Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived
Government Relations
APN maintains strong relationships with Members of Congress, congressional staff, and Executive Branch officials. A non-partisan organization . with a non-partisan mission, APN supplies timely information, analysis, expertise and education, providing a pro-Israel, pro-peace, American Jewish perspective on issues and legislation related to Israel and the quest for Middle East peace and, security. APN also engages in advocacy, directly and through its nationwide Action Network, to promote pro-Israel/pro-peace legislation and policy
APN publishes the Legislative Round-Up -- the most comprehensive resource available anywhere on Middle East-related developments on Capitol Hill -- every Friday when Congress is in session. APN also hosts policy briefings on Capitol Hill and brings experts to meet with policy makers to maintain a steady flow of balanced information from the region.
Yesterday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee met to consider the Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act. While the name of the legislation represents something all schools should aspire to, it is in actuality a thinly veiled attempt to de-legitimize the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) and demonize the teaching of the Palestinian narrative. There are real and problematic examples cited by supporters of the bill, which UNRWA takes seriously and is working to address. However, we believe that it is incumbent on schools to teach tolerance and avoid bias in their curriculum on both sides of the Green Line.
1. Bills,
Resolutions, Letters
2. Hearings &
Markups
3. On
the Record
1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
On 9/14/22, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will mark-up two Middle East-related measures:
- (OBSTRUCT IRAN DIPLOMACY) H. Res. 1266: Introduced 7/26/22 by Foxx (R-NC) and Wilson (R-SC), “Requesting the President to transmit certain documents to the House of Representatives relating to any initiative or negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Foxx (R-NC-5) 09/08/2022: Twitter thread – “BREAKING The House Foreign Affairs Committee is taking up my legislation to force the Biden Administration to comply with transparency provisions of the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act. (1/2) Reports indicate that the administration is trying to hide the ball on their negotiations until after the midterm elections. Congress must step up and do its job! (2/2)”; Jewish Insider 9/8/22: GOP resolution seeking draft Iran deal text headed for House Foreign Affairs vote
- (EVERY DAY IS A GOOD DAY TO TARGET UNRWA & PA) HR 2374: Introduced 4/5 by Sherman (D-CA), Zeldin (R-NY), Gottheimer (D-NJ), Mast (R-FL), and Trone (D-MD), “To require the Secretary of State to submit annual reports reviewing the educational material used by the Palestinian Authority, and for other purposes,” aka, the “Peace and Tolerance in Palestinian Education Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. This bill was previously introduced (in various forms, by various groupings similar to the cosponsors on this new bill) in 2018 (HR 6034) and 2019 (HR 2343). Mast (R-FL) tweet in support of the bill is here. Also see: Bipartisan House members reintroduce Palestinian education bill (Jewish Insider), US lawmakers reintroduce bill to address hate, violence in Palestinian schools (Jewish News Syndicate), US Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Require State Department Review of Palestinian Curriculum (Algemeiner)
Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived.
1. Bills,
Resolutions, Letters
2. Iran Negotiations vs.
AIPAC/Congress
3. On the Record
NOTE: I really had planned for a Round-Up hiatus during summer recess, but events conspired against that,
so here we are with one final Round-Up of August. There will NOT be a Round-Up on Friday (I NEED A LONG
WEEKEND!!!) — look for the next edition next Friday. And early happy Labor Day!
Events
- 8/30/22: Israel, Palestine, & Take-Aways from the 2022 Democratic Party Primaries, ft. Rania Batrice (Communications and Legislative strategist), Lara Friedman (FMEP) and Dr. Yousef Munayyer (Arab Center DC), in conversation with Dr. Maha Nassar (Professor, University of Arizona and 2022 FMEP Non-resident Fellow)
1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
None.
LETTERS
[None – except for Gottheimer (D-NJ) letter on Iran, discussed in Part 2 of this Round-Up]
Today, Americans for Peace Now sent a letter signed by over 400 activists to Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanding that the administration fulfill its duty and conduct an independent and transparent investigation into the killing of Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh, an American citizen covering the West Bank for Al-Jazeera TV. She was shot to death on May 11th in the town of Jenin during an Israeli military raid.
The letter reaffirms the need articulated by both President Biden and Secretary Blinken for a “full and transparent
accounting” and an “independent, credible investigation” and urges the administration to fulfill its obligation by
ensuring this occurs.
Dear Secretary Blinken,
We write to you as American citizens who are deeply concerned about the lack of an independent, credible and transparent US-led investigation into the May 11, 2022 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.
We share the conviction that both you and President Biden have expressed that there is a need for a ‘full and transparent accounting’ and an ‘independent, credible investigation.’ Unfortunately, there has yet to be an investigation that meets these criteria.
The United States Security Coordinator’s (USSC) involvement in an independent forensic analysis of the bullet that killed Shireen Abu Akleh was an encouraging first step. However, it is not a sufficient comprehensive investigation into her killing.
