Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

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

1. Bills & Resolutions

2. Letters

WE SUPPORT ISRAEL

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

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

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

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

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

OTHER

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

 

3. Hearings & Markups

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

 

4. Israel/Palestine in 2024 Politics/Elex

General

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

Missouri

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

Arizona

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

Minnesota

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

Florida

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

5. Selected Media & Press releases/Statements

Escalation on all fronts

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

Palestinians/Gaza Strip

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

Reflections/analysis re: Bibi Address to Congress

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

Targeting Free Speech/Protest

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

Other stuff

• Jewish News Syndicate 7/31/24: Congresswoman Sara Jacobs is sorely mistaken
• Wild (D-PA) 7/30/24: Statement from Bipartisan Group of Jewish Members of Congress Condemning Antisemitic Incidents in Pennsylvania
• Jewish Insider 7/30/24: Senators denounce Erdogan’s Israel threat