Rights Groups Demand Biden Give Answers on Israel’s Secret Influence Campaign on Congress
Introduction:
A coalition of more than 30 human rights and faith-based advocacy groups has sent a letter to President Joe Biden, urging the U.S. government to investigate media reports of an Israeli government social media influence scheme. The scheme aimed to sway American lawmakers towards pro-Israeli policies. The letter references reporting from reputable sources such as the New York Times, The Guardian, and Haaretz, which uncovered an Israeli influence campaign that used fake accounts to pose as Americans. The campaign targeted pro-Palestinian groups, student groups, and human rights organizations critical of Israel, with the goal of persuading lawmakers to continue providing military aid to Israel for its war on Gaza. The campaign specifically focused on Black Democratic members of Congress.
Investigating Israeli Influence Operations:
The letter calls on President Biden and his administration to treat reports of inappropriate Israeli influence operations with the same seriousness as allegations of Russian and Iranian influence campaigns. Jamal Abdi, head of the National Iranian American Council, emphasizes the need for thorough investigation, stating that what has been reported so far could just be the tip of the iceberg. The letter was also addressed to the departments of Justice, State, and Homeland Security, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive investigation.
Protecting Democracy and Holding All Nations Accountable:
Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at Democracy for the Arab World Now, emphasizes the need for the Biden administration to protect democracy and end its policy of exceptionalism towards Israel. Jarrar calls for holding all nations to the same standards, highlighting the importance of equal treatment and accountability.
Boycotts and Protests:
A growing number of lawmakers, including senior Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin, Patty Murray, Bernie Sanders, and Chris Van Hollen, along with progressive members of the House of Representatives, are boycotting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has been particularly vocal in her criticism, referring to Netanyahu as a war criminal committing genocide against the Palestinian people. Tlaib also criticizes continued U.S. military aid to Israel and calls for Netanyahu’s arrest and deportation to the International Criminal Court. Last week, 230 Senate and House staffers signed a separate letter calling on lawmakers to boycott the address, citing the ICC war crimes case against Netanyahu.
War Crimes and Apartheid:
The ICC’s prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu and Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on war crimes charges, including the starvation of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the targeting of civilians in military attacks. The International Court of Justice, the UN’s top court, has ruled that Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal, rife with war crime violations, and amounts to apartheid. These developments highlight the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability.
Criticism of U.S. Handling of the Conflict:
The Biden administration has faced criticism for its handling of the conflict and its deference towards Israel. Despite public denunciations of civilian deaths, Israel has killed over 39,000 Palestinians, including many women and children. The U.S. has continued to send billions in military aid throughout the conflict, raising concerns about a double standard in foreign policy. The letter signers point to recent sanctions against Russian hackers over a similar influence campaign and call for Israel’s program to be treated the same.
Israeli Government’s Involvement:
The Israeli government’s involvement in the influence campaign is highlighted, with reports indicating that it received $2 million in government funding and was commissioned by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs. The campaign was linked to Stoic, a Tel-Aviv-based political marketing firm. Stoic created and ran various social media accounts that spread Islamophobic material and targeted Black American lawmakers. The letter urges the Biden administration to address these attacks on American democracy.
Lack of Response from the State Department:
The letter also highlights previous communications between signatories and State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. Miller declined to comment on the facts surrounding Israel’s social media scheme and instead emphasized the enforcement of laws on foreign influence campaigns. The lack of further investigation by the State Department raises concerns about the government’s response to the allegations.
Conclusion:
The demand for answers regarding Israel’s secret influence campaign on Congress reflects the need for transparency, accountability, and equal treatment in foreign policy. The letter from human rights and faith-based advocacy groups highlights the seriousness of the allegations and calls for a thorough investigation. The growing number of lawmakers boycotting Netanyahu’s address and the ICC’s war crimes case against him further underscore the urgency of addressing these issues. The Biden administration must address the concerns raised by these groups and take appropriate action to protect democracy and hold all nations accountable.
