The president ordered sanctions against violent Israeli settlers without addressing Palestinians who conduct attacks.
Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, along with a group of his colleagues, wrote a letter to President Joe Biden regarding his executive order and national security memorandum, issued in early February, that focused on sanctioning Israeli settlers in Judea and Samaria for violence but not addressing attacks against Israelis by Palestinians in that region.
The senators requested the president rescind the order and memorandum, stating, “Both documents undercut our most valuable alliance in the Middle East.” They called on the president to “sanction terrorists and their supporters instead of their victims“ and expressed the concern that the order “grants the State Department broad authority to arbitrarily punish Israelis in Judea and Samaria, with no defined standards for determining when sanctions are warranted.“
The legislators continued regarding the memorandum, “We already have rules requiring aid recipients to comply with applicable law and in line with American interests. Moreover, Israel has provided ample evidence of the steps it takes to avoid civilian casualties.“
Following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th, the National Security Minister of Israel distributed over 10,000 rifles to Israeli citizens for protection.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the senators as they seek ensure the equitable treatment of Israelis and Palestinians by the administration.
- For the president and his foreign advisors to be discerning as they issue orders and memorandums regarding international security and sanctions.
Sources: Axios, Daily Wire
