Over the past 24 hours, the U.K., France, Canada, Portugal and Australia announced they were unilaterally and unconditionally recognizing a Palestinian state.
Rather than focusing all attention on pressuring Hamas to free the 48 hostages and surrender power, these countries instead rewarded Hamas. Ultimately, this move will make peace and reconciliation even more elusive by rewarding and emboldening Hamas, and those who have done so are now responsible for the repercussions of this irresponsible and malicious action.
The morally bankrupt announcements have been applauded by Hamas, condemned by Israelis across the political spectrum, and opposed by Democrats and Republicans in Congress.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, President Donald Trump rightly condemned the recognition for "rewarding Hamas," adding: "I don’t think they [Hamas] should be rewarded."
Following the announcement, Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognizing a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize."
Israeli Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid called the recognition "a terrible step and a reward for terrorism."
You can read AIPAC's statement on the announcement here.
Meanwhile, eight Senators and some House members are encouraging the United States to also unilaterally and unconditionally recognize a Palestinian state.
This issue will take center stage as the U.N. General Assembly continues this week.
President Trump is scheduled to speak tomorrow morning and then meet with Arab leaders about ending the war in Gaza.
Prime Minister Netanyahu will speak on Friday, and then is scheduled to meet with the president at the White House a week from today.
Following yesterday's unilateral statehood announcements, the prime minister said, "The [Israeli] response to the latest attempt to force upon us a terror state in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States. Stand by."
Our next scheduled email update will be later this week. I want to wish you and your family a sweet and healthy new year.
Shana Tova,
Jake Braunstein
Director of Policy Communications
IDF continues to increase pressure on Hamas in Gaza while surging aid
The IDF is continuing to increase the military pressure on Hamas, working to conquer one of Hamas’ last remaining strongholds in Gaza City.
Today, the IDF eliminated a Hamas deputy naval commander who participated in the October 7 massacre.
Over the past few days, troops operating in Gaza City have dismantled terror sites, located weapons, eliminated Hamas terrorists, and destroyed other terror infrastructure. IDF troops in northern and southern Gaza are conducting similar operations.
More than 550,000 Palestinians have now evacuated Gaza City for the south since late August, moving towards safer humanitarian zones. The IDF has warned civilians to leave the area as it expands military operations, while Hamas is trying to prevent civilians from leaving, "cruelly exploiting the civilian population as a human shield for terror activities."
Meanwhile, Israel is continuing to surge aid into the strip to meet the humanitarian needs of the civilian population.
As the military pressure on Hamas in Gaza grows, armed Palestinian militias not affiliated with Hamas are working to establish areas in Gaza outside the terror group’s control, reportedly with the support of Israel.
U.S. plans $6.4 billion arms sale to Israel
The Trump administration is seeking approval from Congress to sell $6.4 billion worth of military equipment and weapons to Israel.
The sale would include $750 million for "support parts for armored personnel carriers and power supplies," $3.8 billion for 30 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and $1.9 billion for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles for the Israeli military.
Continued U.S. arms sales to Israel are essential to ensuring our ally has the resources needed to defend itself against Hamas, Iran and the regime’s other terrorist proxies.
Israel warns of ongoing Egyptian military buildup in Sinai
Israeli officials are warning that Egypt has extended runways at its air force bases in the Sinai Peninsula so they can be used by fighter jets, built underground facilities that could be used to store missiles, and built up its military forces in the area.
This activity is in violation of the 1979 Camp David Accords that established peace between Israel and Egypt. "What the Egyptians are doing in Sinai is very serious and we are very concerned," an Israeli official said.
In their meeting last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu showed Secretary of State Marco Rubio how the Egyptians were violating the peace agreement, and asked the United States to intervene with the Egyptians.
Tensions between Israel and Egypt have increased over the past two years as Egypt has reinforced its border with Gaza while refusing to accept Palestinian refugees.
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The mission of AIPAC is to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact specific policies that create a strong, enduring and mutually beneficial relationship with our ally Israel.
