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Biden national security aide expresses regret about Gaza policy during gathering with Arab Americans

A deputy national security adviser to President [Joe] Biden participated in a private meeting with leaders from the Arab American community in Michigan last week where he expressed regret regarding the administration’s management of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas following the tragic events of Oct. 7.

...The Republican Jewish Coalition’s national political director, Sam Markstein, told The Foreign Desk that they are "deeply troubled by the Biden administration’s growing pressure on Israel to commit to the creation of a Palestinian state."

"Genuine solidarity with Israel requires a clear understanding of the difficult realities confronting the people and government of the Jewish state," Markstein said. "Today, Israel is at war against the monstrous terrorists who perpetrated the October 7, 2023 atrocities, dozens of American and Israeli hostages remain captives of Hamas, and no Palestinian faction has condemned the horror that led to the current crisis."

Biden places new conditions on US military aid following criticism of Israeli campaign

President Joe Biden issued a new national security memorandum [late last Thursday] that requires recipients of US military aid to issue written certifications that they will comply with humanitarian and international law, and that they will cooperate with US humanitarian aid efforts.

…The policy drew immediate criticism from the Republican Jewish Coalition. A spokesperson for the group called the memo "yet another piece of the Biden administration pressuring Israel unfairly."

"We gave him relatively high marks at the beginning of the war, when he went over there in person to show solidarity, and we gave him credit for that. But this tonight was really, really ridiculous," said RJC spokesperson Sam Markstein, also referring to Biden’s comment about Israel’s "over the top" conduct in Gaza.

See below for more details on this story.

The Jerusalem Post quotes RJC on Senate supplemental aid bill that included aid to Israel:

In a statement on Friday, the Republican Jewish Coalition acknowledged the bill isn't perfect, but urged senators to support procedural votes to advance the bill and vote in favor of its passing.

"The Senate has taken an important first step by beginning debate on a bill that includes assistance to our embattled ally, Israel," RJC CEO Matt Brooks said in the statement. "RJC will always support aid to Israel. And especially now, it is urgent and vital that the Middle East’s only democracy has what it needs to defeat terrorism and defend its citizens. The barbaric atrocities of October 7, 2023, must never happen again."

"As Republicans, we believe that America is obligated to stand by our allies when they are under attack. We also believe the federal government is obligated to secure the border," Brooks also said. "It is imperative that our party maintain our determination to fulfill both of those promises and demand better from an administration that is failing mightily in both respects."

See the full RJC statement here.

The Jewish Insider quotes RJC on Senate supplemental aid bill:

The Republican Jewish Coalition urged members of Congress to support the supplemental funding bill. The organization thinks the US should take a strong approach to global aid, and not limit it to Israel.

"This is about American values. This is about democracy. This is about protecting the innocent against terrorism," said the RJC’s national political director, Sam Markstein. "Whether it’s the terror caused by Hamas on October 7, or the terror caused by Putin invading Ukraine, or the potential terror of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, they’re all connected. And so it’s in our national security interests, and in all these countries’ national security interests, to be supported by the Republican Party."

The Times of Israel reports on two initiatives from President Joe Biden that could negatively impact Israel as it continues its war against Hamas in Gaza. One is a memorandum regarding military aid:

US President Joe Biden issued a memorandum on Thursday requiring allies who receive military aid from the US to provide "credible and reliable written assurances" of their adherence to international law including international human rights law.

For the first time, the new policy also requires the State Department and the Department of Defense to issue periodic reports on whether allies are meeting the requirements.

…Countries receiving military aid from the US were given 180 days to provide the required assurances, the memo said, but those, like Israel, who were engaged in active conflicts had only 45 days.

…The memo did not mention specific countries who would be held up to the new standard, but it came amid increasing calls in the US to condition aid to Israel…

The second concerns potential sanctions against Israelis:

If Israel does not give the United States a satisfactory explanation for alleged "gross violations of human rights" in the West Bank within 60 days, sanctions triggered by the so-called Leahy laws could hit ministers, parliamentarians, settlers and soldiers, the Kan public broadcaster reported Friday, citing an internal Foreign Ministry memorandum.

Today, the RJC endorsed Pennsylvania US Senate candidate Dave McCormick. RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks said:

The RJC is proud to endorse Dave McCormick for US Senate from the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It’s time for a change. Incumbent Democratic Senator Bob Casey represents the catastrophically wrongheaded policies that have emboldened our enemies and weakened our allies across the globe.

RJC trusts Dave McCormick - a 7th generation Pennsylvanian, West Point graduate, combat veteran, Bronze star recipient, Pennsylvania job creator and business leader - to be a Senator the people of Pennsylvania can be proud of…

Read the full endorsement statement here.

On Monday, the RJC endorsed Rep. August Pfluger (TX-11) for reelection. RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman and CEO Matt Brooks said:

Although he is only in his second term, Congressman August Pfluger has established himself as an exemplary defender of our national security and the U.S.-Israel alliance. Last year, when Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal smeared Israel as a “racist state,” Pfluger wrote a resolution to clarify that Israel is not a racist state, and got it passed by the House of Representatives overwhelmingly.

Congressman Pfluger has also led the way on key initiatives to keep terrorists out of our country, tighten sanctions pressure on Iran, and accelerate the delivery of critical refueling aircraft to Israel…

Read the full endorsement statement here.

The Jerusalem Post reports:

US Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) refuses to support a congressional resolution denouncing Hamas’s utilization of rape and sexual violence during and after the October 7 massacre.

The bill, introduced by Democrat Lois Frankel of Florida, was approved by a 418 to 0 vote, with Tlaib opting to vote "present."

Tlaib explained her refusal to support the resolution, stating that it "completely ignores and erases any sexual violence and abuse committed by the Israeli forces against Palestinians, especially children." She presented no examples of Israeli sexual violence.

The Jewish Insider reports that even before the latest revelations about Hamas' data center located under UNRWA headquarters in Gaza, Republicans in the House and Senate were already calling for US actions against UNRWA:

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) tweeted, "The IRS needs to immediately revoke UNRWA’s tax-deductible status. It is an organization that employs terrorists who participated in the Oct. 7 massacre."

Cotton, along with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), proposed legislation that would rescind UNRWA-USA’s tax-exempt status and bar funding to UNRWA.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), who led a House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on UNRWA on Jan. 30, told the Jewish Journal via email: "I want it totally eliminated as an organization."

Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) told The Washington Free Beacon regarding the tax-deductible status, "That is a pressure point that absolutely should be considered and looked into."

When terrorists rule

Shoshana Bryen writes: "It is impossible to create a safe, prosperous civil society when the levers of power are in the hands of terrorists. This is the conclusion Israel has reached—not only regarding Hamas in Gaza but with the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria.

"Yet, American diplomacy is still wedded to the "two-state solution," suggesting—no, insisting—that there cannot be peace in the Middle East until the Palestinians have an independent state, but without consideration of what happens if you give more power to terror organizations."

What price is too high?

Seth Mandel examines the question that weighs on Israeli leaders and Israeli society when considering hostage negotiations: "Now, in an age when terrorists don’t ask for money but for the release of other terrorists, by what metric do we determine what is too dear a price?"

It’s time to strike back at Iran

Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo write at the Wall Street Journal: "Escalating Iranian aggression cost the lives of three U.S. soldiers in Jordan. These intolerable acts of violence by the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism can no longer go unpunished. The US must respond with an immediate and unequivocal show of force that will begin to restore the deterrence that has decayed not only in the Middle East but around the world."

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