11 dec 2019
Executive order will broaden existing working definition of anti-Semitism to that of International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance; Israel welcomes move, with FM calling it 'important step in fight against BDS movement'
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order on Wednesday that would treat "Jewishness" as a nationality and not just a religion, making anti-Semitism subject to a law that bars discrimination on the basis of national origin at educational institutions that receive federal funding.
The move is intended to target those colleges and universities that fail to combat anti-Semitism, a senior administration official said Tuesday.
In the order, Trump is expected to tell the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism - which can include criticism of Israel - when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin.
One U.S. official said Trump's order would make it clear that Title VI will apply to anti-Semitism as defined by the IHRA. That definition says anti-Semitism may include "targeting of the State of Israel" and singling it out for criticism above other nations.
The order, which is likely to draw criticism from free speech advocates, will broaden the federal government's definition of anti-Semitism and instruct it to be used in enforcing laws against discrimination on college campuses, according to three U.S. officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Title VI bars discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin at colleges and universities that receive federal funding. One official said Trump's order would make it clear that Title VI will apply to anti-Semitism as defined by the IHRA. That definition says anti-Semitism may include "targeting of the State of Israel."
Previous attempts to clarify and codify the application of Title VI to anti-Semitic acts have become bogged down in debates over whether Judaism should be seen as race or is indicative of a national origin.
Free-speech advocates have also expressed concerns that a broader definition of anti-Semitism might be used to limit criticism of Israeli government actions.
Still, a second official insisted the order was not intended to limit freedom of expression and was not aimed at suppressing the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement known as BDS that aims to support Palestinian aspirations for statehood by refusing to purchase Israeli products or invest in Israeli companies. The movement is on the rise, sparking tensions on many college campuses.
The movement, however, has received a bipartisan rebuke in the U.S. Congress and many states have passed anti-BDS measures.
Trump has urged allies to rein in the boycott movement, while its backers deny anti-Semitism charges and describe themselves as critical of Israeli decision-making, not Jews.
A third official said the order was a response to an alarming rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents on campuses and would mean that Jewish students who are discriminated against for their religion have the same kind of recourse as black students who are victimized by racism.
The Republican Jewish Coalition applauded the move, with the group's chairman, former Sen. Norm Coleman, calling it "a truly historic and important moment for Jewish Americans" and hailing Trump as "the most pro-Jewish president" in the nation's history.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday also lauded Trump's move and urged more countries to adopt similar measures.
"I congratulate U.S. President Donald Trump on his intention to sign an executive order to combat anti-Semitism in U.S. universities and colleges and withholding federal funding from institutions that will fail to prevent anti-Semitism on their grounds," said Katz.
"As part of the order, Judaism will be defined as both a religion and a nationality, enabling a more effective fight against the anti-Israel boycott movement on campuses.
"In addition, the administration is expected to adopt the IHRA's definition of anti-Semitism which defines anti-Israelism as anti-Semitism. These are very significant steps in the fight against ongoing anti-Semitism and the boycott movements. I urge more countries to adopt similar measures."
The Trump administration has previously acted to constrain perceived campus anti-Semitism, last year reopening a case of alleged discrimination against Jewish students at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Trump delivered a speech on Saturday night that featured remarks from a recent New York University graduate who had accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students from harassment.
On the other hand, Trump has been accused of trafficking in anti-Semitic tropes, including comments about Jews and money. But he has also closely aligned himself with Israel, including moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and taking a hard line against Iran.
The Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism found white supremacist propaganda on campuses up 7% from the last academic year, which ended this May. Anti-Semitic incidents at colleges and universities, however, have slightly gone down with 201 recorded incidents in 2018 as opposed to 204 incidents in the previous year.
The ADL and the Academic Engagement Network released model guidelines for faculty in November after two instructors at the University of Michigan declined to write letters of recommendation for students seeking to study abroad in Israel.
U.S. President Donald Trump plans to sign an executive order on Wednesday that would treat "Jewishness" as a nationality and not just a religion, making anti-Semitism subject to a law that bars discrimination on the basis of national origin at educational institutions that receive federal funding.
The move is intended to target those colleges and universities that fail to combat anti-Semitism, a senior administration official said Tuesday.
In the order, Trump is expected to tell the Department of Education to consider the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism - which can include criticism of Israel - when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin.
