Tag Archive for US Congress

| March 29, 2015
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US Congressmen Lamborn & DeSantis Introduce Legislation to Prevent Boycotts of Israel

In major #BDSFail, 2 Republican congressmen, Congressman Doug Lamborn and Congressman Ron DeSantis, introduced legislation to stymie boycotts of Israel.

By Congressmen Lamborn’s press-release

 

Today, Congressmen Doug Lamborn and Ron DeSantis released the following statement after their introduction of H.R. 1572, the Boycott Our Enemies, Not Israel Act:

Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) and Congressman Ron DeSantis (FL-06) – Photos: Twitter profile photos

“Today, we introduced H.R. 1572 to thwart efforts by Palestinian organizations to pressure different corporations, companies and educational institutions to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel. Recently the Palestinian Authority declared a boycott against Israeli goods, depriving their own population of most basically needed products. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , ,
| November 22, 2014
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Nazareth Priest: In Israel, Christians Have Education, Employment, Welfare, Healthcare – Freedom

Father Gabriel Naddaf of Nazareth continues in his efforts to educate the world that only in Israel, Christians of the Middle East can find peace.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Father Gabriel Naddaf, a Nazareth-based Greek Orthodox Christian priest of Aramean background, has become a symbol and vocal witness of the situation for Christians in Israel, and how that differs from the way Christians are treated everywhere else in the Middle East.

Speaking before US congressional leaders in Washington, DC this week, Father Naddaf explained:

“In the Middle East today, there is one country where Christians are affectionately granted freedom of expression, freedom of worship and security.

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Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , ,
| April 25, 2014
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US Congresswoman Lowey plans to stop funding Palestinians

Rep. Nita Lowey said she is ready to launch steps to stop the $400 million the Palestinians receive annually.

It would be illegal to fund Hamas, a designated terrorist group.

By JTA

 

WASHINGTON — Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.), a top congressional appropriator, said she is ready to launch steps to defund the Palestinian Authority in the wake of its unity agreement with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) - Photo: NY Daily News

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) – Photo: NY Daily News

“I’ll be working with the State Department on the logistics of suspending assistance,” Lowey told JTA on Thursday, after the Israeli government said it was formally suspending peace talks because of the agreement.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| March 19, 2014
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US visas withheld to Israel ex-security, now, post-army travelers

 

Congress & U.S. St. Dept. at odds over visas for Israelis following recent reports in unparallelled numbers of Israelis being denied entry visas.

By JTA

 

The battle between members of Congress and the State Department over tourist visas for Israelis features two competing archetypes of the young Israeli traveler.
Israel Passport - Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Israel Passport – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

The lawmakers paint a picture of a world traveler, matured by service to country, who deserves a break from the stresses of the Middle East. U.S. consular officials, meanwhile, have warned of lawbreakers hawking dubious Dead Sea beauty products in malls and at rest stops. Continue Reading »

Category: The Diaspora | Tags: , , ,
| February 23, 2014
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U.S. Congressional Committee Debates Stopping Aid to PA Until Incitement Stops

According to Israel’s TV2 report, House Appropriations Committee weighing bill cutting off scheduled financial aid to the PA until antisemitic & anti-Israel incitement stops.

By Tova Dvorin

 

Channel 2 reports Saturday night that the US Congress House Appropriations Committee is debating cutting off aid to the Palestinian Authority (PA) unless its ongoing incitement against Israel stops or is significantly curtailed.

Under the new law, aid to the PA will be frozen until a reliable report is released proving that it has begun cutting down its incitement against the Jewish state.

US lawmakers believe that the bill is expected to pass by a large majority vote in Congress, according to the daily. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| December 10, 2013
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US defense bill allocates additional funding for joint U.S-Israel projects

 

Congressional Bill includes $173 million in additional funds for joint U.S.-Israel missile defense programs, including the Arrow project & David’s Sling.

This bill accommodates U.S. President Obama’s request of $220 million for additional Iron Dome batteries.

By Reuters & Israel Hayom Staff

A compromise defense bill proposed on Monday by U.S. lawmakers would boost spending on missile defense by $358 million to $9.5 billion, mandating an additional homeland defense radar and increasing funding for U.S.-Israeli cooperative efforts.

The David’s Sling anti-missile system during a test – Photo Courtesy: Israel Defense Ministry

Leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives Armed Services committees released details of a slimmed-down defense authorization bill for fiscal 2014 late on Monday, calling for a final vote on the measure before Congress leaves for the year. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| November 27, 2013
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White House Tells Congress New Sanctions May Kill Diplomatic Talks with Iran

Secretary of State John Kerry warns congressmen that passing additional sanctions on Iran may jeopardize White House negotiations on Iranian nuclear program.

By Elad Benari

 

The U.S. administration on Tuesday stepped up its battle to thwart moves by lawmakers to tighten sanctions on Iran, AFP reports.

The administration warned that passing new sanctions on Iran would jeopardize tough negotiations on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Secretary of State John Kerry videotaped a message to members of Congress warning against any new sanctions during the six-month period of talks foreseen by a deal struck last weekend in Geneva.

“He certainly understands that this will be a vigorous debate, though he believes that everything doesn’t have to be a showdown,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki was quoted as having told reporters. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , , ,
| August 12, 2013
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US Congressman: No one’s suggesting US troops as part of Arab peace agreement

 

U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer (Dem.) says U.S. prepared to play leading role in ensuring security in the West Bank, but unlikely to deploy American troops.

