1. Bills, Resolutions
2. Letters
3. Hearings & Markups
4. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

New from FMEP:

• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast 2/20/24: “Famine is a Massacre in Slow Motion:” On Mass Hunger & Israel’s Culpability in Gaza, ft. FMEP Fellow Yara Asi speaking with Alex de Waal of the World Peace Foundation and Tufts University. Reminder: de Waal authored the January 21, 2024 article in the Guardian entitled “Unless Israel changes course, it could be legally culpable for mass starvation.”
• New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast 2/20/24: Impacts of Israel’s War on Gaza – a Regional Tour d’Horizon, ft. FMEP’s Lara Friedman speaks to Middle East policy journalist, analyst, and author Omar Rahman about the regional impacts and implications of Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

 

1. Bills & Resolutions

none [Congress in recess]

 

2. Letters

• 2/22/24: Rep. Goldman (D-NY) X-post – “Hamas has illegally held & horribly abused over 100 hostages for 5 months. They must be released immediately & Hamas must be neutralized. Today, @RepRaskin
  and I led 13 Jewish colleagues in urging @POTUS to facilitate a temporary ceasefire so that all hostages can leave Gaza.” [letter text]. Also see: Nadler (D-NY) press release. Also see: Jewish Insider 2/23/24: Jewish House Democrats join calls for ‘mutual, temporary’ Israel-Hamas cease-fire
• 2/21/24: 17 Jewish Organizations Push for Passage of Antisemitism Awareness Act [letter text].  The 17 pro-Israel Jewish organizations write: “… are writing to reaffirm our support for the widespread adoption and endorsement of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. Clearly and accurately defining antisemitism is key to combating its manifestations wherever they may appear… Endorsement of an alternative definition would undo years of international cooperation and progress in identifying and combating antisemitism and would only create confusion and unequal standards… More importantly, adoption of any alternate definition of antisemitism would undermine efforts to protect Jewish communities. The IHRA definition’s clear and succinct examples include several relating to Israel, which have proven to be especially important in recent months…” NOTE: Contrary to the message of this letter, note my 1/23/24 X-thread — “The 2023 report on worldwide adoptions of IHRA definition of antisemitism is out! Notwithstanding the celebratory framing, the report underscores how non-universally-accepted this definition remains, despite massive efforts & $ promoting it. This is consistent with the 2022 report on worldwide adoptions. I broke that report down in detail in a thread last year — given the tiny change in 2023, that analysis still applies, completely, to the new report. Both reports are framed as IHRA success stories but the details tell a different story. This disconnect is key: the deceptive “everybody-else-has-adopted-IHRA-if-you-don’t-you-can-only-be-an-antisemite” narrative has long been the key argument used to pressure govt/orgs to adopt.” For views challenging the IHRA definition – from world-renowned experts on antisemitism, the Holocaust, Jewish history, free speech, etc – see my regularly-updated  public data table.
• 2/21/24: Kaine Urges Administration to Press for De-escalation and Hostage Release and Ensure Upcoming U.S. Weapons Transfers to Israel Prioritize Defensive Needs [letter] – also see: Virginia senator: Don’t send Israel weapons ‘likely to be used in offensive military action’ (Jewish News Syndicate 2/22/24)
• 2/20/24: Cotton Seeks Answers on Biden’s Sanctions of Israelis [letter]. Entire text: “Your recent executive order targets Israelis with sanctions who are “in the West Bank.” Does this phrase include Jerusalem? If so, what parts of Jerusalem? Where are the borders within Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, that you are using for purposes of implementing the executive order? Please provide your response by February 27, 2024.  Thank you for your prompt attention to this important matter.” Also see:  Jewish News Syndicate 2/21/24: Senator asks Biden to clarify if US sees Jerusalem as part of ‘West Bank’; Washington Free Beacon 2/22/24: Biden Admin Won’t Say if West Bank Sanctions Apply to Jews Living in Jerusalem

 

3. Hearings & Markups

February 28, 2024: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Tehran’s Shadow Army: Addressing Iran’s Proxy Network in the Middle East.” Witnesses (so far) will be: The Brookings Institution Vice President and Director, Foreign Policy Suzanne Maloney and Cerberus Global Investments Vice Chairman Brian Hook.