One U.S. official said Trump's order would make it clear that Title VI will apply to anti-Semitism as defined by the IHRA. That definition says anti-Semitism may include "targeting of the State of Israel" and singling it out for criticism above other nations.
The order, which is likely to draw criticism from free speech advocates, will broaden the federal government's definition of anti-Semitism and instruct it to be used in enforcing laws against discrimination on college campuses, according to three U.S. officials. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
Title VI bars discrimination on the basis of race, color and national origin at colleges and universities that receive federal funding. One official said Trump's order would make it clear that Title VI will apply to anti-Semitism as defined by the IHRA. That definition says anti-Semitism may include "targeting of the State of Israel."
Previous attempts to clarify and codify the application of Title VI to anti-Semitic acts have become bogged down in debates over whether Judaism should be seen as race or is indicative of a national origin.
Free-speech advocates have also expressed concerns that a broader definition of anti-Semitism might be used to limit criticism of Israeli government actions.
Still, a second official insisted the order was not intended to limit freedom of expression and was not aimed at suppressing the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement known as BDS that aims to support Palestinian aspirations for statehood by refusing to purchase Israeli products or invest in Israeli companies. The movement is on the rise, sparking tensions on many college campuses.
The movement, however, has received a bipartisan rebuke in the U.S. Congress and many states have passed anti-BDS measures.
Trump has urged allies to rein in the boycott movement, while its backers deny anti-Semitism charges and describe themselves as critical of Israeli decision-making, not Jews.
A third official said the order was a response to an alarming rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents on campuses and would mean that Jewish students who are discriminated against for their religion have the same kind of recourse as black students who are victimized by racism.
The Republican Jewish Coalition applauded the move, with the group's chairman, former Sen. Norm Coleman, calling it "a truly historic and important moment for Jewish Americans" and hailing Trump as "the most pro-Jewish president" in the nation's history.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday also lauded Trump's move and urged more countries to adopt similar measures.
"I congratulate U.S. President Donald Trump on his intention to sign an executive order to combat anti-Semitism in U.S. universities and colleges and withholding federal funding from institutions that will fail to prevent anti-Semitism on their grounds," said Katz.
"As part of the order, Judaism will be defined as both a religion and a nationality, enabling a more effective fight against the anti-Israel boycott movement on campuses.
"In addition, the administration is expected to adopt the IHRA's definition of anti-Semitism which defines anti-Israelism as anti-Semitism. These are very significant steps in the fight against ongoing anti-Semitism and the boycott movements. I urge more countries to adopt similar measures."
The Trump administration has previously acted to constrain perceived campus anti-Semitism, last year reopening a case of alleged discrimination against Jewish students at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
Trump delivered a speech on Saturday night that featured remarks from a recent New York University graduate who had accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students from harassment.
On the other hand, Trump has been accused of trafficking in anti-Semitic tropes, including comments about Jews and money. But he has also closely aligned himself with Israel, including moving the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and taking a hard line against Iran.
The Anti-Defamation League's Center on Extremism found white supremacist propaganda on campuses up 7% from the last academic year, which ended this May. Anti-Semitic incidents at colleges and universities, however, have slightly gone down with 201 recorded incidents in 2018 as opposed to 204 incidents in the previous year.
The ADL and the Academic Engagement Network released model guidelines for faculty in November after two instructors at the University of Michigan declined to write letters of recommendation for students seeking to study abroad in Israel.
Foreign Ministers of the European Union are expected to exchange views, next month, on whether the 28-nation bloc should recognize Palestine as a sovereign state as the US pushes ahead with pro-occupation policies, undermining the prospect of the so-called two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ireland and Luxembourg are among the EU member states seeking to raise the issue at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, on January 20, 2020.
Speaking on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the top diplomats will discuss whether the bloc should modify its Middle East policy, following Washington’s decision “on the legality of the Israeli colonies and some fears that they (the Americans) can continue taking decisions on this in this way.”
He was referring to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement, last month, that the establishment of settlements in the occupied West Bank “is not per se inconsistent with international law.”
“Certainly we are in a difficult period in the Middle East Peace Process. We continue holding our position, that is to say a negotiated two-state solution. But for sure if we want a two-state solution we need to help and encourage both parties to enter a serious and credible negotiation. And this is not the case – really, it is not the case,” Borrell said, according to the PNN.