By HERB KEINON
 

 

On the eve of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that will ultimately have to discuss security guarantees for Israel, US Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) told The Jerusalem Post that the deployment of US troops anywhere in the West Bank was very unlikely.

Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer during a visit to Israel in 2011.

Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer during a visit to Israel in 2011. – Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun

Hoyer, who led a delegation of 36 Democratic congressmen to Israel over the past week, said during an interview on Thursday that the issue was not raised in meetings the congressional group held either with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu or with PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| July 22, 2013
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US Congressmen send letter of protest on EU’s ban of Israeli institutions in West Bank

In a formal letter to EU’s Catherine Ashton, US Congress members ask the EU to re-examine their new guidelines banning funding or acceptance of Israeli entities operating beyond 1949 armistice lines.

By Ynetnews

The heads of the bipartisan Congressional Israel Allies Caucus have written European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton a letter expressing “deep concern” over the EU’s intention to ban funding to Israeli institutions in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and urging the EU to revisit the decision.

Congressional Seal

“We are writing to express our deep concern over the European Union’s intention to issue new guidelines restricting European interaction with Israeli entities beyond the 1967 lines. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| July 15, 2013
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Argument between U.S. Congress & administration over Israel’s visa deferment

 

Proposed Bill to allow Israeli citizens’ entry into the US without visas sparks debates in US Congress. Critics report that Israel doesn’t meet legal requisites for Visa Waiver Program.

By Associated Press

 

 

Legislation that would let Israelis visit the United States without visas but not demand full reciprocal treatment for all Americans wishing to travel to the Jewish state could put Congress and the Obama administration on a collision course in coming weeks.

Passports

Israeli, US passports. Illustration – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP

Israel’s entry into the 37-nation US Visa Waiver Program is the most controversial element in a pair of broader US-Israel bills dealing with everything from improving cyber-security to enhancing economic cooperation. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| June 21, 2013
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US Congressmen respond to EU’s failure to blacklist Hezbollah

 

US Congressman from NY says inaction is emboldening terror organization.

By MICHAEL WILNER, JERUSALEM POST CORRESPONDENT

 

 

 

WASHINGTON — After developments on Wednesday set back efforts to convince the European Union to list Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, members of Congress are expressing their disappointment and calling for a renewed push against reluctant EU member states.

Hezbollah head Nasrallah speaks at Beirut protest

Hezbollah head Nasrallah speaks at Beirut protest – Photo: REUTERS

Great Britain had been leading the initiative, but Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic continue to harbor reservations, Reuters reported, fearful that the listing would result in terrorist reprisals in Europe and further upheaval in the Middle East.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , , ,
| June 13, 2013
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House committee ups missile funding, seeks partnership in Iron Dome

Armed Service Committee tripled Obama’s request for missile defense from $96 million to $284 but now wishes to involve the U.S. in Iron Dome’s development.

By JTA

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives Armed Service Committee tripled President Obama’s request for missile defense collaboration with Israel and sought to include the United States in Iron Dome development.

United States House of Representatives - Photo Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

United States House of Representatives – Photo Courtesy Wikimedia Commons

The increase in the National Defense Authorization Act from $96 million to $284 million referred from the committee in a 59-2 vote June 6 to the full House includes an additional $15 million in funding for Iron Dome, the short range anti-missile program Israel used against Hamas last November during the Gaza war.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| May 23, 2013
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Senate vote unanimously passed calls US to back Israel in case of Iranian strike

Senate Vote passes 99-0 on resolution favoring US support to Israel if it were forced to defend itself from an Iranian nuclear threat.

By REUTERS

 

 

WASHINGTON – The Democratic-led Senate voted 99-0 – with one senator not present – on Wednesday night, on a resolution that the United States should support Israel if it were forced to defend itself from an Iranian nuclear threat. The measure also urged Obama to strengthen enforcement of existing sanctions on Iran.

US Senate

Earlier Wednesday, a US House of Representatives committee approved legislation seeking to impose tighter sanctions on Iran, the latest congressional effort to slow development of the Islamic Republic’s disputed nuclear program.

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Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
| May 17, 2013
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US congressmen to Abbas: Condemn comment & fire official who praised terror

The congressmen told Abbas that “allowing this type of incitement and hate-mongering to take place within your ranks is intolerable if you are truly dedicated to non-violence.”

By JTA

 

 

 
WASHINGTON (JTA) – A bipartisan group of congressmen condemned comments made by a Palestinian Fatah official in support of the murderer of an Israeli father of five.

Son of Israeli terror victim can’t leave his dead father’s body.
Evyatar Borovsky, a father of five from Yitzhar, stabbed to death at Tapauch Junction by Palestinian terrorist.

The letter sent to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday strongly condemned Fatah’s Sultan Abu Al-Einein following his “open support for the murderer of Eviatar Borovsky,” and called for him to be removed from office.

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Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| March 23, 2013
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US Congress releases $500M for Palestinians

US St. Dept. spokeswoman Nuland reported that the aid money, which had been frozen by Congress for months, was freed to support Abbas, as the PA faces worst economic crisis in years.

By AFP

 

The United States has quietly unblocked almost $500 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority which had been frozen by Congress for months, a top US official said Friday.

US SenateThe news that the funds had finally been freed up came after US President Barack Obama met top Israeli and Palestinian leaders in a landmark visit to Israel and the West Bank earlier this week.

“To date, we have moved $295.7 million in fiscal year 2012 money… and $200 million in fiscal year 2013 assistance,” State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: , ,
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