The letter, written by Democratic Representative Jamaal Bowman, urges “immediate action” against the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose cabinet members “are pushing repressive, anti-democratic policies and escalating violence towards the Palestinian population.”
So far, it has been signed by nine other congressional progressives, including Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley, Cori Bush, Summer Lee, Andre Carson and Betty McCollum, as well as Senator Bernie Sanders, who is mustering support for the effort in his chamber. A spokesperson from Bowman’s office confirmed the details of the letter to Newsweek.
“This move would threaten the rights of all citizens of Israel, enable more corruption by Prime Ministers, and open the path towards further annexation of Palestinian lands,” the letter says of Netanyahu’s proposal.
The letter signers are calling on the Biden administration to ensure that taxpayer funds are not supporting “projects in illegal settlements” and that all future U.S. assistance to Israel will not be used “in support of gross violations of human rights.”
The Democrats are also asking the president to determine whether there have been any violations of the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act, which prohibit American weapons from being used for human rights abuses.
“We urge immediate action to prevent the further loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives,” the letter reads. “Only by protecting democracy, human rights, and self-determination for all Palestinians and Israelis can we achieve a lasting peace.”
Twenty-three organizations, including Americans for Peace Now and Jewish Voice for Peace Action, have endorsed the effort.
Asking other members of Congress to support the letter to Biden, Bowman told his colleagues: “The longer we wait to take action, the further the reality of a two-state solution – and the closer the reality of an entrenched extremist government and worsening violence in the region.”
The Biden administration has said that Israelis and Palestinians deserve “equal measures of freedom,” but Biden has also warned Netanyahu against the proposed judicial changes in the wake of the recent unrest in Israel.
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