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The Jewish Insider reports on Republican lawmakers’ opposition to the Biden administration’s plan to upgrade the Palestinian Affairs Unit in the US Embassy in Israel to a separate office reporting directly to the State Department:

In a statement set to be released on Thursday, organized by Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY), 35 senators and 56 House members will argue that the administration’s move “undermines our nation’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and signals support for dividing Jerusalem.”

…“This decision is wholly inconsistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that Congress passed into law and has repeatedly reaffirmed with overwhelming bipartisan support over the years,” it continues. “Let there be no misunderstanding: this unprecedented arrangement… is an effort to open an unofficial and de facto US consulate to the Palestinians in Jerusalem. In fact, the Biden Administration admits this decision is one step closer to opening an official US consulate, a plan it refuses to stop pushing despite the Government of Israel’s adamant opposition.”

The RJC released a public statement praising the Republican lawmakers for their unwavering support of undivided Jerusalem as the capital of Israel:

Republican foreign policy leaders in Congress have made an important commitment by pledging to use every means at their disposal to block this grievously ill-considered policy.

RJC strongly supports the Republican-led "Upholding the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Law Act of 2021," a bill that would forbid the use of funds for any diplomatic facility in Jerusalem other than the US Embassy. We hope Democrats will join Republicans in this important effort to keep Jerusalem the eternal, undivided capital of the Jewish state.

* Supporters of Israel won a battle in Arkansas this week, when a federal appeals court ruled that a district court judge rightly dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Arkansas Times challenging the state’s anti-BDS law. A full panel of the Eighth Circuit upheld the law in a 10-1 decision. The BDS movement promotes boycotts of, divestment from, and sanctions against Israel in an effort to delegitimize the Jewish state. Many US states now require companies seeking contracts with the state government to pledge that they will not engage in boycotts of Israel.

The Arkansas anti-BDS bill was passed in 2017 with overwhelming votes in the state House and Senate, thanks to the leadership and support of US Senator Tom Cotton (R-AK), a great friend of Israel. Sen. Cotton has co-sponsored anti-BDS legislation on the national level and is an outspoken opponent of BDS and similar attacks against Israel.

* The Carolina Journal reported on an attack on Israel’s legitimacy being waged in the North Carolina Democratic Party’s party platform. The NCDP Resolutions and Platform Committee reported out a set of resolutions for consideration at the party’s convention last week that falsely accused Israel of human rights crimes against Palestinians and “apartheid”. The resolutions called for ending US military funding to Israel and commemorating May 15 as “Nakba Remembrance Day,” among other things. These anti-Israel, antisemitic resolutions point to how far the Democratic Party has moved away from its historical support for Israel.

President Joe Biden’s nominee for US Ambassador to Brazil, Elizabeth Frawley Bagley, said in a 1998 interview that the “Jewish lobby” exerts undue influence over the Democratic Party because of “the Jewish factor, it’s money,” according to a report in the Washington Free Beacon.

The RJC demands that the Biden White House withdraw her nomination. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:

Elizabeth Frawley Bagley is the antithesis of what it means to be a diplomat.

Ms. Bagley’s disgraceful, antisemitic comments are absolutely disqualifying; her outrageous slurs include suggesting the “Jewish lobby” influences elected officials with “major money” - an age-old antisemitic stereotype.

It is sad and troubling that this isn’t the first time the Biden Administration has put forward a nominee who is hostile to Israel and the Jewish people.

If President Biden refuses to pull Ms. Bagley’s nomination, we strongly urge the Senate to swiftly reject her nomination.

The Jewish Insider reports: that there is mounting concern over the Defense Department’s reported plans to downgrade the US military official who coordinates security cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, the US Security Coordinator (USSC), from a three-star general to a colonel. This week, 32 senators signing onto a letter on Friday opposing the move. A similar House letter is also in the works and the Israeli government is also reportedly unhappy with this plan.

The Times of Israel adds:

Since its inception, the USSC has focused on reforming and strengthening the PA security forces and bolstering that force’s coordination with Israel, which the IDF has long touted as critical for stability in the region.

…The USSC has proven particularly essential during times of crisis in Israeli-Palestinian ties. When the PA announced the severing of its security coordination with Israel, amid 2017 tensions surrounding the Temple Mount, the USSC was left as the only channel through which the sides were able to communicate in order to prevent further deterioration of relations.

Do you know a talented, hard-working individual searching for a job in Jewish Republican politics? Then look no further - the RJC is hiring NOW!

We are actively reviewing resumes on a rolling basis for RJC Field Representatives in key battleground states like Georgia and Pennsylvania. Field Representatives work directly with the Political Director and RJC Victory Team volunteers to identify, persuade, and turn out Jewish voters to support Republican candidates up and down the ballot this November – work that is absolutely critical to winning back the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Click here for details and information on applying.

Who is escalating the situation in Syria?

Shoshana Bryen, senior director of the Jewish Policy Center, examines Iran’s destructive plans for Syria and Lebanon, and Israel’s determination to stop them.

Dangerous ideology at root of antisemitic Boston mapping project

David Bernstein points out a notable problem with how the Jewish community approaches antisemitism. When antisemitism comes from right-wing extremists or from Muslim extremists, people talk about the ideologies underlying those forms of extremism. But when antisemitism comes from the radical, “progressive” Left, there is silence about the ideology there. That needs to change, Bernstein argues.

See also: The Soviet origins of left-wing anti-Zionism

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