“Recognition is not an EU competence. It is a responsibility of individual Member States. But we continue, as European Union, supporting a two-state solution. And what we have decided is that in January, we will devote one point of the agenda to deeply discuss the situation in Middle East and of the Middle East Peace Process,” he added.He also noted that the recognition of the Palestine is among the “very much dividing” issues among EU countries.
On Sunday, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn sent a letter to his EU counterparts and Borrell, saying the only way to save the so-called two-state bid was to create “a more equitable situation” between Israel and Palestine.
“It is time to start a debate within the European Union on the opportunity of a recognition of the State of Palestine by all its Member States,” Channel 13 cited the letter. Such recognition “would neither be a favor, nor a blank check, but a simple recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to their own State.”Asselborn further stated that hopes for the two-state solution were “being dismantled piece by piece, day after day.”
“The policy of settlement and demolition risks replacing the two-state solution with a one-state reality, marked by perpetual conflict, occupation and unequal rights,” he pointed out.
Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state in the territories of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem al-Quds, with the latter as its capital.
In November 2012, the United Nations General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestine’s status from “non-member observer entity” to “non-member observer state” despite strong opposition from Israel.
The Palestinian national flag was hoisted, for the first time, at the UN headquarters in New York, in September of 2015.
Ireland and Luxembourg are among the EU member states seeking to raise the issue at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, on January 20, 2020.
Speaking on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the top diplomats will discuss whether the bloc should modify its Middle East policy, following Washington’s decision “on the legality of the Israeli colonies and some fears that they (the Americans) can continue taking decisions on this in this way.”
He was referring to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s announcement, last month, that the establishment of settlements in the occupied West Bank “is not per se inconsistent with international law.”
“Certainly we are in a difficult period in the Middle East Peace Process. We continue holding our position, that is to say a negotiated two-state solution. But for sure if we want a two-state solution we need to help and encourage both parties to enter a serious and credible negotiation. And this is not the case – really, it is not the case,” Borrell said, according to the PNN.
“Recognition is not an EU competence. It is a responsibility of individual Member States. But we continue, as European Union, supporting a two-state solution. And what we have decided is that in January, we will devote one point of the agenda to deeply discuss the situation in Middle East and of the Middle East Peace Process,” he added.He also noted that the recognition of the Palestine is among the “very much dividing” issues among EU countries.
On Sunday, Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn sent a letter to his EU counterparts and Borrell, saying the only way to save the so-called two-state bid was to create “a more equitable situation” between Israel and Palestine.
“It is time to start a debate within the European Union on the opportunity of a recognition of the State of Palestine by all its Member States,” Channel 13 cited the letter. Such recognition “would neither be a favor, nor a blank check, but a simple recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to their own State.”Asselborn further stated that hopes for the two-state solution were “being dismantled piece by piece, day after day.”
“The policy of settlement and demolition risks replacing the two-state solution with a one-state reality, marked by perpetual conflict, occupation and unequal rights,” he pointed out.
Palestinians are seeking to create an independent state in the territories of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem al-Quds, with the latter as its capital.
In November 2012, the United Nations General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestine’s status from “non-member observer entity” to “non-member observer state” despite strong opposition from Israel.
The Palestinian national flag was hoisted, for the first time, at the UN headquarters in New York, in September of 2015.
9 dec 2019
Ambassador Zhai Jun, the special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East, affirmed his country's rejection of all Israeli settlement measures, especially those aimed at annexing the Jordan Valley and Judaizing the Old City of al-Khalil in the occupied West Bank.
Jun told journalists at the headquarters of the Chinese embassy in Ramallah that Israel should stop all measures that would escalate violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, including settlement expansion and its practices in Jerusalem.
Regarding US unilateral decisions, the Chinese envoy said that the US administration had adopted recently a bullying approach in international relations through assaulting international justice and acting unilaterally, causing successive blows to the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
He stressed that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks on the legitimacy of settlements in the West Bank violate the international law.
He said that US officials had made many irresponsible statements regarding issues in the Middle East, which he said would not serve peace and security in the region.
He accused the US administration of straining the situation in the Middle East through what he described as its unilateral, selfish and arrogant positions and steps, especially when it moved its embassy to Jerusalem and abandoned its obligations towards the peace process.
The Chinese official called on the US side should assume its responsibility and play a constructive and positive role in the Middle East instead of playing a negative role regarding the Palestinian question.
