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

Produced by the Foundation for Middle East Peace in cooperation with Americans for Peace Now, where the Legislative Round-Up was conceived. Views and positions expressed here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily represent APN's views and policy positions.

Shameless plugs:

Next week — March 2, 11am – FMEP will be holding a webinar: “Til Kingdom Come”: Evangelicals, Israel/Palestine, and Messianic Politics, ft. ‘Til Kingdom Come director & Emmy award winner Maya Zinshtein; author and journalist Sarah Posner; and FMEP President Lara Friedman (featured in the film) — in conversation with FMEP non-resident fellow Peter Beinart. Details/register here.

ICYMI, on 2/25 FMEP held a webinar – Israel-Palestine at the International Criminal Court: What Next?, ft. Katherine Gallagher (Center for Constitutional Rights), Hassan Jabareen(Adalah), Michael Kearney (Al-Haq) and Yael Stein (B’Tselem) in conversation with me (Lara Friedman, FMEP). Video is here.

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

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters

(SUPPORTING IRAN DIPLOMACY) S. 434: Introduced 2/24 by Markey (D-MA) and 10 cosponsors (9 Democrats, 1 Independent), “A bill to seek a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s nuclear program, and for other purposes.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Press releases: Leahy (D-VT), Feinstein (D-CA)

(NO IRAN SANCTIONS RELIEF W/O CONGRESS APPROVAL) S. 488: Introduced 2/25 by Hagerty (R-TN) and 21 cosponsors (all GOP), “A bill to provide for congressional review of actions to terminate or waive sanctions imposed with respect to Iran.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Ernst (R-IA) press release – Ernst: Congress must have a say before any Iran sanction relief is granted

(NO RETURN TO JCPOA) HR 1231 (pdf): Introduced 2/23 by Gonzales (R-TX) and no cosponsors, “To prohibit the reentry of the United States into the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action unless the President makes certain certifications relating to Iran, and for other purposes,” aka, the “Constraining Human Rights Offenders in the Middle East (CHROME) Act.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Per Gonzales’ press release, the bill “would prohibit the re-entry of the United States into the Iran Deal unless President Biden certifies to Congress that any sanction relief would not benefit terrorist organizations in Iran that have engaged in the violation of human rights – including torture, the killing of peaceful protestors or the persecution of members of the LGBT community.” [Since this bill positions Gonzales as a defender of LGBT rights, some background on his last campaign: Texas Democrat responds to Trump-backed opponent’s ‘transgender agenda’ attacks: ‘You can’t teach courage, and you can’t teach class’ & Transphobic Ad Attacks U.S. House Candidate Gina Ortiz Jones; Latest Anti-LGBTQ Ad by National Republican Group]

(OPPOSING LIFTING IRAN SANCTIONS) H. Res. 157/S. Res. 72: Introduced 2/24 in the House by Gallagher (R-WI) and 19 GOP cosponsors, and in the Senate by Cotton (R-ID) and 25 GOP cosponsors, “Opposing the lifting of sanctions imposed with respect to Iran without addressing the full scope of Iran’s malign activities, including its nuclear program, ballistic and cruise missile capabilities, weapons proliferation, support for terrorism, hostage-taking, gross human rights violations, and other destabilizing activities.” In the House, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Financial Services Committee; in the Senate referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Press releases: Galllagher (R-WI), Cotton (R-ID),  Blunt (R-MO), Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Young (R-IN), Cruz (R-TX), Hoeven (R-ND), Cramer (R-ND),

(SOLUTION FOR LIBYA) HR 1228/S. 379: Introduced 2/23 in the House by Deutch (D-FL) and 3 cosponsors (one GOP), and in the Senate by Coons (D-DE) and 3 cosponsors (2 GOP), “To advance a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Libya and support the people of Libya.” In the House, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, and the Financial Services Committee; in the Senate referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Also see: Markey press release; pdf of text here.

(COMMEMORATING 1ST GULF WAR) H. Res. 161: Introduced 2/24 by Stefanik (R-NY) and 38 cosponsors (all GOP + Crow, D-CO), “Commemorating the 30th anniversary of Operation Desert Storm’s ground campaign and honoring the legacy of America’s Desert Storm veterans and their example of strength and courage.” Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

