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(1) Thanks and Tweets: We are gratified that Pres. Biden and almost every Senator made a strong statement unequivocally supporting Israel’s right to defend herself and condemning Hamas’ horrific atrocities. Please thank them. Note that Israel-haters are actively criticizing Senators’ pro-Israel tweets. Please tweet replies favoring the Senators’ pro-Israel statements; as well as calls and emails.
(2) Urge that Support for Israel Must Continue: It is vital to let President Biden and your Senators and Representatives know that they must continue to support Israel and Israel’s counterattacks against Hamas, no matter how long this takes. Hamas needs to be crushed, or it will slaughter innocent Jews again and again. In May 2021, Hamas launched 4,500 rockets at Israel and then Israel counterattacked. The U.S. initially supported Israel’s right to defend herself, but soon afterwards reportedly pressured Israel into a premature ceasefire. If Israel had been allowed to finish the job in 2021, yesterday’s tragedy may have been averted. Already some Squad members are pushing for an immediate ceasefire, thereby enabling Hamas to attack again. We cannot allow this.
Yesterday, Biden’s Secretary of State Blinken tweeted after he spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan (a Hamas ally): “I encouraged Türkiye’s advocacy for a cease-fire and the release of all hostages held by Hamas immediately.” Demanding immediate release of the hostages is vital. However, endorsing a ceasefire right after Hamas’ mass murder of Israelis raises concerns that the administration may again pressure Israel not to crush Hamas.
(3) Urge the U.S. to Promptly Provide Israel What it Needs: Several bi-partisan Congresspersons specifically promised to make sure that Israel gets the help it needs; and Pres. Biden said that his team will engage “to make sure” that Israel has what it needs. Please urge Pres. Biden to follow through, and urge your Senators and Reps to join the following efforts to replenish Iron Dome and promptly provide whatever Israel needs:
- Rep. Jim Jordan: “We need to immediately help replenish Israel’s stockpile of Iron Dome missiles to protect more innocent civilians from getting killed. Let’s make sure Congress can unite and assure Israel has what it needs to destroy Hamas.”
- Sen. Chris Coons: “I will work with the administration to ensure the people of Israel have what they need to defend themselves against these atrocities.”
- Sen. Tim Kaine: "I will continue to work with the Biden administration to ensure that Israel receives the support it needs."
- Sen. Lindsey Graham: "I assured [Israel’s Ambassador] that I along with many other Republicans and Democrats will make sure Israel has what it needs to destroy Hamas.”
(4) Urge Enforcing Iran Sanctions and Ending Financial Support for Palestinians and UNRWA: Iran earned $54 billion in oil sales revenue in 2022. Senior Hamas and Hezbollah officials and an advisor to Syria have revealed that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) worked with Hamas since August to plan Hamas’ invasion of Israel, and that Iran gave the final go-ahead at an IRGC meeting with Hamas and Hezbollah. (See “Iran Helped Plot Attack on Israel Over Several Weeks,” Wall St. Jnl., Oct. 8, 2023)
Many Republican Senators pointed out that Hamas is Iran-backed and/or that Hamas’ attack is connected to the U.S. failing to enforce sanctions against Iran, allowing Iran to obtain billions of dollars and/or is connected to the U.S. funding the Palestinians and Hamas-allied UNRWA. (See, e.g., Sen. Marsha Blackburn’s statement.) Unfortunately, no Democratic Senators mentioned Iran in their otherwise very supportive tweets yesterday (except for Chris Murphy, who accused Mike Pence of “partisan hackery” and “bad faith” for pointing out a connection to the U.S. agreeing to release $6 billion to Iran). Please urge Pres. Biden and a united Congress, including both our Democratic and Republican friends, to stop funding the Palestinians and UNRWA; to strictly enforce oil and other sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran; and to freeze the most recent $6 billion release of funds to Iran.
(5) Condemn and Challenge Problematic Statements: Although almost all statements supported Israel, there were a few problematic statements:
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Despicably, in response to Hamas attacking Israel, the U.S. Office of Palestinian Affairs (OPA) in Jerusalem called on “all sides” [meaning Israel] to “refrain from violence and retaliatory attacks.” The post was later deleted. This is one more reason why the OPA, which is actively involved in funding Palestinians, should be closed.
- Sen. Peter Welch said "cycles of violence" must end. This language wrongly blames “both sides” for Hamas’ unprovoked attacks. There would be no need for Israel to defend herself if Hamas did not initiate atrocities against Israeli civilians.
- Sen. Warnock's statement failed to identify the terrorists and the victims.
- Outrageously, Cong. Jamaal Bowman called for ending the blockade of Gaza. The blockade by Israel and Egypt is a weapons blockade. Ending this blockade would allow Hamas to import even more weapons and perpetrate even more violence.
- Squad members Ilhan Omar and Ayanna Pressley also used the misleading “cycles” of violence language, and called for a de-escalation and ceasefire. A ceasefire means that Hamas cannot be attacked, degraded or destroyed – even as Hamas holds dozens or more Jewish hostages, including women, children, disabled and elderly Jews – and will do this all over again if Hamas is not crushed.
(6) Join the ZOA Coalition Emergency Activism Committee: We all want to help. We are starting this group to plan actions to help Israel in these difficult days. Our first zoom meeting will be tomorrow (Monday Oct. 9th) at 8 p.m. The sign-up link is here.
Below is every Senator's and President Biden's info:
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