February 27, 2024: The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism will hold a hearing entitled, “Yemen and Red Sea Security Issues.” Witnesses (so far) will be State Department Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dan Shapiro.

 

4. Selected Media & Press releases/statements

Politics/Elex

• WESA 2/23/24: The Israel-Hamas war has become a defining issue of Lee-Patel Democratic primary for Congress
• Palestine Nexus 2/23/24: How AIPAC is Making the US Congress pro-Genocide
• Common Dreams 2/22/24: Jewish-Led NYC Rally Targets AIPAC, Dem Allies Who Oppose Gaza Cease-Fire – “AIPAC uses money and racist bullying to ensure congressional complicity in the genocide of Gaza,” said Jewish Voice for Peace.
• Jewish News Syndicate 2/22/24: ‘Anti-Israel hypocrisy, hate,’ says AIPAC, after AOC calls it ‘NRA of foreign policy’
• Politico 2/22/24: Michigan may soon show just how badly Biden’s cease-fire stance is hurting him [“‘What will backfire with younger voters, with Muslim and Arab American voters and voters of color is rhetoric that engages in words, but doesn’t make fundamental changes in the direction of our foreign policy,’ said Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who has regularly served as a surrogate for Biden on the campaign trail. Khanna, who has called for a permanent cease-fire, is scheduled to meet with Arab American leaders and groups in Michigan later this week…“]
• The Forward/JTA 2/22/24: Pro-Israel Rep. Ritchie Torres left the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Or did it leave him? Torres’ departure illustrates an identity crisis faced by pro-Israel Jews who identify as progressive but who now find themselves at odds with a movement they once embraced
• Chicago Sun-Times 2/21/24: In the Illinois 6th congressional district Democratic primary, the war in Gaza emerges as a focal point – Rep. Sean Casten faces political newcomer Mahnoor Ahmad and Charles Hughes, making a third try for Congress, in the Illinois March 19 Democratic primary in the 6th congressional district.
• Washington Examiner 2/21/24: AOC blasts pro-Israel group for ‘targeting’ congresswomen ‘who have survived sexual assault’
• Jewish Insider [doing its best impression of an AIPAC press release] 2/21/24: Leading Alabama Democratic candidates openly pulling for AIPAC endorsement  –The top contenders for a new, Democratic-leaning House seat are showing that it’s valuable to be seen as the pro-Israel candidate — even in a deep-blue district
• Common Dreams 2/21/24:  AOC Blasts AIPAC as ‘The NRA of Foreign Policy’ – The New York Democrat was among lawmakers and others calling out the pro-Israel lobby group as it advocated against a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
• Business Insider 2/21/24: Rep. Ritchie Torres quietly leaves Progressive Caucus amid tensions over Israel-Hamas war
• New York Sun 2/21/24: A Pro-Israel Congressman, Ritchie Torres, Parts Ways With Congressional Progressive Caucus – The latest flare-up within the caucus underscores the growing divide within the Democratic Party over the conflict in the Middle East.
• CBS News 2/21/24: Rep. Ro Khanna, a Biden ally, to meet with Arab American leaders in Michigan before state’s primary
• LA Times 2/21/24: In final primary debate, Senate candidates spar over Israel, immigration and campaign donations
• Axios 2/21/24: Progressive Caucus loses another pro-Israel member
• San Diego Jewish World 2/20/24: Schiff, Garvey Prove to Be the Pro-Israel Candidates in California’s Race for U.S. Senate
• Politico 2/20/24: Dems’ Israel divide takes toll on Progressive Caucus
• The Hill 2/20/24: New York Democrat leaves Congressional Progressive Caucus after splitting with members over Israel
• The Forward 2/20/24: Jamaal Bowman, losing favor among Israel supporters, teams up with Rashida Tlaib — Tlaib, one of Israel’s most vocal critics in Congress, has raised far more money than Bowman this year
• NPR 2/19/24: In Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s district, the Israel-Hamas war is having ripple effects
• WSJ 2/18/24: The Congressional Fight Over Aid to Ukraine and Israel  – Journal Editorial Report: Paul Gigot interviews Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska
• The Hill 2/18/24: Cori Bush faces difficult primary amid Democratic rift over Israel
• Fox News 2/17/24: Rowdy anti-Israel group gathers outside Ted Cruz’s home for early morning protest: ‘Harassing my family’ – ‘Ted Cruz, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide,’ the protesters shouted