Freedom of the press is of paramount importance, and it is vital to the safety of our foreign press that other countries, particularly our allies, understand that the United States will not allow the killing of our journalists to be brushed aside.
The United States has an obligation to conduct a full independent, credible, and transparent investigation into Abu Akleh’s killing. We urge this administration to do so immediately.
Sincerely,
APN
1. Bills,
Resolutions, Letters
2.
Hearings
3. On the Record
NOTE: During August, the Round-Up will shift to a flexible schedule – as in, if there is something to report, there will be a Round-Up, but it may not always be on Fridays. And if there is little to report, the Round-Up may take a break. Thanks for your patience! [And yep, so far this has meant that the Round-Up continues to be produced on its regular schedule during August – sigh].
Events:
- NEXT WEEK – 8/30/22: Israel, Palestine, & Take-Aways from the 2022 Democratic Party Primaries, ft. Rania Batrice (Communications and Legislative strategist), Lara Friedman (FMEP) and Dr. Yousef Munayyer (Arab Center DC), in conversation with Dr. Maha Nassar (Professor, University of Arizona and 2022 FMEP Non-resident Fellow)
- 8/25/22: “Israeli Raids on Palestinian Civil Society Organizations — The Costs of International Inaction” – featuring representatives of the 6 targeted Palestinian NGOs, moderated by Raed Jarrar (DAWN), and with moderators/discussants Zaha Hassan (Carnegie Endowment), Khaled Elgindy (Middle East Institute) and Lara Friedman (FMEP). Co-convened by the Middle East Institute, Foundation for Middle East Peace, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, DAWN, the International Crisis Group, Century International and USMEP.
- 8/23/22: “Israel’s Unrelenting Campaign against Palestinian NGOs and the US Response” – Arab Center Washington DC video conversation featuring Jonathan Kuttab (Arab Center Washington DC), Susan Power (Al Haq), and Lara Friedman (FMEP), in conversation with Khalil Jahshan (Arab Center Washington DC).
Media re: attacks on Palestinian NGOs (citing FMEP)
- US gives green light to Israel’s attacks on human rights groups (Electronic Intifada) (8/26/22)
- As Israel Raids Palestinian Human Rights Groups, US Response Is Muted (Jewish Currents 8/23/22)
- Israel’s assault on Palestinian NGOs is shutting off access to international community (Middle East Eye 8/23/22)
- CIA unable to corroborate Israel’s ‘terror’ label for Palestinian rights groups (The Guardian 8/22/22)
1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
None.
Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived.
1. Bills,
Resolutions, Letters
2. Hearings
3. On the Record
NOTE: During August, the Round-Up will shift to a flexible schedule – as in, if there is something to report, there will be a Round-Up, but it may not always be on Fridays. And if there is little to report, the Round-Up may take a break. Thanks for your patience! [And yep, so far this has meant that the Round-Up continues to be produced on its regular schedule during August – sigh].
Events:
- 8/18/22: New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast – This is Not a Drill: Israel Brings the Hammer Down on the Palestinian NGO Sector, ft. Omar Shakir (Israel and Palestine Director at Human Rights Watch) in conversation with FMEP’s Lara Friedman
- 8/16/22: New episode of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast – Treated as subhuman, deprived of rights and dignity,” Gazans need “to heal, be heard, and be free, ft. Jehad Abusalim (non-resident FMEP Fellow and the Education and Policy Coordinator of the Palestine Activism Program at the American Friends Service Committee) in conversation with FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin
Also of note: With respect to Israel’s escalation this week of its assault on Palestinian civil society & human rights defenders, FMEP’s Lara Friedman has published several commentaries/analyses in the form of Twitter threads – here, here, and here. You can also see FMEP’s resource page: On Israel’s Declaration of Palestinian Human Rights Groups as “Terrorist Organizations” (Oct 2021 to the present).
Today marks 100 days since the Palestinian-American journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh was killed. 100 days that
her loved ones have been grieving the loss of their beloved aunt, sister, friend and colleague. 100 days in which
the Israeli government has obscured the truth and attempted to shift blame. 100 days of which the United States
avoided conducting its own independent investigation into her killing. 100 days and no justice.
Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived.
1. Bills,
Resolutions, Letters
2. Hearings
3. On the Record
NOTE: During August, the Round-Up will shift to a flexible schedule – as in, if there is something to report, there will be a Round-Up, but it may not always be on Fridays. And if there is little to report, the Round-Up may take a break. Thanks for your patience!
1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters
None.
LETTERS
None.
None.
Media & Members – Elections
General
The Nation 8/12/22: AIPAC vs. Democracy
The Jewish Chronicle 8/11/22: If AIPAC is really trying to buy the Democrat Primaries, it should ask for a refund
Responsible Statecraft 8/9/22: AIPAC’s new strategy: Spend millions on elections, don’t mention Israel [“The lobbying org’s first foray into electoral politics has been marked by spending GOP megadonor dollars on Democratic primaries. Why?”]