He also called on the Israeli side to refrain from its actions that escalate the situation and have a detrimental impact on the peace process in the Middle East.
He affirmed the Chinese government's firm position regarding the Palestinian cause, including the internationally endorsed two-state solution, pledging to do his best to reactivate the peace process and build communication in this regard with all parties concerned.
Jun told journalists at the headquarters of the Chinese embassy in Ramallah that Israel should stop all measures that would escalate violence in the occupied Palestinian territories, including settlement expansion and its practices in Jerusalem.
Regarding US unilateral decisions, the Chinese envoy said that the US administration had adopted recently a bullying approach in international relations through assaulting international justice and acting unilaterally, causing successive blows to the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis.
He stressed that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's remarks on the legitimacy of settlements in the West Bank violate the international law.
He said that US officials had made many irresponsible statements regarding issues in the Middle East, which he said would not serve peace and security in the region.
He accused the US administration of straining the situation in the Middle East through what he described as its unilateral, selfish and arrogant positions and steps, especially when it moved its embassy to Jerusalem and abandoned its obligations towards the peace process.
The Chinese official called on the US side should assume its responsibility and play a constructive and positive role in the Middle East instead of playing a negative role regarding the Palestinian question.
He also called on the Israeli side to refrain from its actions that escalate the situation and have a detrimental impact on the peace process in the Middle East.
He affirmed the Chinese government's firm position regarding the Palestinian cause, including the internationally endorsed two-state solution, pledging to do his best to reactivate the peace process and build communication in this regard with all parties concerned.
Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn arrives for a meeting of EU foreign ministers at the Europa building in Brussels on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. European Union foreign ministers meet in Brussels on Monday Feb. 26 to debate ways to revive Middle East peace efforts and discuss the crisis in Venezuela.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn has urged his European Union counterparts to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as a response to US support for the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The recognition of Palestine as a State would be neither a favor nor a carte blanche, but rather a mere recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to their own state,” Asselborn said, in a letter to the EU foreign ministers, adding: “Indeed, if we want to contribute to solving the conflict between Israel and Palestine, we must never lose sight of Israel’s security conditions, as well as of justice and dignity for the Palestinian people.”
Despite US administration saying that settlements are not inconsistent with international law, the EU said, nevertheless, that it continues to believe that the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. It also supports the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital.
Asselborn’s letter was sent in advance of the monthly EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels planned for today, PNN reports.
Luxembourg Foreign Minister, Jean Asselborn has urged his European Union counterparts to recognize a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as a response to US support for the illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.
“The recognition of Palestine as a State would be neither a favor nor a carte blanche, but rather a mere recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to their own state,” Asselborn said, in a letter to the EU foreign ministers, adding: “Indeed, if we want to contribute to solving the conflict between Israel and Palestine, we must never lose sight of Israel’s security conditions, as well as of justice and dignity for the Palestinian people.”
Despite US administration saying that settlements are not inconsistent with international law, the EU said, nevertheless, that it continues to believe that the Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. It also supports the two-state solution, with Jerusalem as a shared capital.
Asselborn’s letter was sent in advance of the monthly EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels planned for today, PNN reports.
8 dec 2019
The president spoke at the Israeli American Council national summit that is financially backed by one of his top supporters, the husband-and-wife duo of Miriam and Sheldon Adelson
President Donald Trump said Saturday that Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than him because, unlike his predecessors, “I kept my promises.”
Trump energized an audience that numbered in the hundreds at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida by recounting his record on issues of importance to Jews, including an extensive riff on his promise to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and relocate the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.
Trump said his predecessors had promised to move the embassy but only paid lip service to the issue.
“They never had any intention of doing it, in my opinion,” Trump said. “But unlike other presidents, I kept my promises.”
Trump also highlighted his decision earlier this year to reverse more than a half-century of U.S. policy in the Middle East by recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the strategic highlands on the border with Syria.
In his speech, the president also claimed that there are some Jewish people in America who don’t love Israel enough.“We have to get the people of our country, of this country, to love Israel more, I have to tell you that. We have to do it. We have to get them to love Israel more,” Trump said, to some applause. “Because you have Jewish people that are great people — they don’t love Israel enough.”
Aaron Keyak, the former head of the National Jewish Democratic Council, denounced Trump’s remarks as anti-Semitic.
