A congressional letter to the State Department led by Jan Schakowsky did not actually condemn the IHRA definition of antisemitism, but suggested that the Nexus Document and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism be used as tools alongside it. “These two efforts are the work of hundreds of scholars and experts in the fields of antisemitism, Israel and Middle East Policy, and Jewish communal affairs, and have been helpful to us as we grapple with these complex issues,” it read.
It never crossed the minds of most pundits or politicians or Democrats to be critical of Blinken’s pathologically dishonest response to Rep. Ilhan Omar about U.S. and Israeli accountability. His response was normal, entirely mainstream, precisely because Israel is an apartheid state and the US is a superpower and neither is accountable to their victims and we aren’t supposed to notice the lack of accountability.
Netanyahu used a visit from Tony Blinken to turn the subject to Israel’s supposed “existential” threat, Iran. This claim is taken seriously inside the beltway, but Assal Rad writes that it is spurious. U.S./Israel alignment has been harmful to regional and global security.
Israel lobbyists have opened a new front in their effort to characterize Palestinian solidarity as “antisemitic.” Now that two House members and leading human rights groups have said Israel practices “apartheid,” Israel’s friends want to shut down the discussion. It’s a good battle to have, as even mainstream groups say the shoe fits Israel.
Progressive House members are calling on the State Department to investigate whether U.S. aid to Israel is being used in the forced displacement of Palestinians from Jerusalem in violation of U.S. law.
Progressive lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to ditch Trump’s Israel policies
Joe Biden repeatedly said he wanted to rejoin the Iran Deal if he became president. But now that he’s president, things aren’t so clear.
US policy denying Palestinians any avenue of redress against Israeli human rights violations is a public joke, as Matt Lee grills State Spox Ned Price over opposition to ICC jurisdiction. “Where do they go? Where do they go?” And Price has no answer.
Senators Rob Portman and Ben Cardin are circulating a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken asking him to denounce the ICC’s decision it has jurisdiction to investigate war crimes committed by Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Health professionals urge Dr. Anthony Fauci to use some of his $1 million prize from an Israeli foundation to “send a powerful message” of vaccination equity and buy vaccines for Palestinians under occupation, whom Israel has refused to take responsibility for.