The current situation in Israel-Palestine is a cause for great concern. Violence in the occupied Palestinian West Bank is escalating rapidly, and the newly elected Israeli government has implemented many extreme, anti-Palestinian policies. Incidents of settler violence are increasing, and the combined actions of Israeli forces and settlers have resulted in the deaths of 80 Palestinians, including 15 children, since the start of the year.
My hope is that by teaching more activists about the tools their members of Congress have at their disposal, they will make more timely and strategic asks.
In considering the role Congress should play in addressing the growing conflict, a panel of experts came together on March 23 to discuss recent actions by lawmakers and their consequences. The Middle East Institute and the Foundation for Middle East Peace hosted the event. Its featured speakers included Rebecca Abou-Chedid from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Josh Ruebner from the Institute for Middle East, and FCNL’s Legislative Director for Middle East Policy, Hassan El-Tayyab.
The panel discussed the recent introduction of a bipartisan resolution from Sens. Chris Murphy (CT) and Mike Lee (UT) that would require the U.S. State Department to provide a report on Saudi Arabia’s record of human rights abuses. As advocates search for ways to de-escalate violence and restore peace in the region, this precedent-setting measure may offer a blueprint that could be applied to the current situation in Israel and Palestine.
“My hope is that by teaching more activists about the tools their members of Congress have at their disposal, they will make more timely and strategic asks,” El-Tayyab said.
With the conflict escalating daily, it is urgent that Congress work to ensure that U.S. aid to Israel not be used to annex Palestinian territory, forcibly remove Palestinians from their land, or demolish Palestinian structures. Addressing these and other core issues can help disrupt the cycle of persistent violence.
