I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Seeks to Build Space and Satellite Security Strategy in Region. On November 8, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced H.R.10108, which would require the Secretary of Defense to develop a space and satellite security strategy and a multilateral data-sharing agreement to protect Israel and other partner countries in the region.
Senate Republicans Introduce Bill to Defend Israel at the United Nations. On November 13, Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led 33 Republican senators in introducing S.5303, a bill to cut funding from UN agencies that restrict Israel’s participation.
House Fails to Pass Bill Targeting Tax-Exempt Status of Nonprofits. On November 12, H.R.9495 failed to receive a two-thirds majority to pass the House under suspension of rules. The bill, known as the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, would grant the Secretary of the Treasury the power to deem any nonprofit a “terrorist-supporting organization” and revoke its tax-exempt status. The bill is part of a broader congressional crackdown on nonprofits engaged in pro-Palestine activism, following similar efforts such as H.R.6408.
Bipartisan Senate Bill Seeks to Block October 7 Supporters from the United States. On November 13, Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act, which would prevent anyone who “helped plan, finance, or in any way supported the October 7 terrorist attack” from entering the United States or receiving immigration benefits.
Senate Bill Aims to Protect Sudanese Human Rights. On November 14, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced S.5327, a bill to protect the human rights of all Sudanese people and to hold perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide in Sudan accountable for their crimes.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Democrats Push to Sanction Israeli Officials for West Bank Violence. On November 14, Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sean Casten (D-IL) and Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) led a bicameral letter to President Joe Biden with 84 other lawmakers, pressing the administration to sanction Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich, Minister for National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, and other officials for settler violence, settlement expansion, and destabilizing activity in the occupied West Bank.
Senate Republicans Target Federal Funding for Middle East Studies. On November 14, Sens. Blackburn (R-TN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) wrote to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, accusing the Department of funding academic programs that facilitate antisemitism. The senators took issue with the Department’s allocation of $22.1 million for Title VI National Resource Centers and Foreign Language and Area Studies grant programs, particularly for institutions that they accuse of “bankrolling radical anti-Israel initiatives,” singling out Columbia and Georgetown universities.
SFRC Chair Reiterates Call for Action on Sudan. On November 14, Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called for improved civilian protection, accountability for states violating the Darfur arms embargo, and increased humanitarian aid for Sudan.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
Biden Meets with Israeli President. On November 12, President Biden hosted Israeli President Isaac Herzog in the Oval Office, reiterating the US administration’s “ironclad” support for Israel and efforts to free hostages in Gaza. On November 13, Biden met with the families of American hostages taken by Hamas.
Administration Continues to Push for Regional De-Escalation. On November 13, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan commented that the administration is continuing to work with Israeli officials “to push back against our common adversaries, to try to deal with the situation in Gaza, in Lebanon, and directly with respect to the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
2) Department of State
United States Outlines Calls to Action on Sudan. At a November 12 UN Security Council meeting on Sudan and South Sudan, Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield expressed concern about attacks on civilians and outlined four primary calls to action: to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid, to end the current fighting, to establish a compliance mechanism following a broader cessation of hostilities agreement, and to support a transition to inclusive and democratic civilian governance.
Blinken Speaks with Turkish Foreign Minister. On November 12, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. The two officials discussed efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in Lebanon, to end the war in Gaza, and to achieve “a just and durable peace” in the South Caucasus.
Blinken Speaks with Israeli Officials. On November 11, Blinken met with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer to review steps that Israel has taken to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza in response to the October 13 letter sent to Israel by Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III warning of a potential military aid suspension if Israel failed to improve humanitarian access to Gaza within 30 days. Blinken underscored the importance of ending the wars in Gaza and Lebanon, which he also addressed in a November 15 meeting with newly appointed Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
Blinken Says that Israel Has Satisfied Most US Requests to Improve Gaza Situation. On November 13, Secretary Blinken spoke to reporters regarding US requests of Israel to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as outlined in the aforementioned October 13 letter. With the expiration of the letter’s 30-day deadline, Blinken told reporters that “Israel has taken action either in implementing or being in the process of implementing 12 of the 15 steps” requested by the Biden administration. Blinken lamented the growing international pressure on Israel, saying that “it would be good to also see some genuine, sustained, effective pressure on Hamas to do its part to end something that it started.”
Department Calls for Compliance with ICJ Order on Syria. On November 15, Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller marked one year since the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued provisional measures that called on the Assad regime in Syria to prevent acts of torture and other cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment as well as to prevent the destruction of evidence of such acts. Miller stated that the regime has failed to comply with these directives and called for immediate compliance with the ICJ’s order.
3) Department of Defense
CENTCOM Conducts Strikes in Syria and Yemen. On November 9-10, CENTCOM forces conducted airstrikes against weapons storage locations in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On November 11, CENTCOM announced that it had conducted strikes against Iranian-backed armed groups in Syria in response to attacks on US personnel. On November 12, CENTCOM forces carried out additional strikes against an Iranian-backed group’s weapons storage and logistics headquarters facility in Syria, following a rocket attack on US personnel at Patrol Base Shaddadi.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions RSF Commander. On November 12, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Abdel Rahman Joma’a Barakallah for his role in atrocities and human rights violations committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in West Darfur. The sanctions reinforce the UN Security Council’s November 8 sanctioning of Barakallah and another RSF commander Osman Mohamed Hamid Mohamed, who was previously designated by OFAC in May 2024.
Treasury Sanctions Syrian Conglomerate Aiding IRGC-QF and the Houthis. On November 14, OFAC expanded sanctions against the Al-Qatirji Company, a Syrian conglomerate that has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) and the Houthis through the sale of Iranian oil to Syria and China.
5) United States Agency for International Development
Administrator Power Meets with Israeli Ambassador. On November 14, USAID Administrator Samantha Power met with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog, raising concerns about humanitarian conditions in Gaza. Power discussed the need for “additional steps and commitments from Israel to significantly and urgently accelerate the flow and delivery of food aid and other assistance to Palestinian civilians throughout Gaza.”
III. Judicial Branch
Abu Ghraib Abuse Victims Awarded $42 Million. On November 12, a jury awarded $42 million to three Iraqi men who were detained and abused at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, holding US defense contractor CACI responsible.
