Dear A.,

Palestinian leaders’ policies are increasing terrorism and decreasing the prospects for peace.

In just the past few weeks, Palestinian terrorists have killed 11 Israelis, including two children, and injured many more, continuing a deadly trend of escalating Palestinian terror attacks over the last year. 

This violence doesn't happen in a vacuum: The Palestinian Authority (PA) directly incites terrorism through its leaders’ statements and actions and its state-controlled media, all of which regularly demonize Israel, praise terrorists and deny any historical connection between Israel and the Jewish people.

• Watch this short video for sharing on social media on the PA's heinous pay-for-slay policy.

Palestinian leaders regularly glorify terrorists and inspire Palestinians to kill. Last year, PA President Abbas met with and praised the mother of six murderous terrorists, telling her: “You are our pride and glory.”

And just this week, in a deliberate ploy to inflame religious tensions over the Holy City, Abbas attempted to erase Jewish history and connection to Jerusalem by declaring, "We alone have the religious, historical, and legal right to Al-Buraq Wall (Western Wall)."

Together, we must work to ensure Congress and the administration press Abbas and the PA to end their deadly policies, and ensure Israel has the resources and support needed to defend its citizens from this growing terrorist threat.

• Read this AIPAC memo that was sent to Hill offices this week. 

See below for more stories we are following from this week.

The Iranian regime is strengthening ties with anti-American countries around the world, as it brutally represses Iranian citizens at home.

The latest: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing this week, the first state visit by an Iranian president to China in over 20 years. 

Context: China has become Iran's largest trading partner and buyer of oil, in violation of U.S. and international sanctions. 

• During Raisi's visit, the two countries pledged to significantly deepen political and economic ties.
   
• “No matter how the international and regional situation changes, China will unswervingly develop friendly cooperation with Iran," said Xi.

The bottom line: American adversaries like Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela are strengthening ties to evade sanctions and threaten Americans and our allies. 

The U.S. and our allies must increase the pressure on the Iranian regime as it escalates its dangerous behavior.

Iran is sheltering dangerous terrorists as it continues to export terrorism and weapons around the world.

The latest: The current leader of al-Qaeda has been operating from Iran for decades under the protection of the Iranian regime, a U.N. investigation recently revealed.

• “Al-Qaeda has a new home base: it is the Islamic Republic of Iran," said former Secretary of State Pompeo in 2021. "We ignore this Iran and al-Qaeda nexus at our own peril.”
   

Go deeper: This al-Qaeda leader helped orchestrate the 9/11 attacks as well as the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings and remains on the FBI's most wanted terrorists list. 

The bottom line: Iran – the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism – is giving safe harbor to an al-Qaeda terrorist who has helped kill Americans.

Thanks to our efforts on Capitol Hill, Congress passed $25 million for U.S.-Israel counter-drone cooperation as part of the omnibus funding bill for fiscal year 2023.

What it does: This funding helps foster bilateral cooperation to build technology and share intelligence to address the growing threat of drones, including from Iran and its regional terror proxies. 

Why it matters: Bilateral U.S.-Israel defense cooperation protects Americans and Israelis and helps deter war.

The big picture: These achievements would not have been possible without strong support from pro-Israel Democrats and Republicans in Congress.

With your support, AIPAC will continue to lobby Congress to fund vital bilateral cooperation in areas like counter-drone technology, to help ensure the safety and security of both America and Israel.