Dear A.,

Israel is fighting Iran-backed terror groups on multiple fronts at once.

This week, the IDF killed 100 more terrorists in Gaza and struck more than 40 terror sites. Israeli troops also uncovered several more tunnel shafts during its operations across the Strip. 

In Lebanon, the IDF carried out 50 airstrikes against Hezbollah sites this week, including weapons depots and dozens of rocket launchers.

In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers killed more than 35 terrorists and detained 45 others during its ongoing operations in the terror strongholds of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Far'a. Three bomb-making labs were destroyed and dozens of explosive devices and firearms were seized by IDF troops.

As Israel confronts these terror threats, America's support is essential to ensuring Israel has the offensive and defensive capabilities it needs to protect its families.

Last month, the Biden Administration approved five major arms sales to Israel which include 50 F-15 fighter jets and other weapons that are essential for Israel to deter, defend against, and confront Iran and its proxies.

When Congress returns next week, some Senators may introduce resolutions to block some of these sales. We must ensure the Senate overwhelmingly rejects these efforts to undermine America and Israel's security.

Take action today and urge your members of Congress to vote against any effort to block arms sales to Israel.

I will keep you informed about other important actions to take next week when members return to Washington.

Hamas document reveals deliberate use of psychological warfare to stall negotiations

A Hamas document recently recovered from Gaza outlines the terror group's abuse of the hostages as a tactic to improve its negotiating position and increase the pressure on Israel to make more concessions.

The document was reportedly written this spring and approved personally by Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

“Continue to exert psychological pressure on the families of the prisoners, both now and during the first phase (of the ceasefire), so that public pressure on the enemy government increases,” the document says.

Hamas is believed to be dragging the hostage-ceasefire negotiations to “exhaust” the IDF and garner international pressure on Israel.

The terror group also lists demands of Israel, including the release of 100 terrorists serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. Read more here.

Justice Department unseals terrorism charges against Hamas leadership

Earlier this week, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the unsealing of criminal charges against Hamas leadership "for financing and directing a decades-long campaign to murder American citizens and endanger the security of the United States."

"From its inception, Hamas’ stated purpose has been to create an Islamic Palestinian state throughout Israel by eliminating the State of Israel through violent holy war, or jihad," the announcement reads. "Hamas also promotes attacks against the U.S. and its citizens and, over more than two decades, Hamas has murdered and injured dozens of Americans as part of its campaign of violence and terror."

“For decades, Hamas and its leadership have dedicated themselves to the eradication of the State of Israel, and to murdering, maiming, and brutalizing anyone — including dozens of Americans — who stood in their way,” said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.

"We will bring justice to this terrorist organization from the top down for the atrocities they have committed."

Members of Congress call to extradite Hamas leader from Qatar

Following the U.S. indictment of top Hamas officials this week, multiple lawmakers are calling for senior Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal to be extradited from Qatar.

“Although the United States does not have an extradition treaty with Qatar, we would expect a major non-NATO ally to comply with any request to extradite a terrorist leader responsible for the murder and kidnapping of U.S. citizens,” Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) said.

Budd is leading bipartisan legislation seeking to reevaluate America's relationship with Qatar. Urge your members to support the legislation here.

AIPAC responds to NYT columnist Thomas Friedman

AIPAC's Letter to the Editor below appeared in today's New York Times:

To the Editor:

Re “Netanyahu Is Trying to Save Himself, Elect Trump and Defeat Harris,” by Thomas L. Friedman (column, Sept. 4):

Mr. Friedman includes a reference to AIPAC that unfairly characterizes our organization: “If Harris wins, Bibi knows he just needs to snap his fingers and the pro-Israel lobby in Washington — AIPAC — and Republicans in Congress will protect him from blowback.”

AIPAC does not take direction from any foreign government. We are a bipartisan organization of Americans that is committed to strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship. Our policies and positions on issues are determined solely by our board of directors. Regardless of who is in power in the United States or Israel, our objective is the same: building the alliance between America and the region’s only genuine democracy — Israel.

In the last few days, we have witnessed the horrific murder of an American hostage at the hands of the terrorists of Hamas. We should direct our outrage and anger against those Iranian terrorist proxies rather than unfairly characterize fellow Americans who are engaged in the democratic process.

Marshall Wittmann
Washington
The writer is the spokesman for AIPAC.

Leo Dee meets Rachel Goldberg and Jon Polin as they mourn for Hersh

Rabbi Leo Dee, whose wife Lucy and daughters Maia and Rina were brutally murdered last year by Palestinian terrorists, joined the Shiva tent of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin this week to give comfort to his parents, Rachel and Jon.