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]

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.

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).

 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.

2. Hearings

None.

3. On the Record

Media & Members – Elections

General

 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

FMEP Events:

• 8/4/22: FMEP’s Lara Friedman participated in a panel organized by 7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, SumOfUs, and MPower Change, discussing ongoing efforts to pressure PayPal to open up services to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Other panelists were: Mona Shtaya (7amleh) and Linda Sarsour (MPower Change), and moderate Angus Wong (SumofUs). Video here.

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

(OBSTRUCTING IRAN DIPLOMACY) H. Res. 1307: Introduced 7/29 by Schneider (D-IL) and  Fleischmann (R-TN), “Committing to ensuring that Iran will never acquire a nuclear weapon and supporting the important work of the International Atomic Energy Agency in safeguarding nuclear material around the globe.” Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

(NO ARMS SALES TO SAUDI ARABIA) S. J. Res. 58: Introduced 8/4/22 by Paul (R-KY), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of certain defense articles and services.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

(NO ARMS SALES TO UAE) S. J. Res. 59: Introduced 8/4/22 by Paul (R-KY), “A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of the proposed foreign military sale to the Government of the United Arab Emirates of certain defense articles and services.” Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

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

FMEP Events:

7/28/22: New edition of FMEP’s Occupied Thoughts podcast: Israeli Supreme Court Opens Door to “Legalized” Ethnic Cleansing Inside the Green Line — FMEP President Lara Friedman speaks with Dr. Lana Tatour about the recent Israeli Supreme Court decision that opens a legal path for the Israeli government to revoke citizenship of Palestinian citizens of Israel, and what this decision both reflects and demonstrates about the fragile status of Israel’s Palestinian citizens.

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

(FY23 SFOPS – SENATE) S. 4662: Introduced 7/28/22 by Coons (D-VDE), the “A bill making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2023, and for other purposes.” For full Middle East-related details of the bill (pdf) and the accompanying committee report (pdf), see my analysis here. Of special interest:

• The Report includes new language, introduced by Senators Van Hollen (D-MD) and Leahy (D-VT), regarding Shireen Abu Akleh (see: Van Hollen’s 7/28/22 press release; Van Hollen Tweet
• The Report also includes new language giving a green light to the State Department linking military aid to regional security cooperation (in effect, appropriators signifying support for using US aid to promote the DEFEND Act).
• The Bill text includes a new provision – mirroring a new provision in the House version – to enable the US to at least temporarily/conditionally rejoin UNESCO.

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

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters

(FREE SPEECH? MEH) S. XXX: From Jewish Insider 7/19/22: “In remarks at a Christians United for Israel summit on Monday just outside Washington, D.C., Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) previewed plans to introduce federal anti-Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions legislation. The legislation, as described by Cotton, would prevent the military from contracting with any companies that engage in boycotts of Israel, a similar mechanism utilized in many state-level anti-BDS laws. The legislation, if passed, would mark a major step forward in efforts to translate state-level anti-BDS initiatives into federal law. The legislation, as described by Cotton, would prevent the military from contracting with any companies that engage in boycotts of Israel, a similar mechanism utilized in many state-level anti-BDS laws. The legislation, if passed, would mark a major step forward in efforts to translate state-level anti-BDS initiatives into federal law. ‘We can fight the antisemitic BDS movement by passing a bill I plan to introduce this year to deny military contracts to any company that boycotts Israel,’ he said.’”  Also see:

• Video on FoxNews of Cotton talking about the planned legislation (starting at 02:11 in the video).
• This planned legislation is similar to an amendment to the FY23 NDAA offered earlier this month by Gottheimer (D-NJ) [covered in the 7/8/22 edition of the Round-Up)]
• Tweet from FMEP’s Lara Friedman 7/19/22: “Reminder: the legal logic behind Cotton’s promised new federal anti-BDS bill is already a template by states to target free speech/protest related to industries incl fossil fuels, guns/ammo, & to attack very notion of values-informed investing.”
• US senator outlines plans for nationwide anti-BDS legislation (Middle East Eye 7/20/22)

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

FMEP Events:

• 7/13/22: FMEP’s Lara Friedman interviewed on Background Briefing with Ian Masters, The Centerpiece of Biden’s Israel Visit Will Be a US-Israel Strategic Partnership Against Iran
• 7/11/22: FMEP/Jewish Currents webinar, Mr. Biden Goes to the Middle East – a conversation with U.S.-based experts Peter Beinart (CUNY), Dana El Kurd (University of Richmond), Lara Friedman (FMEP), and Trita Parsi (Quincy).

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters

(FY23 DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL – HOUSE) HR 7900: See previous Round-Ups (7/8/22 & 6/24/22) for full details of the House FY23 NDAA’s journey prior to this week, including Middle East-related provisions in the base bill. What happened this week:

• On 7/12/22, the House Rules Committee met to consider the 1230 amendments that were submitted to HR 7900.
• The Committee ruled hundreds of those amendments “in order.” Most of those amendments were then bundled together into 5 “en bloc” amendments.
• The House completed its work on HR 7900 July 13-14, passing all the “en bloc” amendments, in addition to individual votes on others (including 2 related to the Middle East)
• At the end of all of this, the House passed HR 7900 by a vote of 329-101.
• See my table of all amendments related to the Middle East/Israel/Iran, Turkey (of which there were many) to see what was introduced, what was ruled “in order,” and the ultimate fate of all those amendments.
• Next up: we repeat this whole process in the Senate!

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 & Travel
3. On the Record

FMEP Events:

• 7/11/22 FMEP/Jewish Currents webinar – Mr. Biden Goes to the Middle East – a conversation with U.S.-based experts Peter Beinart (CUNY), Dana El Kurd (University of Richmond), Lara Friedman (FMEP), and Trita Parsi (Quincy). Register here.
• 7/4/22 FMEP Occupied Thoughts podcast – “The people are devastated”: Demolitions, Harassment, and Live Fire IDF Training in Masafer Yatta – ft. Ali Awad (journalist and activist from the village of Tuba in Masafer Yatta) in conversation with FMEP’s Sarah Anne Minkin.

Also of note: 7/11/22 event on Capitol Hill – Human Rights Concerns in the Middle East Ahead of President Biden’s Trip to the Region [“dissidents from the Middle East and Members of Congress will join the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), Human Rights Watch, PEN America, the Freedom Initiative, Freedom House, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Win Without War, and Human Rights First for a briefing for media ahead of President Joe Biden’s July 15-16 visit to Saudi Arabia to meet with the leaders of the GCC+3”]

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

1. Bills, Resolutions & Letters

(FY23 STATE & FOREIGN OPS APPROPS BILL – HOUSE) HR XXXX: This week the House Appropriations Committee completed its work on the FY23 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. As always, the SFOPS bill includes annual funding for Israel, the West Bank/Gaza, Egypt, and the rest of the Middle East. It also includes (as always)  far-reaching limitations/conditions/oversight/vetting requirements/reporting requirements on the Palestinians, as well as some conditions/reporting related to other aid programs.

To avoid sending out a Round-Up weighing in at some 40+ pages, I’ve posted my in-depth summary/analysis of all Israel/Middle East-related provisions of the bill — as approved by the SFOPS Subcommittee and then amended/approved by the full House Appropriations committee — as this separate report.

General info/links about the bill and its path so far are below. The bill now heads to the House floor for amendments/grandstanding/debate.