Anti-Palestinian caucus divides pro-Israel camp on Capitol Hill
A handful of conservative Republicans have launched a congressional group dedicated to forcing the Palestinians to admit their "defeat."
Congress already had at least four pro-Israel caucuses. Now it can add an anti-Palestinian one to the list.
A handful of conservative Republicans unveiled their Israel Victory Caucus at an April 27 Capitol Hill event. The group's stated goal is to persuade the Palestinians that they've been defeated and they should recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state as a precursor to any negotiations. The PLO formally recognized "the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security" in 1993.
"Israel has been at war with its immediate neighbors over its right to exist as the nation-state of the Jewish people for nearly 70 years," said Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, who co-founded the caucus with Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla. "It is our view that Israel has been victorious in this war, and that this reality must be recognized in order for any peace to be achieved between Israel and its Palestinian neighbors."
DeSantis, a member of the House Foreign Affairs panel, traveled to Israel last month to scope out potential sites for the US Embassy if it relocates from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. He said he was confident President Donald Trump would announce his decision to move the embassy when he visits Israel in late May or early June.
