This week, we once again saw the dangerous reality Israelis are forced to confront, as four Israeli civilians, including two teenagers, were killed by Palestinian terrorists.
The victims were Nachman Mordoff, 17; Elisha Anteman, 17; Harel Masood, 21; and Ofer Fayerman, 64.
More than 20 Israelis have been killed by Palestinian terrorists so far this year.
This latest attack comes as the Palestinian Authority has effectively lost security control of Jenin, a densely populated city in the northern West Bank, enabling it to become a hotbed for terrorism.
Iranian-backed terrorist groups including Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) are now embedded in Jenin, planning and orchestrating terrorist attacks against the Jewish state and deliberately putting Palestinian civilians in danger.
Israel has been forced to increase its counterterrorism operations in the city, and eight Israeli soldiers were injured this week arresting the son of a senior Hamas official and a member of PIJ there.
Prof. Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Israeli think-tank INSS, warns:
"The potential for escalation and spillover has risen, and Israel may find itself in a much wider and more significant round of fighting at a time and under conditions that are not necessarily favorable."
America must unequivocally stand by our ally Israel as it defends itself from terrorism, pressure the Palestinian Authority to increase its security cooperation with the Jewish state and demand that Palestinian leaders stop their anti-Israel incitement.
Below are more headlines from over the week.
Brian Shankman
Chief Strategy Director for National Affairs
Family and friends attended the funeral of 21-year-old Harel Masood. Photo by Liron Moldovan/Flash90.
65 Senators Support Israel's Entry to the Visa Waiver Program
On Wednesday, 65 senators — more than half of Democrats and Republicans in the Senate — sent a letter to Secretary of State Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas backing Israel’s entry into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).
The VWP allows individuals from participating countries to visit the United States for 90 days or less for tourism or business purposes without obtaining a visa.
The letter, led by Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV), notes that “Israel’s participation in VWP would significantly increase the potential for both tourism and business travel,” boosting the U.S. economy.
Waiving the visa requirement for Israelis visiting America reflects the strong ties between the two countries and befits Israel's status as a key strategic ally.
The United States, alongside 26 other countries, condemned on Tuesday the biased and open-ended U.N. Commission of Inquiry (COI) investigation into Israel.
The countries, including Austria, Britain, Canada and Italy, demanded an end to the "long-standing disproportionate attention given to Israel in the council."
Bipartisan Senate Letter on Iran
This week, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and James Lankford (R-OK) led a bipartisan group of 26 senators calling on the Biden administration "to remain aligned with Congressional efforts related to Iran’s nuclear program and not agree to a pact that fails to achieve our nation’s critical interests."
The letter says: "It is imperative today that we strengthen our efforts to deter Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. We must make Iran understand, in no uncertain terms, that further advances in its nuclear program will be met with unified international action."
House Committees Approve Major Pro-Israel Provisions
On Thursday, the House Armed Services Committee and House Appropriations Committee passed important pro-Israel provisions, including:
$500 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense cooperation
$47.5 million for U.S.-Israel anti-tunnel cooperation
$40 million for U.S.-Israel Counter-UAS cooperation (including directed energy and laser technologies)
The U.S.-Israel Future of Warfare Act, which establishes an annual $50 million R&D fund to allow the U.S. and Israel to scale up cooperation in emerging technologies including AI, cybersecurity, directed energy and automation
Mandatory biannual U.S.-Israel joint military exercises, including simulating large-scale and long-range strike missions and aerial refueling of Israeli aircraft by American aircraft
We will keep you updated as these and other important pro-Israel provisions progress through the legislative process.
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