On Monday 21 Democratic members of congress sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines calling on the Biden administration to publicly reject Israel’s decision to label six Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations.
“The U.S. must always and consistently speak out against efforts by all countries attempting to undermine civil society and the necessary work of humanitarian organizations,” reads the letter, which was led by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA). “Counter-terrorism legislation must not be applied to legitimate human rights and humanitarian activities. Furthermore, repressive tactics such as criminalizing organizations must not be used to suppress or deny the right to freedom of association, or to quash political dissent, or limit the peaceful activities of civil society.”
“The US must condemn any effort, anywhere to undermine life-saving humanitarian work,” tweeted Pressley. That’s why I led 21 colleagues in a letter to the State Department regarding Israel’s criminalization of 6 Palestinian human rights orgs supporting low-income folks, women and girls, clean water and more.”
In October 2021 Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, signed an order designating Al-Haq, Defence for Children International-Palestine (DCIP), the Bisan Center for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) and Addameer “terrorist organizations.” Gantz said that the groups “constitute an arm” of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and claimed that their “main activity..is the liberation of Palestine and destruction of Israel.” The Israeli government has never provided any public evidence to back up these assertions and a November 2021 investigation into the allegations by 972, Local Call, and The Intercept found nothing to prove these claims. Israel says that it handed over its evidence to President Biden, but the administration has still yet to comment on its validity.
Despite Israel’s lack of proof, Gantz’s move has resulted in real consequences for the organizations. The Dutch government cut funding to the UAWC, the European Commission suspended projects undertaken by Al-Haq and UAWC, and Israeli military court sentenced UPWC president Khitam Sa’afin, to 16 months in prison.
The Pressley letter was celebrated by the six human rights groups and endorsed by over 140 civil society organizations. “Our human rights documentation and evidence-based advocacy exposing Israeli forces’ grave violations against Palestinian children have made us a target of the Israeli government for years but we will not back down,” DCIP General Director Khaled Quzmar told Mondoweiss. “We are grateful for Congresswoman Pressley’s leadership in rejecting the Israeli designation and urging the Biden administration to do the same and take action for Palestinian human rights.”
These sentiments were echoed by the group’s Digital Communications Manager, Miranda Cleland. “We’re thankful for Rep. Pressley and members of Congress pushing back against the Israeli criminalization of DCIP and the five other Palestinian civil society organizations,” she said. “Crucially, they understand that this designation is designed to repress and eliminate our lawful human rights work defending Palestinian children’s rights. They’ve made it clear to both the Biden administration and the Israeli government that the so-called ‘evidence’ compiled by Israeli authorities simply isn’t legitimate.”
“We welcome Rep. Pressley’s efforts to demand the Biden administration reject Israel’s criminalization of Palestinian CSOs,” tweeted Addameer. “We encourage all States/Lawmakers to move in this similar direction for the sake of Palestinian human rights & those advocating for them.”
The Pressley letter comes just a week after nine EU countries released a joint statement rejecting the designation and pledging continued cooperation with the groups. Norway’s Foreign Minister also put out a recent statement rejecting the designations.
There have also been multiple efforts from U.S. congress members to raise awareness about the situation. Shortly after Gantz’s announcement, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced House Resolution 751, which condemns the move and calls on the United States government to recognize the important work that these organizations do in Palestine. That bill currently has 11 cosponsors, including Pressley.
The 21 signatories on the new letter include progressive Representatives such as Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY.) However, it was also signed by Rep. Stephen Lynch, a much more conservative Democrat representing Massachusetts’s 8th district. Elsa Auerbach, a JVP Action leader member who has helped organize Lynch’s constituents to pressure the congressman on these issues, told Mondoweiss that the activism has generated real results. Lynch has recently supported multiple campaigns connected to Palestine, including co-sponsorship of Rep. Betty McCollum’s bill promoting the human rights of Palestinian children.
Auerbach says that while progress is being made on the issue locally, activists are up against multiple pro-Israel organizations that also work to influence politicians. “These groups mounted a strong pressure campaign under the guise of fighting antisemitism,” she said. “We’re making inroads in terms of the narrative but that doesn’t mean we see action from politicians.” However, she sees the Pressley letter as a positive move toward deeper action.
“The letter was definitely a good step,” said Auerbach. “House Resolution 751 is going to be the most important way to call for intervention here, but the letter gets us closer to that.”
Nice that Pressly wrote that letter, but it’s also worth noting that she did not join AOC, Ilhan Omar, Cori Bush, Jamaal Bowman, Marie Newman, and Betty McCollum as co-sponsor of Rashida Tlaib’s H.Res.1123 – “Recognizing the Nakba and Palestinian refugees’ rights.”
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-resolution/1123/cosponsors
Few things would bring human rights to Palestinians closer than a civil rights campaign. Ending apartheid is doable but will require intolerance for undisciplined resistance and a consensus for peaceful co-existence.