RJC Says “No” to Margon Nomination

Anti-Israel Record Incompatible with Key Human Rights Role at State Dept.

Washington, DC –– The Republican Jewish Coalition opposes the nomination of Sarah Margon to be assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor. RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman said:

Sarah Margon has made her career at some of the most virulently Israel-hating organizations around. For several years, she ran the Washington office of Human Rights Watch, a terribly misnamed, bitterly anti-Israel organization that issued a report just last week calling Israel "an apartheid state." 

President Biden and Secretary Blinken claim to oppose the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, but now they want to install a supporter of Israel boycotts in a senior role. They say they favor a peace settlement based on a two-state solution, but they want to elevate someone who supports the idea of a single "equal" Israeli-Palestinian state replacing Israel, eliminating the Jewish state entirely.

US Presidents have great leeway in choosing their advisors, and the Senate historically has confirmed almost any qualified nominee for an administration post. But Sarah Margon’s nomination to a key role at the State Department dealing with democracy and human rights is completely inappropriate. She is an anti-Israel activist whose work makes a mockery of the concept of "human rights." Her nomination will be resolutely opposed by Republicans and the Jewish community, who value the Jewish state and our strategic alliance with her. Those Democrats who profess to support Israel must join in the vote to reject this nomination.