Intel: Why Republicans are coming under fire from Israeli right
Right-wing members of Israel’s Knesset are unhappy with recent legislation backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) because of language endorsing a two-state solution.
Right-wing members of Israel’s Knesset are unhappy with recent legislation backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) because of language endorsing a two-state solution. And they’re invoking President Donald Trump to put Republican lawmakers on defense.
At issue is language reaffirming a two-state solution as part of a nonbinding resolution condemning the pro-Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, which the House passed 398-17 in July.
On Monday, 21 Knesset members voiced their objections in a letter to the resolution’s four original sponsors: Reps. Bradley Schneider, D-Ill., Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., and Ann Wagner, R-Mo. The letter says “the establishment of a Palestinian state would be far more dangerous to Israel than BDS.” The right-wing lawmakers go on to claim, “Such a state would undoubtedly be a dysfunctional terrorist state.”
Why it matters: By rebuking the House for passing the resolution, the Israeli lawmakers are also rebuking staunch pro-Israel Republicans. In doing so, they praised Trump’s refusal to commit to a two-state solution — a previously bipartisan staple of US foreign policy.
