Washington Policy Weekly

I. Congress

1) Legislation

House Passes Bill Condemning IS Activity in Mozambique. On June 21, the House of Representatives passed H.Res.720, originally proposed in October 2021. The bill condemns terrorist activity in Mozambique by groups affiliated with the so-called Islamic State (IS) and urges the Mozambican government to act. The bill highlights recent activities of the terrorist groups al-Shabab and Ahlu al-Sunnah wal-Jamaah in the Cabo Delgado province. The latter is reported to have pledged allegiance to IS and been acknowledged as its affiliate in 2019. This legislation calls on the Mozambican government to take steps to protect children and humanitarian workers, to ensure humanitarian assistance is fairly distributed and used for its intended purposes, to work with the international community to investigate and prosecute human rights abuses, and to develop a national strategy to address violence in the Cabo Delgado province.

2) Personnel and Correspondence

Senate Democrats Advocate for US Inquiry into Shireen Abu Akleh’s Death. On June 23, twenty-four Senate Democrats, led by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), sent a letter to President Biden advocating a US-led investigation into the May 11 killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. This echoes a similar letter sent last month by 57 House Democrats. The letter states that an investigation with “direct US involvement” must be launched due to Abu Akleh’s status as a US citizen and the lack of cooperation between Israel and the Palestinian Authority in an ongoing investigation. However, despite repeated calls from lawmakers for a US probe, State Department spokesperson Ned Price has said that a US investigation is “not on the table at the moment.”

Representatives Urge Investigation into ‘Mapping Project.’ A wide range of lawmakers, including Senators Edward Markey (D-Massachusetts) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), and Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-Massachusetts) and Lee Zeldin (R-New York) have publicly criticized The Mapping Project—a digital map created by a self-proclaimed “multi-generational collective of activists and organizers” that claims to demonstrate connections between Massachusetts-based Jewish and pro-Israel groups, police, universities, the media, and other organizations. The map lists the addresses of organizations and the names of some staff members, and was widely seen as having the potential for provoking violence and targeted attacks. While some reports initially stated that BDS Boston was responsible for the map—largely due to the group’s promotion of the project on social media—BDS Boston has since said that it did not create the map. Meanwhile, Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement leadership has reportedly rebuked BDS Boston for promoting the project, and demanded that it cease doing so or lose the right to use the BDS acronym. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey) and Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) organized a letter urging an investigation into the project, calling on the Biden Administration to investigate use of the map by extremist groups and to provide security for organizations it lists. The letter was cosigned by 29 Democrats and eight Republican Representatives.

Republican Lawmakers Criticize Biden’s Upgrade of Palestinian Affairs Unit. On June 23, more than 80 US lawmakers, led by Senator Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee) and Representative Lee Zeldin (R-New York), issued a statement calling on President Biden to reverse his plan to upgrade the Palestinian Affairs Unit in the US Embassy in Israel to a separate office. The statement said the plans were “alarming” and cited the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which stipulated that the former US Consulate General for Palestinians must be closed and merged with the US Embassy in Israel. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shared similar criticisms, calling the proposal “unlawful, divisive, and blatantly disrespectful to the state of Israel.”

Senator Kaine Condemns Biden’s Meeting with MBS. In a June 22 meeting with Meet The Press, Senator Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) called Biden’s planned visit to Saudi Arabia and meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) a “horrible idea.” Kaine said that he would be open to a meeting with MBS only after he was held accountable for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, arguing that MBS has “a blood stain all over his hands” due to his involvement in the 2018 murder of the Saudi journalist and dissident. Biden’s visit has been heavily criticized by representatives from both parties, especially since Biden promised during his 2020 presidential campaign to treat Saudi Arabia as “the pariah that they are.”

3) Hearings and Briefings

Leaf Briefs Representatives on Biden’s MENA Policies. On June 22, the House of Representatives hosted a briefing titled “The Biden Administration’s Policy Objectives in the Middle East and North Africa,” led by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Florida), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Global Counterterrorism. The briefing included testimony from Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf and Acting Assistant Administrator at USAID’s Middle East Bureau Andrew Plitt. In the briefing, Leaf suggested that Biden’s upcoming trip to Israel will aim to advance the Abraham Accords and promote warm relations between Israel and the Arab World.

House Holds Briefing on America’s Somalia Strategy. On June 23, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a classified briefing on US strategy in Somalia. The briefing included testimony from US Ambassador to Somalia Larry Andre and DoD Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Chidi Blyden.

II. Executive Branch

1) White House

Biden Denies Upcoming Meeting with MBS. When asked how he will handle the matter of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, President Biden denied that he will be meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Biden claimed that he will merely be attending an international meeting where MBS will be present. However, this statement conflicts with reports from Saudi Arabia that Biden will meet with both MBS and King Salman as part of the upcoming Gulf Cooperation Council summit.

2) Department of State

Special Envoy for Yemen Travels to Yemen International Forum. From June 17 to 19, US Special Envoy for Yemen Tim Lenderking traveled to Stockholm, Sweden to participate in the Yemen International Forum. The forum was hosted by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies and the Folke Bernadotte Academy, and included representatives from Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council, various civil society organizations, and individuals from marginalized communities in Yemen. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg was also in attendance. Lenderking then traveled to Muscat, Oman to thank the Omani government for their role in the UN-backed ceasefire agreement and to discuss the current implementation of the truce. According to State Department spokesperson Ned Price, Lenderking will advocate for a permanent ceasefire and a comprehensive and inclusive peace process, in addition to highlighting Yemen’s need for international aid.

Blinken Holds Call with Israeli Officials. On June 21, Secretary of State Antony Blinken placed a call to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid in light of the recent dissolution of the Israeli Knesset. Blinken expressed his support for the democratic process in Israel and emphasized US commitment to a strong relationship with the country.

Special Envoy Lipstadt Travels to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Israel. From June 26 to July 6, US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism Deborah Lipstadt will travel to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel on her first international visit in office. According to a State Department statement, she will meet with governmental and civil society leaders to discuss anti-Jewish sentiment and promote interfaith cooperation as part of an effort to build on the Abraham Accords.

3) Department of Defense

US Begins African Lion 2022 Training Exercises. On June 20, the US Army began joint military exercises in Morocco as part of the annual African Lion training initiative. The exercises will occur from June 20 to 30 across six Moroccan cities. The inclusion of the town of Mahbes in the disputed Western Sahara as a training location is seen as US affirmation of Moroccan claims over the territory.

4) Department of Justice

Federal Appeals Court Upholds Anti-BDS Judgment. On June 22, the Eighth Circuit US Court of Appeals upheld an Arkansas law that prohibits contractors employed by the state from boycotting Israel. The court interpreted the law as prohibiting a “commercial activity,” since, it argued, boycotts are economic practices and not an exercise of an individuals’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech. It is feared that this ruling will lead to other applications of the same or similar laws in states around the country, which would act as a serious impediment to those attempting to criticize Israel and its practices.