Tag Archive for US Congress

| March 5, 2013
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US bill to Congress: Make Israel ‘major strategic ally’

Bill introduced by Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) & Ileana Ros Lehtinen (R.-Fla) to the US House of Representatives, is just in time for the AIPAC conference.

By JTA

 

WASHINGTON – A Republican and a Democrat in the US House of Representatives introduced legislation that would make Israel a “major strategic ally,” a one of a kind designation.
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN – Photo: Courtesy

The bill, introduced Monday by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), was timed for the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee conference, and 13,000 activists are expected to lobby for it and for Iran-related bills on Tuesday.The
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Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| January 11, 2013
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Jerusalem embassy & waiving visa requirements bills reintroduced in Congress

Reps. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) and Ted Poe (R-Texas) introduced a measure that would add Israel to the 37 countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the U.S. for up to 90 days without a pre-arranged visa.

By JTA

 

Two pro-Israel perennials were reintroduced in the new Congress: a bill seeking to force the president to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and one that would waive visa requirements for visiting Israelis.

Snow falling in Jerusalem, the Eternal Capital of the Jewish People for over 3000 years and the State of Israel since 1948

Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) introduced the Jerusalem bill on Jan. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| December 23, 2012
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Congress requests that Obama shut PLO office as reprisal for UN vote

In the letter signed by more than half the US House of Representatives, were also calls for defunding of UN-affiliated organizations that accept the PLO for membership.

By JTA

WASHINGTON – Just over half of the U.S. House of Representatives called on President Obama to shut down the PLO office in Washington as punishment for its ascension in United Nations status.

Palestinian President Abbas

Palestinian President Abbas in Ramallah, after the UN vote. – Photo by AP

“One important way of expressing U.S. disapproval would be to send the message that such actions are not cost-free and that, at a minimum, they result in setbacks to U.S.-Palestinian Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| December 12, 2012
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Letter circulating in Congress urging Obama to commute Pollard’s life sentence

The letter, with 40 signatories so far by both Dem. & Rep. is  circulated by Reps. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.)

 

By JTA

 

Washington — A Republican and a Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives are circulating a letter among their colleagues urging President Obama to commute Jonathan Pollard’s life sentence to time served.

Jonathan Pollard during an interview, May 15, 1998.


Jonathan Pollard during an interview at the Federal Correction Institution in Butner, North Carolina, May 15, 1998. – Photo by AP

“Mr. Pollard has now served 25 years in prison, many of which in solitary confinement, for his actions,” says the letter circulated by Reps. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| September 29, 2012
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Congress blocks White House’s $450M in US aid to Egypt

House GOP chair opposes White House’s desire to send Cairo regime more U.S. aid funds

Yitzhak Benhorin, AP

 

WASHINGTON – The chairwoman of the House committee that oversees foreign aid is blocking $450 million in US assistance to Egypt.

Morsi at the UN Photo: AP

Morsi at the UN – Photo: AP

Kay Granger (R-Texas), said Friday that the State Department had notified Congress of plans to transfer the money to the new government of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, a move that Granger said she would stop.

“This proposal comes to Congress at a point when the US-Egypt relationship has never been under more scrutiny, and rightly so,” the chairwoman of the Appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations said in a statement. Continue Reading »

Category: Mid-East News | Tags: ,
| August 2, 2012
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U.S. Congress considers recognizing Jewish refugees

Bill requires Obama to pair Palestinian refugees with plight of 850,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

By JTA

 

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of six Congress members is sponsoring a bill that would ensure recognition of the plight of 850,000 Jewish refugees displaced from Arab countries since Israel’s War of Independence in 1948.

Jewish refugees arrive in Palestine - Photo: REUTERS

Jewish refugees arrive in Palestine – Photo: REUTERS

Their bill in the US House of Representatives also would recognize other displaced populations, including Christians from countries in the Middle East, North Africa and the Persian Gulf.

The legislation specifically calls on the Obama administration to pair any explicit reference to Palestinian refugees with a similar reference to Jewish or other refugee populations.

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| June 22, 2012
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Co-chair of Bipartisan Policy Center to Congress: Israel needs bombs, refueling tankers for strike on Iran

Former Senator calls on Congress to provide Israel with 200 bunker busters and aerial refueling military aircrafts.

 

 

Former Senator Charles Robb co-chairman of the Bipartisan Policy Center said that in order to perform a successful attack on Iran Israel’s aerial refueling capabilities and bunker-buster bomb stores need to be enhanced. Robb, who was giving testimony at a Congress subcommittee, presented the material gaps in the IDF’s preparedness for an attack on Iran, and called on the United States to provide Israel with KC-135 aerial refueling military aircrafts and 200 bunker-busting munitions to supplement the 100 Israel already holds.

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| May 22, 2012
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US Congress promoting visa exemption for Israelis

Californian Democrat Sherman introduces bill allowing Israelis to enter US as temporary visitors for tourism or business for up to 90 days without a visa. ‘Israel is our closest friend and democratic ally in the Middle East,’ he says

 

US Congressman Brad Sherman (Democrat, California), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the Visa Waiver for Israel Act, a bill allowing Israel’s entrance into the US Visa Waiver Program.

תור לקבלת אשרת כניסה בשגרירות ארה"ב בתל אביב (צילום: מיכאל קרמר)

Line of visa at US Embassy in Tel Aviv - Photo: Michael Kremer

The Visa Waiver Program allows nationals from certain countries to enter the US as temporary visitors for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa from a US consulate abroad. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags:
| May 10, 2012
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US c’tee moves to control Egypt, PA money

Palestinians would see funding withheld if they made any agreement with Hamas, didn’t actively work to end incitement.

WASHINGTON – A congressional subcommittee approved a foreign aid budget tightening control over money to Egypt and the Palestinians Wednesday following some members’ concern over developments in the region.

The House foreign operations appropriations subcommittee passed by voice vote the $40.1 billion foreign operations budget for 2013, which includes fully funding the $3.1b. US commitment to Israeli military assistance as part of the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries.

US Congress - Photo by REUTERS
US Congress – Photo by REUTERS
However, the legislation cut funding for UNESCO, after the UN body voted to recognize Palestine as a member state.
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