meet w victims of the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel and their families. Aviva Siegel, who, together with her husband, Keith, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on 10-7-23. They’ve been brutally kidnapped, tortured, starved and held in suffocating tunnels in Gaza.“
  • LaLota (R-NY) 12/10/24: X-post – “America must remain firm in our commitment to bring every hostage held by Hamas terrorists home safely. We stand resolutely with Israel and fully support their right to their self-defense.  #BringThemHomeNow“

Targeting Amnesty International for having the temerity to write a long, detailed, heavily documented report that concludes that Israel is committing genocide

Three Cheers for Israel, Bibi & Trump Re-making the Middle East!

  • Scott (R-FL) 12/11/24: X-post – “Great to see Paraguay making the right move here and standing with our friend and ally, Israel!” [commenting on post Israeli government X-post – “Welcome and Bienvenido to Israel, President @SantiPenap!  During his visit, President Peña will participate in the inauguration of the Paraguayan Embassy in Jerusalem, meet with Israeli officials to strengthen cooperation between our nations and meet with the families of hostages.”
  • Steube (R-FL) 12/11/24: X-post – “Why do democrats love our enemies and hate America? This money will only be used to fund terrorism. Iran backs proxy groups like Hamas, who slaughtered Americans and innocent Israeli citizens on Oct 7. Other Iranian backed proxies are responsible for attacks on our US troops. Again and again, the Biden Administration puts our troops and allies last.“
  • Lamborn (R-CO) 12/11/24: X-post – “I was honored to receive the first annual Rabbi Benny Elon Award for political courage yesterday evening. Thank you to the Israel Allies Foundation and all those in attendance“; also see: Bacon (R-NE) 12/12/24: X-post – “I along with the pro-Israel community congratulated @RepDLamborn on a great career in the U.S. House. He has always been one of the strongest supporters of US – Israel relationship.“
  • Burchett (R-TN) 12/10/24: X-post – “Distinguished Flying Cross Presentation for members of Tennessee’s 134th Air Refueling Wing. These men offloaded thousands of pounds of fuel to ensure fighters remained airborne for the defense and protection of Israel during Iran’s attack. Thank you for keeping our jets in the sky.“
  • Davidson (R-OH) 12/8/24: X-post – “@netanyahu for ignoring the Obama-Biden pressure to weaken Israel while strengthening Iran. While there is significant concern about the Al-Qaeda aligned rebels that toppled Syria’s government, Assad’s laudable defense of Christian communities was offset by a destabilizing alliance with Iran. After years of conflict, may God bless these people with peace and freedom. Nevertheless, one of the most encouraging developments was @realDonaldTrump expressly declining an invitation to another war.”
  • Bacon (R-NE) 12/8/24: X-post – “Israel crushed Hamas & devastated Hezbollah. With a greatly diminished Hezbollah, Assad’s murderous, Pro-Iran & Pro-Russia regime collapses. Iran’s terrorist tentacles are amputated. Netanyahu deserves our gratitude for destroying OUR enemies despite Biden’s continuous efforts to restrain Israel.”
  • Mills (R-FL) 12/6/24: X-post – “President-elect Donald J. Trump is already making strides to broker peace in the Middle East. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed. The priority: the release of over 100 hostages, including American citizens, held by Hamas. For far too long, the Biden administration has demonstrated weakness, allowing terrorism and fear to destabilize the region. The incoming Trump Administration promises a different approach, one that will restore America’s place on the world stage by delivering ‘peace through strength.’ We’ll remind our adversaries what America stands for freedom and liberty.”

