Congressional Letters, but No Actions, Oppose Israeli Annexation of Parts of West Bank
Washington,
July 30, 2020
Congressional Letters, but No Actions, Oppose Israeli Annexation of Parts of West Bank7/28/2020Washington Report On Middle East Affairs By Shirl McArthurMUCH SOUND AND FURY, signifying nothing, is one way to characterize all the congressional harrumphing and hand-wringing over reports that Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is proceeding with plans to annex as much as 30 percent of the West Bank. Americans for Peace Now reported that representatives of Netanyahu and President Donald Trump are working together to develop a detailed map designating the territory to be annexed. They want to get the annexation process completed to establish “facts on the ground” before the U.S. general election in November. No fewer than five letters have been sent, calling on Israel to abandon the plans, but no legislative measures have been introduced, while pro-Israel measures seem to be progressing nicely. In the Senate, on May 21, 19 Democratic senators, led by Sens. Chris Murphy (CT), Tim Kaine (VA), and Chris Van Hollen (MD), signed a letter to Netanyahu and “Alternate Prime Minister” and Defense Minister Benjamin Gantz. While paying lip service to “Palestinians’ right to self-determination,” the bulk of the letter emphasizes that unilateral annexation of Palestinian territory would be “met with deep concern from our mutual allies” and erodes Israel’s “support among the American people.” Separately, on June 3, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) sent a slightly stronger letter to Netanyahu and Gantz urging them to abandon annexation plans and continue working “toward a shared goal of a two-state solution.” Also, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) wrote to Netanyahu on May 15, expressing her concern about unilateral annexation, but her “concern” was more about the costs to Israel rather than its impact on Palestinian rights. More positively, on May 20, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) wrote to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo urging that the U.S. “continue to promote a clear path toward negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and to encourage the Israeli government not to take actions outside of direct talks.” In the House, 191 members, led by Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Brad Schneider (D-IL) and David Price (D-NC), signed a June 25 letter to Netanyahu, Gantz, and Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi saying that “longstanding, bipartisan U.S. foreign policy supports direct negotiations to achieve a viable two-state solution that addresses the aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians, and their desire for long-term security and a just, sustainable peace,” and expresses the signers’ fear “that unilateral actions, taken by either side, will push the parties further from negotiations and the possibility of a final, negotiated agreement.” Meanwhile, S.Res. 234 and H.Res. 138, supporting a two-state solution, have made no progress. SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE PASSES BILL TO PROVIDE MORE GOODIES FOR ISRAELOn May 21, the Senate Foreign Relations committee (SFRC) passed, without discussion, S. 3176, amended, introduced in January by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). The Senate bill, similar to the House bill, H.R. 1837, passed by the House last July, is a grab bag of goodies for Israel, with one significant difference. S. 3176 does not include the provision included in H.R. 1837, which would give the president authority to provide Israel any defense-related articles or services if he determines that Israel is “under an existing or imminent threat of military attack,” without any limitation of law and without congressional oversight. S. 3176 was reported to the full Senate on June 3 and could be brought up for a vote at any time. Next, the Senate will probably amend the House’s H.R. 1837, which still rests with the SFRC, by replacing its text with the text of S. 3176, pass it, and return it to the House for action. If it passes both the Senate and the House, which seems likely, it will send Israel a strong message that there will be no congressional consequences for annexation, or any other outrageous action Israel might take. MEMBERS OF CONGRESS URGE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CONDEMN ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN WEST BANKFollowing the increases in settler violence against Palestinians over the past two years, on June 11, 54 Representatives, led by Reps. Deb Haaland (D-NM), Jared Huffman (D-CA) and John Yarmuth (D-KY), signed a letter to U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman urging him to condemn all acts of violence in the West Bank. The letter points out that “there is no doubt that such incidents, in addition to causing tragic suffering, harm the prospects for a negotiated two-state solution to the conflict that is in each of Israel’s, the Palestinians, and U.S. interests. We believe the U.S. must condemn all acts of violence that pull us further away from peace and should make its condemnation clear whether the victim is Israeli or Palestinian.” H.R. 5595, the “Israel Anti-Boycott” bill, introduced on Jan. 13 by dependable Israel-firster, Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), now has 64 cosponsors. The previously described bills, S. 1, H.R. 336, and S.Res. 120 opposing the BDS movement, have made no progress. All these measures are intended to equate Israel’s colonies with Israel NEW BILLS WOULD INCREASE U.S.-ISRAEL COOPERATION, SLAM THE ICCTwo bills were introduced “expanding medical partnership with Israel to lessen dependence on China.” H.R. 6829 was introduced on May 12 by Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH). It has 184 cosponsors. And, on May 13, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), with 28 cosponsors, introduced S. 3722. Twin bills were introduced “to establish a U.S.-Israel Operations-Technology Working Group.” On May 20, Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) and five cosponsors, introduced S. 3775 and, on June 11, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) and two cosponsors introduced H.R. 7148. Following reports that the ICC had decided to proceed with the investigation of U.S. military personnel for possible war crimes and was considering similar investigation of Israeli personnel for actions in the West Bank, S.Res. 570, “a resolution opposing and condemning the potential prosecution of U.S. and Israeli nationals by the International Criminal Court,” was introduced by Sen. Cruz on May 12. In addition, AIPAC-backed letters were sent to Pompeo from the House and Senate urging that he “marshal a diplomatic initiative with likeminded countries who are members of the ICC to cease its politically motivated investigations into the U.S. and Israel.” The House letter, sent May 12, was led by Reps. Elaine Luria (D-VA) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and signed by 262 representatives. The Senate letter, sent May 13, was led by Sens. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and signed by 69 senators. Complicating matters, neither the U.S. nor Israel is a member of the ICC. But, on Feb. 12, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced H.Res. 855 that would express the “Sense of the House” that “the U.S. should ratify the Rome Statute and join the International Criminal Court.” AIPAC-BACKED HOUSE LETTER URGES U.N. TO RENEW IRAN ARMS EMBARGOThe long-awaited House letter, led by Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs committee, Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), to Pompeo urging increased U.S. diplomatic action to “renew the expiring U.N. arms embargo against Iran and U.N. travel restrictions” on certain Iranian individuals was finally sent May 4. After much delay to ensure as many signatures as possible, the letter, strongly pushed by AIPAC, was signed by 387 representatives when sent. And S.Res. 509, introduced in February by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA), to urge the U.N. Security Council to renew the expiring restrictions on Iran, now has 51 cosponsors. NEW BILL WOULD PROHIBIT AID TO LEBANON; SENATE LETTER URGES DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION IN YEMENS. 3691, “to prohibit the provision of U.S. Government assistance to any Lebanese government that is influenced or controlled by Hezbollah,” was introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) May 12. It has no cosponsors. On June 16, a bipartisan group of nine senators, led by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Todd Young (R-IN) wrote to Pompeo expressing their concern over recent events in Yemen and urging him to “use the powers of your office to facilitate a comprehensive diplomatic solution to end this devastating war.” Shirl McArthur is a retired foreign service officer. He lives in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
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