View Email in Browser Visit RJCHQ.org Donate Unsubscribe

This Week:

• Ten Countries Recognize "Palestine"

• Mike Pompeo: There Is No Palestinian State to Recognize

• JVP Chapters Break Off to Launch More Aggressive Anti-Israel Group

• Gabriel Groisman named a "Young ViZionary"

• Week's Best Tweets

• Upcoming Events

Ten Countries Recognize "Palestine"

The United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia recognized the imaginary "state of Palestine" in synchronized announcements last Sunday. Portugal made a similar announcement on Sunday.

On Monday, a meeting was held at the United Nations with the typically officious title of "High-level International Conference for the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution." At that meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France recognizes the imaginary "state of Palestine." Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco also announced or confirmed their recognition of a Palestinian state at the meeting.

There is opposition to this move in some of the participating countries. The leader of the British Conservative Party called the declarative move "absolutely disastrous." In Australia, "The opposition has accused Anthony Albanese of 'recognising terrorism' after he followed through with his pledge to formally recognise Palestinian statehood."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last Sunday:

"There will be no Palestinian state. The response to the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States"

"I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognizing a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize.

And I have another message for you: It's not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River.

Republicans in Congress strongly condemned the decision by the leaders of Australia, Canada, France, and the UK to issue their "recognition" announcements.

Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued an 18-word statement. "Recognition of a 'State of Palestine' is empty virtue signaling that only rewards the Hamas butchers and rapists," he said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) stated that "80 years after the end of World War II, where over 6 million Jews were killed by the Nazis for simply being Jewish, the so-called civilized world is rewarding modern-day religious Nazis with an arbitrary Palestinian state designation."

In addition, the Jewish Insider reports:

A group of 28 Republican lawmakers in the Senate and House wrote to the leaders of Australia, Canada, France and the UK urging them to walk back their plans to recognize a Palestinian state this month and threatening potential retaliation if they proceed.

"This is a reckless policy that undermines prospects for peace. It sets the dangerous precedent that violence, not diplomacy, is the most expedient means for terrorist groups like Hamas to achieve their political aims," the Republicans, led by Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), wrote. "Accordingly, we respectfully request that you reconsider your decision, especially as Hamas continues to hold Israeli citizens hostage while still refusing to agree to a ceasefire."

They said that granting statehood now would only serve as a validation of Hamas' activities and fuel more violence in the future, and that statehood should not be granted "until the Palestinians are willing to take responsibility for their people, renounce terrorism, and come to the negotiating table in good faith."

The letters were co-signed by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Steve Daines (R-MT), Dan Sullivan (R-AL), Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Dave McCormick (R-PA) and Reps. Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Greg Steube (R-FL), Barry Moore (R-AL), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN), Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Craig Goldman (R-TX), Mike Flood (R-NE), Marlin Stutzman (R-IN), John McGuire (R-GA), Scott Franklin (R-FL), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) and August Pfluger (R-TX)

There is some good news regarding the UN this week: Mike Waltz was confirmed by the Senate on Friday to be US Ambassador to the United Nations. Waltz is a staunch supporter of Israel and an outspoken critic of Iran, who is expected to fight aggressively against anti-American, anti-Israel, and anti-Jewish efforts in the UN.

Mike Pompeo: There Is No Palestinian State to Recognize

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says it plainly:

The recognition of the so-called Palestinian state by Britain, Portugal, France, Canada, and Australia this week was nothing short of perverse.

It was practically absurd, morally reprehensible, and will only prolong the danger to Israel and the anguish of everyday Gazans. Perhaps worst of all, it distracts from the real problem preventing peace: the Iranian regime, which provides terror groups with the money and arms needed to carry out their most horrific attacks.

Far from advancing the cause of peace in the region, the move has thrown a lifeline to Hamas at a time when the civilized world should be uniting in support of Israel's efforts to defeat the terror group once and for all. It likewise disincentivizes Gaza's leaders to agree to a ceasefire, let alone release the remaining hostages, dozens of which remain in Hamas captivity.

…Recognizing a Palestinian state where none exists is not only a bad idea because of its practical implications for security; it fails at the first hurdle, as the most basic requirements of sovereignty are absent. What will the borders of this so-called Palestinian state be, and how will that be settled? How can the Palestinian Authority—which has not held elections in 20 years—be considered a legitimate governing authority in any sense of the word? Who signs the documents, makes the laws, and controls the military? No one has been able to answer these baseline questions amid their preening and pontificating.

…Genuine peace will only come with the total defeat of Hamas and its most important backer: the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Read the full article here.

JVP Chapters Break Off to Launch More Aggressive Anti-Israel Group

The Washington Free Beacon reports:

Jewish Voice for Peace chapters at three Washington, DC, universities ditched the anti-Israel group this month to form an even more radical organization: the National Anti-Zionist Jewish Student Front. The new group swears allegiance to the pro-terrorist Palestine Liberation Organization militant creed—which demands a "right to resistance"—and vows to escalate confrontations in college classrooms and on campuses.

…"We work to dismantle Zionism in its entirety by confronting Zionist institutions on campus, to struggle for divestment, and to pursue the criminalization of Zionism as a white supremacist weapon of war," the Anti-Zionist Jewish Student Front wrote on Instagram. "Rejecting Zionism and upholding Palestinians' right to return, remain, and resist are central to opposing fascist escalation and the consolidation of power in the US and across the world."

…The Anti-Zionist Jewish Student Front says it adheres to al-Thawabit, a foundational creed the Palestine Liberation Organization created in 1977 "to which all Palestinian factions must pledge fealty." The principles include the "right to resistance," the "right to self-determination," the designation of "Jerusalem as the capital" of a Palestinian state, and the "right to return." The newly formed group also notes that its logo includes Arabic that translates to "Where there is oppression, may there thrive resistance" and the Hebrew phrase "L'chaim Intifada."

Gabriel Groisman named a "Young ViZionary"

The Jerusalem Post's list of most influential young Zionists includes RJC Board of Directors member Gabriel Groisman. The Post notes:

A former mayor of Bal Harbour, Florida, Groisman has been recognized nationally for advancing policies defending religious freedom and strengthening ties with Israel. He is the host of the podcast Standpoint with Gabe Groisman, which features leading voices in politics, culture, and global affairs. In addition, he writes a national column on US politics, Israel, and antisemitism. A sought-after speaker, he currently serves as chair of the Children's Tumor Foundation and as a national board member of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Several RJC leaders and friends are on the Post's list of 50 most influential Jews, including Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director Lee Zeldin, Dr. Miriam Adelson, and "The Great One", Mark Levin, who will be a featured speaker at the RJC Leadership Summit in Las Vegas next month.

Join the Celebration! RJC at 40

From our start in 1985 to today, the RJC has been a unique, outspoken, and trusted voice for Jewish Republicans, bringing our message to Republican decision makers and the broader Jewish community.

Please consider making a gift to the RJC today in honor of our 40 years of growth and success.

We need your support to keep moving forward!

Thank you!

Tweets

Events

The next issue of the RJC e-newsletter will be sent out on Wednesday, October 1, before the Yom Kippur holiday.