Targeting the UNRWA & the UN

  • Stefanik (R-NY) 12/11/24: X-post – “Thank you to @SenFettermanPA for hosting a very productive meeting where we discussed our shared commitment to standing with Israel and combating antisemitism. Senator Fetterman shared his ideas for strong national security leadership and I highlighted my ideas on implementing President @realDonaldTrump’s America First peace through strength national security agenda.” [with pic of the two of them smiling and giving the camera thumbs up]
  • Fetterman (D-PA) 12/11/24 X-post (responding to Stefanik’s post, ab0ve): “Always was a hard YES for @EliseStefanik but it was a pleasure to have a conversation. I support defunding UNRWA for its documented Hamas infiltration and fully look forward to her holding the @UN accountable for its endemic antisemitism and blatant anti-Israel views.“
  • Marshall (R-KS) 12/11/24: X-post – “I had a great conversation with @EliseStefanik, the next Ambassador to the UN! We discussed standing with Israel and, most importantly, peace through strength. There is no better person to bring the America First agenda to the United Nations than Elise – I look forward to seeing the great work she accomplishes.”
  • Scott (R-FL) 12/9/24: X-post – “430 days ago, hundreds of @UNRWA employees joined forces with evil, Iran-backed Hamas terrorists to attack our friend Israel. We need accountability here from the @UN. Our tax dollars helped pay their salaries, and now they’re responsible for Americans and Israelis being in captivity. It’s a disgrace! Time to clean house and bring every hostage home!” Linked to New York Times article reporting that according to Israel, documents it seized in Gaza document that “at least 24 people employed by UNRWA — in 24 different schools — who were members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad, another militant group” [yes, at least 24, not hundreds, and Israel is not alleging there is any evidence that UNRWA had any knowledge this tiny % of the more than 30k UNRWA staff members were affiliated with Hamas, or that Israel – which vets all UNRWA staff members – had warned UNRWA they were affiliated with Hamas. But hey, when do facts actually matter?]

Targeting Canada

  • Scott (R-FL) 12/7/24: X-post – “First, we saw Canada vote in favor of a ceasefire at the @UN. Now, their parliamentarians are demanding they acknowledge “Palestinian statehood.” I’ve been to Israel, where I saw the evil attacks Hamas terrorists committed. It’s time for our northern neighbors to stop virtue signaling based on lies and siding with terrorist organizations who hate our friend Israel. They should go to Israel and see for themselves the loved ones who are devastated because Hamas has held their family and friends hostage for 428 days. No ceasefire until Hamas is destroyed and every hostage is returned home!”

Antisemitism in Australia

  • Meng (D-NY) 12/6/24: X-post – “I’m outraged by the firebombing of Adass Israel synagogue in Australia & demand accountability. We can’t close our eyes to rising antisemitism at home & abroad. That’s why I’m pushing for more funding for @StateSEAS which has helped bring countries together to fight this hate.”

Lecturing the Pope (yes, the Pope)

  • Torres (D-NY) 12/8/24: X-post – “A year ago, during Christmas, there were Anti-Israel activists who vandalized my office with a baby doll drenched in red paint, claiming that Jesus was a ‘Palestinian refugee in the West Bank’ and that Zionists like myself are the moral equivalent of ‘Christ killers.’ A modern manifestation of an ancient blood libel. Sad to see the pope fall victim to a propaganda photo op that perpetuates the same lie.”

Targeting Academia

  • Torres (D-NY) 12/7/24: X-post – “Columbia University is so embedded in Anti-Israel propaganda that it has a publication entitled ‘The Columbia Intifada.’ What is needed in our society is a revolution of the responsible against the Intifada idiocy of the far left.“

Syria

  • Many, many members of Congress made many, many statements about the fall of the Assad regime. Check websites and social media to see what a particular member might have said.

5. Selected Media

Lobbying

  • Sludge 12/10/24: How Lobbyists Wine and Dine Members of Congress Despite Gift Ban [“Another major congressional trip sponsor is the American Israel Education Foundation, the charitable arm of pro-Israel lobbying group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The group paid for 173 trips during this session of Congress for House members and staff to fly to visit Israel and Rwanda. The trips, which frequently include congressional spouses as well, often cost the group more than $20,000 per attendee, according to the disclosures. Meetings are held with officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the Knesset, and travelers are often hosted at the 5-star King David Hotel in Jerusalem. The American Israel Education Foundation’s parent group AIPAC was one of the largest and most influential campaign funders during the 2024 elections, giving money to hundreds of members of Congress, and spending millions through its super PAC to successfully oust critics of Israel’s assault on Gaza. The group is also a major lobbyist, spending millions each year to push Congress on approving military aid for Israel, opposing the Israeli boycott movement, sanctioning its rivals in the Middle East, and amending U.S. law to endorse a definition of antisemitism that includes ‘drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis.’”]

The Next Congress & Admin (and attacking the old one)

The Next Israeli Ambassador to the US

Syria

Iran

Congress & Support for Israel

Targeting Academia