I. Election News
Harris and Trump Square Off at Debate. At their September 10 debate, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump briefly discussed their positions on Israel and Gaza. Harris remarked that “far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed” but reiterated that she “will always give Israel the ability to defend itself.” She stressed the urgency of reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza and a more durable peace with “security for the Israeli people…and in equal measure for the Palestinians.” Trump criticized Harris for not meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he addressed Congress in July. (In fact, Harris did meet with Netanyahu at the White House on July 25.) Trump added that “Israel will not exist within two years” should Harris win the election and that “she hates Israel” and “she hates the Arab population.”
II. Legislative Branch
1) Legislation
House Bill Seeks Formal Apology from Turkey. On September 6, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced H.R.9476, which would condition federal funding for Turkey on the Turkish government apologizing for a September 2 attack by nationalist protesters on two US marines in Izmir.
2) Personnel and Correspondence
Risch Condemns Resolution Vote at UN. On September 12, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-ID) criticized an upcoming United Nations General Assembly vote on a draft resolution proposed by the Palestinian Authority to end Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territory within six months.
3) Hearings and Briefings
Israel Policy Discussed at US Ambassador to Bahrain Confirmation Hearing. On September 11, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to review the nomination of Stephanie L. Hallett as the US ambassador to Bahrain. Hallet currently serves as deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Israel. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) questioned Hallett about the Israeli military’s killing of two 17-year-old American citizens in the West Bank, Mohammad Khdour and Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, on February 10 and January 19 respectively, and of Aysenur Eygi on September 6. Hallett responded that the Biden administration is demanding accountability from Israel.
Congress Asks Administration for Accountability in Aysenur Eygi Killing. On September 11, a letter led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) called on President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to conduct an independent, US-led investigation into Eygi’s killing. On September 13, Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL), along with 20 other members of Congress, called on Blinken to address rising settler expansion and violence in the West Bank in the wake of Eygi’s death.
Republicans Push for Revocation of Visas of Pro-Palestine Protesters. On September 12, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) urged Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Secretary of State Blinken to revoke the visas of non-citizens who have participated in pro-Palestine protests in the United States. The letter followed the September 10 introduction of H.R.9526, which seeks to nullify Deferred Enforced Departure for certain residents and prohibits individuals who have resided in Palestinian-administered territories or who hold Palestinian Authority travel documents from receiving Temporary Protected Status, parole, asylum, refugee status, or other special immigration designations.
III. Executive Branch
1) White House
White House Issues Notice of Continuation of Emergency with Respect to September 11. On September 9, President Joe Biden continued the national emergency previously declared with respect to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and to the threat of further attacks on the United States.
Biden and Harris Condemn Killing of Aysenur Eygi. In a September 11 statement, President Biden said he was “outraged and deeply saddened” by the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF’s) killing of Aysenur Eygi and that “there must be full accountability.” He added that “Israel must do more to ensure that incidents like this never happen again.” In her own statement, Vice President Kamala Harris also criticized Israel’s actions, saying that Eygi’s death is “unacceptable and raises legitimate questions about the conduct of IDF personnel in the West Bank.” At a September 12 press briefing, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby added that Israel has now called for a criminal investigation to pick up where the preliminary investigation left off, which is “an unusual step for the IDF.”
Kirby Says Ceasefire Talks Continuing Informally. On September 12, White House National Security Communications Advisor Kirby said that the Biden administration continues to work on a bridging proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza. While formal negotiations have ended, informal conversations are continuing, he said. Kirby also asserted that Hamas’s raising of new demands has complicated discussions.
2) Department of State
Sudan Envoy Travels to Region. On September 8, the Department of State announced that Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello would travel to Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey to continue discussions to end the Sudan war, protect civilians, and expand humanitarian access. The announcement stated that Perriello would meet with refugees and civilian leaders across the region in addition to government officials and multilateral partners.
Blinken Calls IDF Killing of Aysenur Eygi “Unacceptable.” At a September 10 press conference, Secretary of State Blinken commented that the IDF’s preliminary investigation of Eygi’s killing “seems to show what eyewitnesses have said and made clear: that her killing was both unprovoked and unjustified.” Blinked added, “No one – no one – should be shot and killed for attending a protest.” Blinken stressed that “Israeli security forces need to make some fundamental changes in the way that they operate in the West Bank, including changes to their rules of engagement.”
Blinken Rejects Idea of “More U.S. Pressure on Israel.” In a different public engagement on the same day, Blinken rejected the idea of putting “more” U.S. pressure on Israel to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement. Blinken argued, “It’s not a question of pressure. It’s a question of what is in the interest of the parties and do they see that interest and are they prepared to act on it.”
United States Releases Full $1.3 Billion in Military Aid to Egypt. On September 11, the Department of State informed reporters that it had notified Congress that the Biden administration would provide the full $1.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2023 Foreign Military Funding (FMF) for Egypt, despite concerns over human rights violations. Congress made $320 million of this FMF subject to human rights conditions, but Secretary Blinken chose to use a national security waiver, citing Egypt’s help on Gaza talks, and to certify that Egypt had made human rights progress to release those funds. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DL), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT), chair of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism, criticized the administration’s decision.
Department Approves Sale of Tank Trailers to Israel. On September 12, the Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of heavy duty tank trailers and related equipment for a cost of $164.6 million.
Department Says Necessary Conditions for Elections Not Met in Syria. On September 13, Spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the United States does not support the recent announcement by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) calling on the High Elections Committee to begin preparations for municipal elections. Miller said that “the United States assesses that the necessary conditions for convening free, fair, transparent, and inclusive elections in Syria, including in the North and East, have not been met.”
3) Department of Defense
Austin Urges Israel to “Reexamine Rules of Engagement” in West Bank. On September 10, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant. Austin expressed his concern for the IDF’s responsibility for the killing of Aysenur Eygi and urged Gallant to “reexamine the IDF’s rules of engagement while operating in the West Bank.”
Navy Ends Dual Carrier Coverage in Region. On September 12, Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters that the Department of Defense had moved a carrier out of the CENTCOM region after a period of dual carrier coverage.
4) Department of the Treasury
Treasury Sanctions Iran for Transfer of Lethal Aid to Russia. On September 10, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned ten individuals and six entities based in Iran and Russia for enabling Iran’s delivery of weapons components and weapons systems to Russia. The Department of State announced concurrent sanctions.
Treasury Sanctions Hezbollah Oil Smuggling Network. On September 11, OFAC sanctioned three individuals, five companies, and two vessels involved in smuggling oil and liquified petroleum gas for Hezbollah.
5) United States Agency for International Development
Administrator Power Meets with UNICEF Head. On September 9, USAID Administrator Samantha Power spoke with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell about the humanitarian emergencies in Gaza and Sudan.