“Trump’s insistence on using anti-Semitic tropes when addressing Jewish audiences is dangerous and should concern every member of the Jewish community — even Jewish Republicans,” Keyak said.
Trump has been accused of trafficking in anti-Semitic stereotypes before, including in August, when he said American Jews who vote for Democrats show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”
A number of Jewish groups noted at the time that accusations of disloyalty have long been made against Jews.
The Israeli American Council is financially backed by one of Trump’s top supporters, the husband-and-wife duo of Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas casino magnate.
Both Adelsons appeared on stage to introduce Trump, with Miriam Adelson asserting that Trump “has already gone down in the annals of Jewish history, and that is before he’s even completed his first term in office.”
The Adelsons donated $30 million to Trump’s campaign in the final months of the 2016 race. They followed up by donating $100 million to the Republican Party for last November’s congressional elections.
Trump’s entourage at the event included Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, along with Republican Reps. Jim Jordan and Michael Waltz, whom he described as “two warriors” defending him against “oppression” in the impeachment inquiry.
Trump criticized Israel’s sworn enemy, Iran, saying he withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal with other world powers because Tehran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
But Trump voiced support for Iranian citizens who have been protesting a decision by their government to withdraw fuel subsidies, which sent prices skyrocketing.
Trump said that he believes thousands of Iranians have been killed in the protests and that thousands more have been arrested.
“America will always stand with the Iranian people in their righteous struggle for freedom,” he said.
The president introduced his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, who has played a leading role in helping the administration craft its Mideast peace plan.
A self-described deal-maker, Trump said he had long been told that achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians would be the hardest deal of all.
But ″ïf Jared Kushner can’t do it, it can’t be done,” Trump said.
The White House has said its Mideast peace plan is complete and had promised to release it after Israeli elections in September.
The long-delayed plan remains under wraps, and Israel appears headed for its third round of elections this year.
The plan also is facing rejection by Palestinian officials, who object to the pro-Israel leanings of the Trump administration.
During his speech, Trump also name-dropped Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., criticizing her for supporting the “BDS” movement against Israel: boycott, divest and sanction.
In August, at Trump’s urging, Israel denied Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. — the first two Muslim women elected to Congress and outspoken critics of Israel over its treatment of Palestinians — entry to the country over their support for the BDS movement.
“My administration strongly opposes this despicable rhetoric,” Trump said. “As long as I am your president, it makes no difference. It’s not happening.”
Before addressing the Israeli American Council summit, Trump spoke at the Florida Republican Party’s Statesman’s Dinner in nearby Aventura. The state GOP closed the event to media coverage.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than him because, unlike his predecessors, “I kept my promises.”
Trump energized an audience that numbered in the hundreds at the Israeli American Council National Summit in Florida by recounting his record on issues of importance to Jews, including an extensive riff on his promise to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital and relocate the U.S. Embassy there from Tel Aviv.
Trump said his predecessors had promised to move the embassy but only paid lip service to the issue.
“They never had any intention of doing it, in my opinion,” Trump said. “But unlike other presidents, I kept my promises.”
Trump also highlighted his decision earlier this year to reverse more than a half-century of U.S. policy in the Middle East by recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, the strategic highlands on the border with Syria.
In his speech, the president also claimed that there are some Jewish people in America who don’t love Israel enough.“We have to get the people of our country, of this country, to love Israel more, I have to tell you that. We have to do it. We have to get them to love Israel more,” Trump said, to some applause. “Because you have Jewish people that are great people — they don’t love Israel enough.”
Aaron Keyak, the former head of the National Jewish Democratic Council, denounced Trump’s remarks as anti-Semitic.
“Trump’s insistence on using anti-Semitic tropes when addressing Jewish audiences is dangerous and should concern every member of the Jewish community — even Jewish Republicans,” Keyak said.
Trump has been accused of trafficking in anti-Semitic stereotypes before, including in August, when he said American Jews who vote for Democrats show “either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.”
A number of Jewish groups noted at the time that accusations of disloyalty have long been made against Jews.
The Israeli American Council is financially backed by one of Trump’s top supporters, the husband-and-wife duo of Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas casino magnate.
Both Adelsons appeared on stage to introduce Trump, with Miriam Adelson asserting that Trump “has already gone down in the annals of Jewish history, and that is before he’s even completed his first term in office.”
