Congresswoman Betty McCollum Re-introduces The Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act
Legislation would promote human rights, peace, and justice for Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amid Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank and escalating violence against Palestinians, Congresswoman Betty McCollum today re-introduced The Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act (read bill text here). Congresswoman McCollum introduced similar legislation during the 115th, 116th, 117th and 118th Congresses.
The legislation would prohibit Israel’s government from using U.S. taxpayer dollars in the Occupied West Bank for the military detention, abuse, or ill treatment of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention; the seizure and destruction of Palestinian property and homes in violation of international humanitarian law; or any assistance or support for unilateral annexation of Palestinian lands in violation of international humanitarian law.
“Not one dollar from United States taxpayers should be used to commit human rights violations, demolish families’ homes, or permanently annex Palestinian lands,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “Americans provide billions of dollars in assistance for Israel’ government every year – those dollars should be used to improve Israel’s security, not to advance the extremist aims of the Netanyahu government. As the Netanyahu government continues to expand its annexation of the West Bank, this legislation is a timely reminder to our ally of the United States’ position that peace must remain the objective. Peace can only be achieved through a meaningful two-state solution, and Congress has a moral obligation to hold our ally Israel accountable for the well-documented mistreatment of Palestinian children and families living under Israeli military occupation.
“We have seen a groundswell of support for the Palestinian people in recent years, as more Americans support their efforts to achieve justice, equality, human rights, and self-determination,” added Congresswoman McCollum. “Prominent civil society organizations, as well as faith leaders from the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths, have endorsed this legislation because we all agree that no child should grow up enduring the horrors of unending armed conflict. There is a path to a peaceful future, and it requires leading with our U.S. values of democracy and equal justice for all.”
The Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act would require the Secretary of State to certify annually to Congress that foreign aid to Israel does not violate any of the outlined prohibited uses.
The legislation would also require the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to submit an annual report to Congress detailing the expenditure of U.S. taxpayer funds by Israel for “off-shore procurement” and compliance with Congressionally mandated requirements, providing transparency and accountability for the expenditure of U.S. foreign aid, as we do with all countries.
Original co-sponsors of the Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act include Representatives Carson, Casar, Evans (PA), Garcia (IL), Jayapal, Norton, Ocasio-Cortez, Omar, Pingree, Ramirez, Tonko, Watson Coleman, Pocan, and McGovern.
The legislation has been endorsed by nearly a dozen civil society organizations including JStreet, New Jewish Narrative, Oxfam America, Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL), Center for Jewish Nonviolence, Peace Action, Win Without War, Demand Progress, Arab American Institute, T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, and Center for International Policy.