IPMN Thanks Rep. Bowman for Pledge to Vote ‘No’ on the Israel Relations Normalization Act
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) applauds the courage of Representative Jamaal Bowman, who withdrew his support for the so-called Israel Relations Normalization Act. Despite incredible pressure to do otherwise, he withdrew his support from a bill that endangers the struggle for real justice and peace in the Middle East.
The Israel Relations Normalization Act actively ignores Israel’s violations of Palestinian rights and isolates Palestinians. It encourages a deal which removes pressure on Israel to respect Palestinian human rights, allowing Israel to continue profiting from systematically oppressing Palestinians and violating international law. The bill is a full endorsement of the Trump/Kushner Abraham Accords with the autocratic governments of Arab states who do not represent the will of their people. “Normalizing” relations based on this deeply transactional business agreement is not about human rights, but about profits. The bill clearly seeks to pursue destructive arms sales and political trade-offs with authoritarian regimes, even as it isolates millions of Palestinians. This is not a policy of peace.
Under the Leahy Law, the US Government is “prohibited from using funds for assistance to units of foreign security forces where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human rights.”* The U.S. must reject deals profiting from an apartheid regime with clear violations of human rights.** To bring our policies in line with our own laws, we must withhold our tax dollars — $3.8+ billion annually — until we ensure our taxes are not supporting human rights violations. Like every other country, Israel must be held accountable to human rights standards and international law.
Rep. Bowman’s decision is a commitment to justice. A growing number of human rights groups have called on Congress to reject the Abraham Accords; the Israel Relations Normalization Acts actively ignores and excludes the rights of Palestinians. Congress needs to embrace policies that uphold the basic rights and needs of all people.
We thank Representative Bowman for pledging “No” on this dangerous bill. Those who seek true justice for Palestinians and Israelis alike need prophetic voices like Representative Bowman’s to help us see we must abandon policies that sideline one people over another.
In faithful service,
The Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
* Leahy Law fact sheet: https://www.state.gov/key-topics-bureau-of-democracy-human-rights-and-labor/human-rights/leahy-law-fact-sheet/
** Declared as such by several human rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem