The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) November 21 announcement of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former minister of defense Yoav Gallant elicited strong pushback from US government officials. President Joe Biden immediately condemned the warrants, calling them “outrageous.” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre added that the Biden administration “fundamentally reject[s] that the ICC has jurisdiction over the situation” and is consulting with the Israeli government about how to respond.
The White House’s lashing-out was matched by many in Congress. Republican lawmakers sweepingly condemned the ICC’s announcement. House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-ID) urged the Senate to pass the bipartisan Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, a bill to impose sanctions on the ICC. Going a step further, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) announced that he would be introducing legislation to punish countries that cooperate with the ICC’s ruling.
Responses from Democratic lawmakers were more mixed. A number of members, particularly the 42 in the House who had already voted to sanction the ICC, joined Republicans in reiterating their call for sanctions against the court. However, the more common response was represented by HFAC Ranking Member Gregory Meeks (D-NY), who condemned the warrants but expressed concern with broadly sanctioning the ICC. Notably, several progressive lawmakers applauded the warrants. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) were among those who offered support for the ICC’s decision and called on the Biden administration to do its part to uphold international law.
Also Happening in Washington Last Week…
I. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
Senate Fails to Pass Joint Resolutions to Block Arms to Israel. On November 20, the Senate voted against three joint resolutions of disapproval (JRDs) (S.J.Res.111, S.J.Res.113, and S.J.Res.115) to block foreign military sales to Israel. White House Press Secretary Jean-Pierre said that the Biden administration strongly opposed the resolutions, which were led by Sen. Sanders. Jean-Pierre’s comments followed reports that the Biden administration had actively lobbied party members against the resolutions in the lead up to the vote. As many as 19 Democratic senators, however, voted for each of the JRDs—nearly one-fifth of the Senate.
House Passes Resolution in Support of Iraq Genocide Survivors. On November 20, the House passed H.Res.554, which commits to protecting the human rights of religious and ethnic minority communities in Iraq.
House Passes Resolution Condemning Atrocities in Sudan. On November 20, the House passed H.Res.1328, which condemns atrocities, including those that amount to genocide, being committed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). It also condemns the role of the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces in perpetrating atrocities, humanitarian catastrophe, and the destruction of Sudan. The resolution calls on the US government to take steps to protect Sudanese civilians, end the war, assist local organizations, and support criminal investigations and the documentation of atrocities.
House Passes Bill Conflating Criticism of Israel with Anti-semitism. On November 20, the House passed H.Res.1449. The resolution condemns antisemitism around the world under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition, which deems certain criticism of the state of Israel anti-semitism.
House Passes Bill Targeting Non-Profits Accused of Supporting Terrorism. On November 21, the House passed H.R.9495, which would empower the Secretary of the Treasury to strip organizations of their tax-exempt status based on an accusation of their support for terrorism. In part, if enacted, the law could be used as a political tool to repress the activity of pro-Palestine and other civil society organizations.
Van Hollen, Jacobs Lead Legislation to Block Arms Sales to the UAE. On November 21, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) filed bicameral JRDs, S.J.Res.118 and H.J.Res.226, to halt weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pending certification that the UAE is not arming the RSF.
Senate Democrats Seek Restoration of UNRWA Funding. On November 21, Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT), joined by Sens. Sanders, Van Hollen, Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), introduced legislation to restore US funding for UNRWA.
Senate Republicans Reintroduce Anti-BDS Legislation. On November 21, Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and John Boozman (R-AR) reintroduced the Anti-BDS Labeling Act, which would maintain current US policy stating that US imports made in Israeli-controlled areas of the West Bank must be marked as originating from Israel. The House passed a version of the bill in September.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
House Progressives Push for Medical Truce in Gaza. On November 20, Rep. Summer Lee (D-PA) led a letter with 14 Democratic colleagues to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, urging action to facilitate a medical truce in Gaza. The letter highlights the need for an uninterrupted polio vaccination campaign and calls for a surge of humanitarian assistance to stabilize Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure.
Senate Republicans Call on Turkey to Extradite Hamas Officials to the United States. On November 22, Sens. Ted Budd (R-NC), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) called on the Turkish government to abide by the US-Turkey bilateral extradition treaty and arrest and transfer to the United States Hamas officials who have reportedly moved to Turkey and who have been indicted in US courts.
House Progressives Express Concern with Israel’s Discrimination Against Muslim and Arab Americans. On November 22, Reps. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) and Lee led a letter to Secretary Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas regarding concerns about Israeli discrimination against Muslim- and Arab-Americans traveling to and within Israel, which would constitute a failure to honor the reciprocity requirement under the Visa Waiver Program.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
White House Officials Hopeful for Diplomatic Resolution in Lebanon. Last week, Special Envoy Amos Hochstein met with Lebanese and Israeli officials. Hochstein remarked that the talks were productive, saying on November 19 that there is now a “real opportunity” to reach an agreement to end the war between Israel and Hezbollah. Hochstein’s statement built on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s earlier comments that the Biden administration is “seeing progress” and “a willingness to get this done.”
Sullivan Says Israel Has Not Done Enough to Improve Gaza Situation. In a November 18 interview with the PBS News Hour, National Security Advisor Sullivan asserted that Israel has taken steps to improve the humanitarian situation but that it is “not even close to enough.” Sullivan noted that the Biden administration will continue to pressure Israeli officials “until we achieve an outcome in which there is a sufficient degree of sustained humanitarian aid for all of the civilians of Gaza.”
2) Department of State
Blinken Speaks with Algerian Foreign Minister. On November 17, Secretary Blinken spoke with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf. The officials discussed ending the war in Gaza, securing the release of hostages, and facilitating humanitarian assistance into Gaza and Lebanon. Blinken also reiterated US support for UN Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s efforts to advance a political solution for Western Sahara and thanked Algeria for its role in promoting regional stability.
Blinken Meets with Egyptian, Saudi, and Turkish Foreign Ministers. On November 18, Secretary Blinken met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The discussions focused on the wars and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Lebanon. On November 19, Blinken met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and discussed Gaza and Lebanon.
Department Sanctions Extremist Israeli Settlers. On November 18, the Department of State sanctioned three entities and three individuals for their roles in perpetuating violence against Palestinian civilians and the destruction or dispossession of property in the West Bank.
Special Envoy for Sudan Meets al-Burhan in Port Sudan. On November 18, Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello traveled to Port Sudan to meet with President of the Sovereign Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Sudanese civil society leaders, and UN humanitarian officials. The meetings focused on ending the war, expanding humanitarian access, and advancing a civilian-led political transition. Perriello also visited Djibouti and traveled to Rome to meet with Italian officials and UN representatives. In an interview on November 21, he commented that he does not see enough of “political appetite” from the RSF or the Sudanese Armed Forces to resolve the conflict.
Special Advisor Minkara Travels to the UAE and Bahrain. On November 19-21, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights Sara Minkara traveled to the UAE and Bahrain to meet with officials and civil society representatives to discuss advancing social inclusion for persons with disabilities. She also participated in the Special Olympics Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, where she delivered remarks on inclusive education.
Blinken Speaks with Emirati Foreign Minister. On November 20, Secretary Blinken spoke with Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan about the situations in Sudan, Gaza, and Lebanon. The officials discussed efforts to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid, end the current fighting, and support a transition to civilian governance in Sudan. On Gaza, they discussed efforts to end the war, secure the release of hostages, and establish a path for the post-conflict period. The officials also discussed efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in Lebanon.
US Vetoes Ceasefire Resolution at UN Security Council. On November 20, the United States vetoed a UN Security Council draft resolution that demanded an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza. US Alternative Representative for Special Political Affairs Ambassador Robert Wood said that the United States could not support an unconditional ceasefire that was not linked to the release of hostages in Gaza.
3) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Extremist Israeli Settler Organizations. On November 18, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Amana and its subsidiary Binyanei Bar Amana Ltd. for perpetrating violence in the West Bank.
Treasury Sanctions Hamas Officials. On November 19, OFAC announced sanctions on six senior Hamas officials, including members of its political and military wings and financiers.
4) United States Agency for International Development
USAID Announces New Peace Programs for Israelis and Palestinians. On November 19, USAID announced seven new programs to foster peace between Palestinians and Israelis, expanding the network of peacebuilding organizations supported by USAID’s People-to-People Partnership for Peace Fund. The new programs support youth, women, and civil society actors in peace and reconciliation efforts.