The Adelsons donated $30 million to Trump’s campaign in the final months of the 2016 race. They followed up by donating $100 million to the Republican Party for last November’s congressional elections.
Trump’s entourage at the event included Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, along with Republican Reps. Jim Jordan and Michael Waltz, whom he described as “two warriors” defending him against “oppression” in the impeachment inquiry.
Trump criticized Israel’s sworn enemy, Iran, saying he withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal with other world powers because Tehran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
But Trump voiced support for Iranian citizens who have been protesting a decision by their government to withdraw fuel subsidies, which sent prices skyrocketing.
Trump said that he believes thousands of Iranians have been killed in the protests and that thousands more have been arrested.
“America will always stand with the Iranian people in their righteous struggle for freedom,” he said.
The president introduced his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, who has played a leading role in helping the administration craft its Mideast peace plan.
A self-described deal-maker, Trump said he had long been told that achieving peace between Israel and the Palestinians would be the hardest deal of all.
But ″ïf Jared Kushner can’t do it, it can’t be done,” Trump said.
The White House has said its Mideast peace plan is complete and had promised to release it after Israeli elections in September.
The long-delayed plan remains under wraps, and Israel appears headed for its third round of elections this year.
The plan also is facing rejection by Palestinian officials, who object to the pro-Israel leanings of the Trump administration.
During his speech, Trump also name-dropped Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., criticizing her for supporting the “BDS” movement against Israel: boycott, divest and sanction.
In August, at Trump’s urging, Israel denied Omar and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. — the first two Muslim women elected to Congress and outspoken critics of Israel over its treatment of Palestinians — entry to the country over their support for the BDS movement.
“My administration strongly opposes this despicable rhetoric,” Trump said. “As long as I am your president, it makes no difference. It’s not happening.”
Before addressing the Israeli American Council summit, Trump spoke at the Florida Republican Party’s Statesman’s Dinner in nearby Aventura. The state GOP closed the event to media coverage.
7 dec 2019
The Palestinian Presidency applauded the US Congress, on Friday, for supporting the two-state solution and rejecting the annexation of occupied Palestinian land, the Palestinian News and Info Agency reported.
President Abbas praised congress for their solidarity against Israel’s settlement policy, the fait accompli, and for recognizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish their own state.
The Presidency considered the Congress resolution, passed by a majority of 226 votes in favor to 188 against as “a response to the current wrong policy of the American administration,” the most recent of which was a statement by the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in which he said that settlements are not inconsistent with international law.
Abbas said in a statement that “this resolution is a clear message to the US administration and Israel that peace will be achieved only through the establishment of the independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the fulfillment of the aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
It reiterated that “true peace will not be achieved without a return to international law, international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.” It demanded the US administration to annul previous wrong policies starting with the one on Jerusalem and ending with support for settlements and rejecting the two-state solution.
The resolution, proposed by Democratic member of Congress, Alan Lowenthal and endorsed by members of both Democratic and Republican parties, is in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions, the latest of which was resolution 2334 of 2016, the President stated.
Representative Lowenthal tweeted after the passage of the resolution stating, “Proud to see the House pass my bipartisan resolution to affirm our support for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. We took a stand for a just peace which safeguards human rights and security, and stands against unilateral annexation and settlement expansion.”
President Abbas praised congress for their solidarity against Israel’s settlement policy, the fait accompli, and for recognizing the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish their own state.
The Presidency considered the Congress resolution, passed by a majority of 226 votes in favor to 188 against as “a response to the current wrong policy of the American administration,” the most recent of which was a statement by the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, in which he said that settlements are not inconsistent with international law.
Abbas said in a statement that “this resolution is a clear message to the US administration and Israel that peace will be achieved only through the establishment of the independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the fulfillment of the aspirations of the Palestinian people.”
It reiterated that “true peace will not be achieved without a return to international law, international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.” It demanded the US administration to annul previous wrong policies starting with the one on Jerusalem and ending with support for settlements and rejecting the two-state solution.
The resolution, proposed by Democratic member of Congress, Alan Lowenthal and endorsed by members of both Democratic and Republican parties, is in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions, the latest of which was resolution 2334 of 2016, the President stated.
Representative Lowenthal tweeted after the passage of the resolution stating, “Proud to see the House pass my bipartisan resolution to affirm our support for a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians. We took a stand for a just peace which safeguards human rights and security, and stands against unilateral annexation and settlement expansion.”
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