Letters

(GET THE ICC TO LAY OFF OF ISRAEL!) Senate letter to Blinken: As of this writing, a letter is being circulated in the Senate for co-signers by Sens. Cardin (D-MD) and Portman (R-OH). The letter urges SecState Blinken to “continue your strong support of Israel by forcefully denouncing the recent decision by the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber to authorize an investigation for alleged crimes in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem” suggesting that “the Court’s recent actions regarding the ‘Situation in Palestine’ have inappropriately infused politics into the judicial process.” The letter goes on to assert that “The ICC does not have legitimate territorial jurisdiction in this case” given that Israel is not a signatory to the Rome Statute, and argues that “ICC rules prohibit it from prosecuting cases against the citizens of a country with a robust judicial system willing and able to prosecute atrocity crimes committed by its personnel and officials. The ICC’s mandate should not supersede Israel’s robust judicial system, including its military justice system.” The letter alleges that the ICC’s Pre-Trial Chamber’s decision “unfairly targets Israel, biases any subsequent investigation or trial, and hinders the path towards regional peace” and “constitutes a dangerous politicization of the Court and distorts the purposes for which the Court was established.” The letter says the US “should stand in full force against” the decision and urges Blinken to “issue a more forceful condemnation of the Court’s actions. We also urge you to work with like-minded international partners to steer the ICC away from further actions that could damage the Court’s credibility by giving the appearance of political bias. We ask that you give this matter your full attention and that you continue to defend Israel against discriminatory attacks in all international fora.” Haaretz article on the letter is here. NOTE: This is not the first time Cardin and Portman have led a letter on this subject —  a reminder from the May 15, 2020 Round-Up:

(POMPEO – STOP THE ICC FROM ATTACKING ISRAEL!!) AIPAC-backed House &Senate letters: This week, letters were sent to Secretary of State Pompeo – from both the House and Senate – demanding that the U.S. work to block an ICC investigation of Israel for its actions against the Palestinians (the letters are not identical). The House was led by Luria (D-VA) and Gallagher (R-WI), and signed by 262 representatives. The Senate letter was led by Cardin (D-MD) and Portman (R-OH), and signed by 69 senators. The House letter suggests that the current investigation is “politically motivated,” that the ICC has no jurisdiction, and that those pursuing it are doing so “in place of a negotiation process between Israelis and Palestinians” [notwithstanding the fact that the “negotiation process” has been replaced by unilateral actions by the Trump Administration (on Jerusalem, settlements, etc) and Israel (which is on the brink of formally annexing much of the West Bank, with U.S. approval)]. The Senate letter argues that the ICC does not have jurisdiction, that the prosecutor’s recommendation for an investigation “constitutes a dangerous politicization of the Court and distorts the purposes for which the court was established,” and that what is being contemplated is a “biased investigation of Israel.”

(COMBAT FOREIGN INFLUENCE CAMPAIGNS) Klobuchar-Reed-Peters letter to Biden officials: On 2/25, Sen. Klobuchar (D-MN), Reed (D-RI), and Peters (D-MI) sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, urging them to take steps to counter foreign influence campaigns. As noted in the press release, the letter “highlights warnings of ongoing malign influence campaigns from Russia, China, and Iran, and other foreign adversaries seeking to undermine the U.S. and our allies from U.S. intelligence officials and independent researchers.”

(SUPPORT ENDING US MILITARY ENGAGEMENT IN YEMEN) De Fazio letter to Biden: On 2/24, Reps. DeFazio (D-OR), Khanna (D-CA), and Dingell (D-MI) led a letter, signed by 41 House members, urging transparency from the Biden Administration regarding U.S. involvement in the Saudi/UAE-led coalition’s war in Yemen as the U.S. ends its support for ‘offensive’ operations. Press release here; also see: Democrats Pressure Biden on U.S. Backing for Saudi War in Yemen (The Intercept)

(PRESS KSA TO DROP BOGUS CHARGES AGAINST VIRGINIANS & PERSECUTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS) Kaine-Connolly letter to Blinken: On 2/24, Sen. Kaine (D-VA) and Rep. Connolly (D-VA) led a letter to SecState Blinken, co-signed by Bennet (D-CO), Feinstein (D-CA), Hickenlooper (D-CO), Markey (D-MA), Warner (D-VA) and Warren (D-MA). As summarized in a press release, the signers of the letter are urging the State Department “to press Saudi Arabia to drop false charges against two Virginians and other Americans in the Kingdom. In their letter, the lawmakers highlight cases of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who are facing unfair trials on March 8 or subject to Saudi travel bans due to their peaceful advocacy for social reforms. The lawmakers ask that the State Department advocate for a fair trial and the lifting of travel bans and asset freezes for these Virginians and other Americans.” Other press releases: Kaine (D-VA), Feinstein (D-CA), Bennet (D-CO)

(DEAR KSA: PLEASE HELP YEMEN AID EFFORT) Young-Murphy letter to Saudi Ambassador: On 2/23, Sens. Young (R-IN) and Murphy (D-CT) sent a letter to the Saudi ambassador to the US, “regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen and current funding shortfalls facing the relief effort.”  Per their press release, ahead of the upcoming UN pledging conference for aid to Yemen (on March 1), the Senators “urged Ambassador Reema bint Bandar Al Saud to ensure Saudi Arabia considers making a similar contribution to their pledges in 2018 and 2019, and highlighted the urgency of the situation as critical programs that provide food, water, sanitation, fuel and medicine have been shut down due to lack of donor support in 2020.”

2. Hearings & Markups

None.

3. On the Record