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It is through the generosity of our members that AIPAC works to help make Israel more secure by ensuring a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.

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CLICK HERE TO SUPPORT AIPAC TODAY


Friend of Israel,


While much of the public discourse this week focused on the discriminatory boycott, divestment and sanctions
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campaign against Israel , many countries around the world are choosing to engage with the Jewish state, invest in Israel, and abandon the tired and unproductive boycotts of the past.


In a major diplomatic achievement, Israel’s foreign ministry announced on Thursday that the Jewish state will
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rejoin the African Union as an observer member, after nearly two decades of marginalization.


The move will create greater opportunity for millions across Africa who can benefit from new partnerships with Israel – and is a powerful model for others, especially the Palestinian leadership, to follow.

Our message to policymakers in Washington is clear: Engaging with Israel achieves peace and opportunity. Boycotting Israel achieves nothing.


That’s why we are urging Congress to support
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important bipartisan legislation that would expand upon the Abraham Accords and encourage more countries to normalize relations with the Jewish state.

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62 Senators and
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200 House members have cosponsored this legislation so far.


- Click
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here to urge your members to support this important effort.

As some work to undermine and isolate our ally, our work together remains critical to keeping Israel safe, secure, and capable of achieving remarkable progress.


I’ve included more stories from the week below.


Brian Shankman

Chief Strategy Director for National Affairs


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Israel in the Olympics: Moment of Silence Held for Israeli Victims of 1972 Munich Massacre
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49 years after 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists at the Munich Olympics, today's opening ceremonies in Tokyo included, for the first time, an official commemoration honoring the victims.

- WATCH:
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1972 Olympic Israeli victims honored during moment of silence. The Associated Press
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published its full list of predictions for medals at the Tokyo Olympics, including a projected seven medals for Israel.
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Israel is predicted to win gold in the floor exercise of men’s artistic gymnastics and silver medals in the women’s marathon category.
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View more medal predictions here.
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Share an AIPAC Facebook post.



An Important Month in Congress: Pro-Israel Funding Passes through House Appropriations Committee
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Many vital funding provisions that AIPAC lobbies for have advanced in Congress this month through the House Appropriations Committee.

In addition to $3.3 billionin annual security assistance to Israel without added political conditions and $500 million for U.S.-Israel missile defense cooperation, the Committee passed pro-Israel provisions including:

- Healthcare cooperation: $4 million for U.S.-Israel health technology research will help keep both countries healthier.


- U.S.-Israel international development cooperation: $2 million for cooperation to address sustainability challenges relating to water resources, agriculture, and energy storage in the developing world.


- The Middle East Partnership for Peace Act:$50 million for the Nita M. Lowey Middle East Partnership for Peace Act to build partnerships between Israelis and Palestinians.


- U.S.-Israel energy cooperation: $6 million for energy cooperation to enhance our renewable energy technologies, help achieve global climate objectives, and protect our critical energy infrastructure.


- Homeland security cooperation: $2 million for U.S.-Israel cooperation on border security, maritime security, biometrics, cybersecurity, and video analytics will help keep both countries safer.


- Increased funding for the Middle East Regional Cooperation program: $6 million to facilitate collaborative research between Israeli and Arab scientists.This is an important step forward in the legislative process, but these measures must still be passed by the full House and Senate before they become law.

AIPAC's role: In the weeks and months ahead, we will work tirelessly to ensure that this vital funding is adopted by Congress with bipartisan support.

TAKE ACTION:
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Urge your member of Congress to support full security assistance a
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s the process continues on Capitol Hill.

The BDS Campaign Against Israel
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In the aftermath of the Ben & Jerry's decision earlier this week, there is renewed attention on the BDS campaign.

The State Department
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strongly condemned the BDS movement saying: "We firmly reject the BDS movement, which unfairly singles out Israel...the U.S. will be a strong partner in fighting efforts around the world that potentially seek to delegitimize Israel."

- Share this on
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Facebook ,
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Instagram and
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Twitter .Israeli leaders issued public statements throughout the week condemning Ben & Jerry's action:
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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: "There are many ice cream brands, but only one Jewish state. Ben & Jerry's has decided to brand itself as the anti-Israel ice cream. This decision is morally wrong and I believe that it will become clear that it is also commercially wrong."


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Foreign Minister Yair Lapid: "Ben & Jerry’s decision represents shameful surrender to antisemitism, to BDS and to all that is wrong with the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish discourse. We will not be silent."AIPAC continues to educate policymakers about the true nature of BDS: anti-Israel, anti-peace and damaging to American interests.
- Help amplify the message on
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Facebook ,
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Twitter, and
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Instagram .
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BDS hurts Palestinians: In an op-ed, Bassem Eid, a Palestinian human rights activist, characterizes the Ben and Jerry’s boycott as “performative activism, that fails to help the Palestinians in any meaningful way.”
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He explains that this move will cause Palestinians to lose their jobs and be unable to support their families. Want more information on BDS?
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Click here to read an AIPAC factsheet.




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HOW YOU CAN HELP

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It is through the generosity of our members that AIPAC works to help make Israel more secure by ensuring a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.

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SUPPORT AIPAC TODAY



Israel to Rejoin African Union as a Member with Observer Status
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Israel will rejoin the African Union as a member with observer status, according to Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a
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statement, the Ministry said: "Following the formal establishment of Israel's observer status with the African Union, the parties will be able to cooperate, among other things, in the fight against Corona and the prevention of the spread of extremist terrorism throughout the continent.​"

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Israel's Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said, “This is a day of celebration for Israel-Africa relations." The big picture: By strengthening its ties with Israel, the African Union is creating greater opportunity for millions across the continent who can benefit from partnerships with the Jewish state.
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This is a powerful model for others—especially the Palestinian leadership—to follow.In Congress: The Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021 seeks to expand the recent peace and normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco.
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The bipartisan bill recognizes that these agreements have the potential to transform the region and enhance the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. TAKE ACTION:
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Urge members of Congress to cosponsor this important bipartisan legislation.



Iranian Spokesman: Country Rejects Proposed Agreement to Restore 2015 Nuclear Deal
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This week, an Iranian government spokesman said that the country has rejected a proposed agreement to restore the 2015 nuclear deal in exchange for sanctions relief.

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Iran's government spokesman, Ali Rabiei, said the proposal did not meet the terms of Iranian law. The big picture: America must make clear to Iran that it cannot achieve sanctions relief through nuclear blackmail and raising tensions.

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Read an AIPAC memo.

Two Rockets Fired at Israel from Lebanon
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Two rockets were fired from Lebanon toward Israel early Tuesday morning, setting off sirens in northern Israel.

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One of the rockets was shot down by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system and the other landed in an open area, causing no damage.Why it matters: Iron Dome, funded through annual bipartisan support in Congress, saves countless lives and protects Israelis from Iranian-backed terrorists.

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Read an AIPAC memo.

Juniper Falcon 2021: American and Israeli Troops Train Together
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This week, the U.S. Air Force arrived in Israel to train alongside their IDF counterparts.

Context: The exercise is an in-person follow-up to an air defense exercise that was held virtually earlier this year.

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In a statement, the U.S. European Command said the exercise "serves as an opportunity for U.S. military personnel and the IDF to exercise together and learn from one another."Why it matters: The exercise is designed to test simulated emergency response procedures including ballistic missile defense and crisis response assistance.

The big picture: America's partnership with Israel helps keep both countries stronger, safer and better prepared to address shared threats.

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Share an AIPAC Facebook post.



The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.



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