I. Legislative Branch
Bipartisan Delegation Travels to Middle East. Last week, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) led a bipartisan delegation to the Middle East that included Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), John Rutherford (R-FL), Ed Case (D-HI), and Mark Alford (R-MO). The lawmakers met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Saudi officials, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Bipartisan Letter Criticizes French Call to Halt Arms Deliveries to Israel. On October 29, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) led a bipartisan group of 18 members in a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron, expressing concern over his call to halt arms deliveries to Israel.
Senate Democrats Express Concern Over Israel’s Targeting of Lebanese Army. On October 30, Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III regarding “recent reports that Israeli military actions in Lebanon have, on multiple occasions, resulted in the deaths of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) members.” The senators requested information about whether the Biden administration assesses that Israeli forces have targeted LAF personnel and the reasons behind such attacks.
House Progressives Question Involvement of US Forces in Regional War. On November 1, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Cori Bush (D-MO), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Summer Lee (D-PA), and André Carson (D-IN) wrote to President Joe Biden, raising concern that deepening US military involvement in the Middle East violates Article I of the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution of 1973. They also asked for an accounting of the US military’s involvement in hostilities in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, the West Bank, Syria, and elsewhere in the Middle East.
II. Executive Branch
1) White House
White House Extends National Emergency with Respect to Sudan. On October 25, President Biden notified Congress of his decision to continue the national emergency with respect to Sudan, declared in President Bill Clinton’s 1997 Executive Order 13067 and expanded by Executive Orders 13400 and 14098.
Top Biden Advisors Meet Israeli Officials. On October 31, White House Senior Advisor for Energy Security Amos Hochstein and Deputy Assistant to the President and White House Coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa Brett McGurk met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Defense Minister Gallant, Mossad Director David Barnea, and other senior Israeli officials. The meetings focused on ceasefire efforts in Lebanon and initiatives to secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
2) Department of State
Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Meets with Lebanese, Iraqi, and Qatari Officials. On October 23-24, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma met individually in Paris with Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Fuad Hussein, Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib, and Qatari Minister of State Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi. Verma reiterated US support for a diplomatic solution in Lebanon, expressed backing for Lebanon’s state institutions, and underscored the need to fill the Lebanese presidential vacancy. Verma also discussed Gaza ceasefire efforts, expressed concern for civilian suffering in both conflicts, and reaffirmed the US commitment to support vulnerable populations.
Department Condemns RSF Attack on Civilians. On October 29, Spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned a recent Sudanese Rapid Support Forces attack on civilians in al-Gezira state in Sudan.
Department “Deeply Troubled” by Israel’s Anti-UNRWA Legislation. On October 29, Spokesperson Miller stated that the United States is “deeply troubled” by new Israeli legislation to ban UNRWA’s activities. Miller said that US officials have made their opposition clear to the Israeli government, and noted that the Biden administration has told Israel “there could be consequences under US law and US policy for the implementation of this legislation.”
Special Envoy for Sudan Travels to Africa and Middle East. Starting on October 30, US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello traveled to Kenya, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt to discuss efforts to end the war in Sudan and protect civilians, expand humanitarian access, and advance a civilian-led political transition. Perriello also met with Sudanese civil society leaders, government officials, and “multilateral leaders.”
Deputy Secretary Talks Tech Collaboration with Saudi Officials. On October 30, Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Saudi Arabia’s National Security Advisor Musaid al-Aiban and Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah al-Swaha. They discussed efforts to expand US-Saudi cooperation in artificial intelligence and in other areas of science and technology, in addition to regional security issues.
Miller Says that Israel Has Not Met All Humanitarian Obligations. At an October 30 press briefing, Spokesperson Miller was asked about why “State Department officials have identified nearly 500 potential incidents of civilian harm during Israel’s military operations in Gaza involving US-furnished weapons, but they have not taken action.” Miller stated that “it’s reasonable to assess there are incidents in which Israel did not meet all of its international humanitarian law obligations.” Miller noted that the Department’s review of specific incidents is ongoing and remarked, “As you’ve heard us say, these are complicated issues. They’re complicated factual issues; they’re complicated legal issues.”
Blinken Reiterates Importance of Ceasefires. On October 31, Secretary Blinken stated that the United States continues to work toward implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701, which would be the basis of a diplomatic resolution in Lebanon, and that the Biden administration remains focused on ending the war in Gaza. On November 1, Blinken spoke with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Dermer about steps for regional de-escalation, the need to increase humanitarian aid in Gaza, and US commitment to Israel’s security.
3) Department of Defense
Secretary Austin Speaks with Israeli Defense Minister. On October 28 and October 31, Secretary Austin spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Gallant to review Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon.
Secretary Austin Speaks with Turkish Defense Minister. On October 29, Secretary Austin spoke with Turkish Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler about the recent attack in Ankara, Turkey’s operations in Syria, and the Defeat-ISIS Mission.
CENTCOM Strikes Targets in Syria. On October 28, CENTCOM forces conducted strikes in Syria against several camps belonging to the so-called Islamic State.
DoD Announces New Deployments to Region. On November 1, Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder announced that the United States will deploy additional ballistic missile defense destroyers, fighter squadron and tanker aircraft, and several Air Force B-52 long-range strike bombers to the Middle East, set to arrive in the coming months.
4) Department of the Treasury
Biden Administration Warns Israel Against Collapsing West Bank Economy. On October 25, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, along with officials from Japan, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia, and France, to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to express concerns regarding the government’s actions to deny the Palestinian Authority access to financial resources. On October 31, Secretary Yellen and Secretary Blinken jointly called on the Israeli government to extend its indemnification of correspondent banking between Israel and the West Bank for at least a year, asking for the renewal process to be “transparent, predictable, and de-politicized.” Yellen and Blinken stated that Israel’s recent 30-day extension “exacerbate[es] uncertainty for international banks, Israeli companies operating in the West Bank, and most importantly for ordinary Palestinians who bear the greatest brunt of such uncertainty.”
Secretary Yellen Meets with Turkish Finance Officials. On October 25, Secretary Yellen met with Turkish Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek and Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank fall meetings. They discussed efforts to counter sanctions evasion and terrorism financing. Yellen also commended Turkey’s recent economic policies.
5) United States Agency for International Development
Administrator Power Meets with Head of Syrian White Helmets. On October 31, Administrator Samantha Power met with Raed Al Saleh, founder and head of Syria Civil Defense, also known as the White Helmets. Power and Saleh discussed the White Helmets’ humanitarian and civic activities and USAID’s support for its mission.
Administrator Power Speaks with UN Officials. On October 31, Administrator Power discussed efforts to meet ongoing health and humanitarian needs in Gaza with UNICEF Executive Director Cathy Russell. On November 1, Power spoke with UN Secretary-General António Guterres about humanitarian responses in Sudan and Gaza and the detention of aid workers in Yemen.
Administrator Power Meets with Israeli Ambassador. On November 1, Administrator Power spoke with Israel’s Ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog. Power raised “serious concern” about humanitarian conditions in northern Gaza and emphasized the need to surge humanitarian assistance.
