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Washington DC – U.S. Democratic lawmakers have proposed a bill confirming support for the two-state solution and calling for “strong supervision” of U.S. aid to Israel to ensure that it will not be used to violate human rights.
The proposed legislation introduced by Congressman Andy Levin on Thursday will make US policy a clear distinction between Israel and the Palestinian territories it occupies, including East Jerusalem.
The bill also calls on the U.S. government to maintain diplomatic relations with the Palestinians by reopening the Palestine Liberation Organization offices in Washington and the U.S. consulate in East Jerusalem-both Shutters By former President Donald Trump.
Joe Biden had promised to re-establish relations with the Palestinians, but after eight months of his presidency, the consulate in East Jerusalem has not yet reopened.
Levin said at a press conference in Washington, D.C.: “The bill clearly states that assistance should continue to help Israel deal with its very real security challenges without causing a loss of one dollar.”
“But it cannot be used in a way that violates internationally recognized human rights, nor can it be used to perpetuate occupation or promote de facto-or god-knowing legal-annexation activities.”
Levin of Michigan stated that Congress has a say in how to spend U.S. taxpayers’ money, “it’s nothing new”, but in this case, “if we take the realization of a two-state solution seriously and safeguard the human rights of U.S. citizens , This is very important”. Israelis are the same as Palestinians.”
Not far enough
The policies of successive US administrations have supported a two-state solution, namely, the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. But critics of US policy say that the US government has not put enough pressure on Israel for this.
Over the years, Palestinian rights advocates have also stated that because Israel continues to build settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, a two-state solution is impossible. Many people criticize the two-state concept as a way for Israel to maintain the status quo.
According to a recent United Nations report, there are currently more than 680,000 Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel occupied Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in the 1967 war. It annexed East Jerusalem in 1980.
In a statement on Thursday, the United States Movement for Palestine Rights (USCPR) stated that Levin’s legislation had not done enough to put pressure on Israel.
The organization stated: “The Palestinians’ demands have always been clear-stop the U.S. involvement in Israel’s human rights violations and get rid of harm and violence,” adding that measures taken to this end must make Israel responsible for its violations and have Significantly oppose the reality of “singleness” and inequality, which is the reality that the Palestinians live in.
“The Two-State Solution Bill did not pass these two basic requirements and therefore cannot become a progressive bill for Palestine,” USCPR said.
More and more controversy
Nonetheless, Thursday’s bill is still in Increasing debate With regard to US assistance to Israel, some progressive lawmakers have called for additional conditions on the US$3.8 billion in military assistance provided to the Israeli government each year.
Earlier this year, the Democratic Party Congresswoman Betty McCollum A bill was proposed that would also restrict the use of US aid, so it would not encourage Israel to annex Palestinian territories or imprison Palestinian children.
But Biden has largely maintained America’s support for Israel for decades.in a Speech at the United Nations General Assembly On Tuesday, he reiterated his support for the two-state solution, but his government did not publicly criticize Israel’s policies.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who met with Biden in Washington last month, ruled out allowing the establishment of a Palestinian state under his government.
A bill called the “Two-State Solution Act” introduced on Thursday said that the establishment of Israeli settlements “does not conform to international law”; it also called for “an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.”
Given the human rights violations in Gaza, Sheikh Jarrah, and the expanding settlements, we should not increase Israel’s military funding by $1 billion at the last minute without any responsibility.
-Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) September 23, 2021
it Announced in the House of Representatives hours ago Vote with an overwhelming majority Provide 1 billion U.S. dollars in additional funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
In response to a question from Al Jazeera, Levin acknowledged that the two-State solution faces challenges, including Bennett’s position, but he said it is important to invest in work to open up new possibilities.
Levin said: “What is missing is that the United States has played its role-its powerful and powerful role-to say to these two nations: We will support you, let you stand in the same boat through storms, and enable us to achieve lasting peace.”
The bill was co-sponsored by more than two dozen Democrats, including several prominent Jewish members of the House of Representatives.
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