March 2010 Legislation and Developments Regarding U.S. Policy Toward Palestine

MARCH 2010 LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

On March 18,  Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) introduced House  Resolution 1191: Urging the Expedient Relocation of the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. The bill is an effort to fully implement the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which called for the relocation of the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem to be completed no later than May 31, 1999. The Jerusalem Embassy Act bestowed upon the President the power to waive the Act, thus delaying the relocation of the embassy, if the President deems the delay politically expedient. Every President since the Act was passed has utilized this waiver and, throughout the years, various members of Congress have introduced bills such as HR 1191. HR 1191 has 21 co-sponsors and was referred to committee after its introduction. 

On March 24, Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced Amendment 3690 to House Resolution 4827 (the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010). The amendment would strip the President of his authority to waive the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and impose sanctions against the U.S. Department of State if the Department did not immediately authorize the move of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The amendment was dropped before it could be considered by the Senate.

MARCH 2010 CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS

On March 4, Senator John Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hosted a hearing entitled, “The Middle East:  Ground Truths, Challenges Ahead.” The committee heard from a panel that included: Daniel Kurtzer, former U.S. ambassador to each of Israel and Egypt; Dr. Robert Malley, Program Director for Middle East and North Africa at the International Crisis Group; Dr. Ziad Asali, President of the American Task Force on Palestine; and David Makovsky, Director of the Washington Institute of Near East Policy. The panelists touched upon a variety of issues, ranging from Israel’s siege of Gaza, to institution and state building efforts in the West Bank, to Israeli security, to the role of the United States in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations. In his opening remarks, Senator Kerry stated that rockets launched from the Gaza Strip are a problem that needs to be addressed.  But he continued, saying, “our grievance and [that of the Israelis’] is not with the people of Gaza. Based on my recent visit, I believe there is a way to work with the international organizations to get more reconstruction material into Gaza in a way that empowers the Palestinian Authority and not Hamas.” His point was echoed by Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, the committee’s ranking member, and confirmed by Kurtzer, Malley and Asali in their prepared testimonies.

On March 16, U.S. Army General David Petraeus testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee, updating committee members on the status of Central Command activities. In a widely-noticed passage on the situation in Israel/Palestine, he stated, "The enduring hostilities between Israel and some of its neighbors present distinct challenges to our ability to advance our interests in the AOR [Area of Responsibility]. Israeli-Palestinian tensions often flare into violence and large-scale armed confrontations. The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world. Meanwhile, al-Qaeda and other militant groups exploit that anger to mobilize support. The conflict also gives Iran influence in the Arab world through its clients, Lebanese Hizballah and Hamas."

CONGRESSIONAL LETTERS CIRCULATED IN MARCH

On March 11, Rep. Joe Crowley (D-NY) circulated a letter to the top members of the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and   Related Programs, requesting $12 million in funding for "people-to-people coexistence and reconciliation [programs] between Israelis and Palestinians." The letter affirms the important work being done by grassroots organizations operating in Palestine and Israel. The requested funding is $2 million more than was allocated for this work in 2010.

On March 16, Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Rep. Christopher Carney (D-PA) submitted a letter to President Obama urging him to reaffirm the special relationship between the United States and Israel and to focus on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons rather than on Israeli settlement expansion, and to stop criticizing Israel for its settlement policy. In the letter, the two Congressmen recommitted themselves to: ensuring that Israel remain the "preeminent democracy in the Middle East"; affirming that the United States has no stronger ally in the Middle East than Israel; recognizing Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel; ensuring Israel's qualitative military edge over its neighbors; and countering the threat posed by Iran.

On March 17, Rep. John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), submitted a letter to President Obama expressing their "dismay" at remarks made by the White House regarding its disapproval of Israeli settlement expansion in East Jerusalem. The Congressmen asserted that "Israel has demonstrated its willingness to advance the peace process," and, as such, claimed that it was "unrealistic" for the Untied States to put pressure on Israel to "make significant confidence building gestures." The letter also claimed that a nuclear Iran was the primary threat to peace in the region, and stopping Iran from acquiring such weapons should be the President's top priority. 

On March 19, Representatives Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Eric Cantor (R-VA), Howard Berman (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Gary Ackerman (D-NY) and Dan Burton (R-IN) began circulating a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, reaffirming the "unbreakable bond that exists between our country and the State of Israel" and expressing "deep concern" over recent tension between the two states. These members of Congress praised Israel for the ostensible steps it has taken to live in peace with its neighbors and claimed that it was the strength of the U.S.-Israeli relationship that made agreements between Israel and some of its neighbors possible. As such, the letter concluded that differences between the United States and Israel were best resolved "quietly," rather than in public. As of March 25, the letter had earned the signatures of 327 Representatives.

On March 29, Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA) submitted a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging her to do "everything possible" to ensure that recent tensions between Israel and the Untied States did not "derail Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations or harm U.S.-Israeli relations." The Senators praised Israel for its stated willingness to enter into negotiations with the Palestinians, and blamed the Palestinian Authority for any delays in restarting talks. The letter urged Secretary Clinton to reaffirm the "unbreakable bonds" between Israel and the United States and focus not on Israeli settlement expansion, but on Iran. The letter earned the signatures of 49 Senators.

FLOOR STATEMENTS REGARDING PALESTINE MADE DURING MARCH 2010

In the wake of Israel's announcement that it would expand an East Jerusalem settlement by 1,600 housing units (made with Vice President Biden was in Israel on a goodwill visit), many members of Congress made one-minute floor statements in defense of Israel and/or condemning the Obama Administration for being critical of Israel. A list of statements can be found here.