Pro-Israel Lobbying in Congress

• Jewish Community Voice (South New Jersey) 2/21/24: Local activists travel to DC to advocate for Israel aid, security grants, and against antisemitism [“The activists who attended the Fly-In urged their members of congress and senators to advance the Antisemitism Awareness Act, pass military support for Israel, and increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). Rosenthal and Waldman personally met with Congressman Tom Kean of NJ’s 7th District, Congressman Donald Norcross of NJ’s 1st District, NJ Senator Robert Menendez, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman of NJ’s 12th District, and staff from Senator Cory Booker’s office.“]

US Aid to Israel

• Daily Kos 2/21/24: Ukraine/Israel/Palestinians/Taiwan Aid – The Discharge Petition Route
• Jewish Exponent 2/21/24: What is Sen. Lindsey Graham Thinking? [“
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 2/21/24: $14b US aid package for Israel crafted with eye to ‘multi-front war,’ not just Gaza
• Jewish Telegraphic Agency 2/20/24: Joe Biden is pressing Congress to send $14B to Israel. What is the emergency aid for?
• Fox News 1/19/24: Lindsey Graham, who voted against Senate foreign aid bill, ‘very optimistic’ about House proposal
• CBS News 1/18/24: Sen. Lindsey Graham “very optimistic” about House plan for border security and foreign aid

Israel War on Gaza on the Hill

• Common Dreams 2/23/24: Senate Vote to Cut UNRWA Funding Is Cruel and Unusual Punishment
• The Public’s Radio 2/22/24: U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on the wars in Israel and Ukraine, the economy and presidential politics
• Al Jazeera 2/21/24: US congressman Andy Ogles stirs outrage with Gaza comment: ‘Kill them all’ – Video of the United States representative has gone viral after he clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in Washington.
• Washington Examiner 2/21/24: Progressive Democratic Caucus sheds members over Israel war divisions
• The Tennessean 2/21/24: US Rep. Andy Ogles slammed for his ‘kill them all’ response to Palestinian activists
• San Bernardino Sun 2/21/24: ‘We will not be complicit in this’: Hill staffers challenge their bosses on Gaza
• Haaretz 2/20/24: Why Bernie Sanders, AOC Won’t Accuse Israel of Genocide in Gaza — Two of the progressive left’s most iconic torchbearers – Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez – have intentionally stopped short of matching rhetoric from their colleagues and much of their base
• Reuters 2/20/24: US lawmakers hopeful of pause in Gaza war before Ramadan
• Arutz Sheva 2/19/24: Minister Gallant meets US Senators Coons and Blumenthal – Minister Gallant briefed the Senators on operational developments in the southern arena, and emphasized the consistent actions by the defense establishment since the start of the war, targeting Hamas terrorists and infrastructure.
• Jewish News Syndicate 2/18/24:  Ted Cruz: ‘Two anti-Israel protests in the same day. That’s a first!’
• The Hill 2/18/24: Senate Democrat [Bennett, D-CO] says Netanyahu ‘animated by his own domestic political interest’

Israel-Hezbollah

• Reuters 2/20/24: US senators say it is ‘urgent’ for Hezbollah-Israel war to de-escalate soon
• Al-Monitor 2/20/24: Sen. Coons to visit Lebanon amid Israel-Hezbollah clashes, leadership crisis – Democratic Senator Chris Coons is headed for Beirut in what some observers comment is a show of US support for Lebanon at a time of ongoing crisis.

Other stuff

• Jewish News Syndicate 2/21/24: Rubio commemorates victims of 1994 antisemitic terror attack in Argentina
• Palestine Legal 2/21/24: Anti-Palestinian Animus at Root of U.S. Anti-Terrorism Laws, New Report Reveals