Thread by @LaraFriedmanDC

WIth AIPAC coming to town next week, today’s a good day to review what we know (and can guess) about their legislative agenda. Sooooo, 3, 2, 1… THREAD

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Last night Deutch (D-FL) and Wilson (R-SC) intro’d HR 1837. This looks to be another iteration of the United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2018, lobbied by AIPAC last year (HR 5141) & earlier this year as part of S 1
congress.gov/bill/116th-con…

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This year’s bill has extra sauce - in the form of an ATCA “fix” — in the form of Title III, "Justice for United States Victims of Palestinian Terrorism”

fmep.org/wp/wp-content/…

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This section “fixes” some problems caused by ATCA, by eliminating ATCA provisions related to US aid, meaning $$ for PA security coop w/ Israel, plus some humanitarian aid that people like, could resume, & USAID intl partners would not be at risk. Yippee!

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It also doubles down on effort to let US citizens sue the PLO out of existence - so if you like that idea, you will be happy. If you think that is a misplaced policy that undermines US interests, then this sucks.

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ITEM 2: H. Res. 246, intro’d by Schneider (D-IL), Nadler (D-NY), Zeldin (R-NY), and Wagner (R-MO), “opposing efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel and the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel.”

politico.com/f/?id=00000169…

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This resolution is a broadside attack on BDS, with a few lines about peace intended to make it more palatable to progressives. It looks like an effort by House Dems to return to a time they remember with nostalgia as there being a “consensus” on Israel...

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...grounded in weak rhetoric in support of peace complemented by the kind of unquestioning attacks on BDS that were the norm before people recognized that the anti-BDS campaign presents a fundamental test of people’s readiness to defend free speech. Ah, those were the days!

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As it stands, this resolution is guaranteed to please very few people. If House Democrats believe it will let them re-establish “pro-Israel” bona fides and insulate them from attacks from the right and the left, they are almost certainly mistaken.

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It is likely to energize/anger the progressive base – whether out of actual support for BDS or out of an understanding that this resolution legitimizes & will fuel attacks on free speech. In this way it will further fracture the progressive base on an Israel issue.

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It will likewise fuel attacks from hardline Israel supporters & Republicans who will argue that based on the text of the resolution, Democratic leaders must agree that anyone who supports BDS – including members of Congress – is anti-Israel and anti-Semitic...

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It is a short jump from this to the argument that the lack of Democratic unity around the res proves the Democratic party has an anti-Semitism problem, both in Congress and in the grassroots.

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And it is an even shorter jump to the argument that Democratic leaders are hypocrites if they actually believe what they are selling in this resolution but are then not willing to support binding legislation to stop these outrages against Israel and the Jewish people.

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Indeed, on 3/21, Rubio (R-FL) launched the opening salvo in these predictable attacks,

https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/1108814021246046208

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Meanwhile, the narrative is already being helpfully set by pundits that this bill is going to be a test for Democrats on BDS (and making clear that Rep. Omar, D-MN, will be watched especially closely).

forward.com/opinion/421284…

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ITEM 3: HR 1850: Introduced 3/21 by Mast (R-FL), Gottheimer (D-NJ), Engel (D-NY) McCaul (R-TX), the “Palestinian International Terrorism Support Prevention Act.” Looks like effort to impose mandatory sanctions on anyone who touches Hamas.

mast.house.gov/press-releases…

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I’m told it includes commonsense exceptions but given the broad definition of “material support” in US law, I suspect they are opening a Pandora’s box here - time will tell.

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Another one: S.852: Intro'd 3/14 by Scott (R-SC) et al - this is the re-introduced Anti-Semitism Awareness Act, that AIPAC has been lobbying for years.

congress.gov/bill/116th-con…

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Also, it is still an open question whether we will see re-introduction of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (which has been an AIPAC legislative priority for years) and the Combating BDS Act (which it was lobbying for as part of S. 1)

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If they don’t lobby for them that would be an extraordinary walk-back; if they do, it sets ups a miserable battle over free speech. Rock and hard place.

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As a reminder, here’s my run-down one the substantive issues with ASAA and IABA:

https://twitter.com/LaraFriedmanDC/status/1073232068732170241

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And here is background on substantive issues with the Combating BDS Act:

fmep.org/resource/fact-…

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Other things that to watch that could come up next week (that we know of so far):

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HR 1820, the United States-Israel International Development Cooperation Act.

congress.gov/bill/116th-con…

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HR 1795, the “U.S.-Israel Directed Energy Cooperation Act“

congress.gov/bill/116th-con…

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And finally, will AIPAC decide to get behind the 2 pending bills recognizing Israel sovereignty in then Golan?

congress.gov/bill/116th-con…
congress.gov/bill/116th-con…

/end