Summer Lee cosponsors bill that would restrict aid to Israel
Supporters of bill include two organizations banned by Israel due to ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Congresswoman Summer Lee, who represents Pittsburgh, is one of 17 cosponsors of proposed legislation that would restrict aid to Israel, according to Jewish Insider.
The bill was reintroduced by Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN). In addition to Lee, its other cosponsors are: Reps. Don Beyer (D-VA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Cori Bush (D-MO), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Dwight Evans (D-PA).
The bill is dubbed the “Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act.” It would prohibit Israel’s government “from using U.S. taxpayer dollars in the Occupied West Bank for the military detention, abuse, or ill treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; or any assistance or support for unilateral annexation of Palestinian lands in violation of international humanitarian law,” according to a press release.
The bill is supported by more than 75 organizations and groups, including J Street, Jewish Voice for Peace, US Campaign for Palestinian Rights and the Presbyterian Church (USA). Two groups supporting the legislation, Addameer and Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), were banned by Israel last year due to “their demonstrated extensive ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which the US also designates as a terrorist group. McCollum cites data collected by DCI-P in her proposal,” according to the Jerusalem Post.
“Most Palestinian minors are arrested for throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles, which often cause injury and sometimes fatalities,” the Jerusalem Post reported. “In addition, minors have perpetrated many terrorist attacks, such as a 13-year-old who killed Border Police officer St.-Sgt. Asil Suaed, 22, during a routine bus inspection in Jerusalem. Last month, a 15-year-old from Nablus shot and injured two Israelis at point-blank range in Jerusalem before continuing on to school.”
The legislation does not make exceptions for such cases. PJC
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