See the .pdf version of the memo HERE.
MEMORANDUM
To: Interested Parties
From: ACLJ Action
Date: October 30, 2024
RE: Policy Approaches to Israel in the Trump Administration and Biden-Harris Administration
Palestinian Terrorism/Genocide
Trump Administration:
- Signed the Taylor Force Act into law in March 2018, stopping American economic aid to the Palestinian Authority’s (PA’s) “Pay-For-Slay” program which financially rewards individuals who commit acts of terrorism against Israelis and Americans.
- Cut funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), an organization long criticized for employing Hamas members and maintaining close ties with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
- Declared a finite end of efforts toward “Palestinian statehood” should the PA refuse to back away from terrorism.
Biden-Harris Administration:
- The Biden-Harris Administration has made clear its demand for the creation of a “Palestinian” state that would rule over Judea and Samaria – even after Israel’s legislature voted overwhelmingly to repudiate that both as rewarding the “Palestinians” for the atrocities of October 7 and because it poses an existential threat to the Jewish State.
- Chose to resume economic aid to the PA despite the PA’s refusal to stop its “Pay-for-Slay” subsidizing of terrorism.
- Restored funding to UNRWA, whose organization and staff were complicit and even directly involved in the terrorism, kidnapping, genocide, and crimes against humanity executed against Israelis on October 7.
Israel
Trump Administration:
- Warmly endorsed and adopted the 2016 GOP “most pro-Israel party platform in history” as the basis for its Israel policies.
- Moved the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in 2018, a move recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – promised by numerous Presidents for decades but finally fulfilled by Trump.
- First sitting President to visit the Old City of Jerusalem and the Western Wall, demonstrating visible support for Israel’s sovereignty and for the significance of Jewish holy sites.
- Met with Prime Minister Netanyahu at the White House in February 2017, beginning a relationship of mutual support and alignment on issues like Iran and relations with Arab nations and “Palestinians.”
- Established the Abraham Accords, normalizing diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations, marking a historic shift toward stability and comprehensive peace across the region.
- Announced that Israeli civilian settlements in Judea and Samaria are not inconsistent with international law, reversing a policy instituted under Democrat President Jimmy Carter.
Biden-Harris Administration:
- Promised to reopen a consulate in Jerusalem to re-establish diplomatic connections with Palestinian leadership, an action undermining Israel’s sovereignty and inconsistent with the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995, which requires Jerusalem to be recognized as the capital of Israel and remain undivided. The consulate’s attempted reopening was eventually dropped, in part due to Israel’s opposition.
- Publicly insulted Israeli sovereignty by meeting with Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in Jerusalem, while flying the PA flag on the presidential limousine and declaring that no Israeli officials could be present.
- Vice President Harris refused to preside over Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress as part of a broader boycott.
- Presided over the collapse of stability in the Middle East, leading to violence and chaos, including the October 7 attacks and escalating conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, now a 7-front war.
- Criminalized and sanctioned Jews simply for living in Judea and Samaria.
Iran
Trump Administration:
- Withdrew from the Obama-Biden Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the so-called “Iran Nuclear Deal”, in 2019. The Iran Deal was and remains viewed as an existential threat by Israel’s leaders across the political spectrum because it virtually guarantees a nuclear Iran in the not-distant future and lacks realistic oversight in the short term. The Iran Deal is viewed by many as a threat to American interests and to America itself.
- Engaged in a “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran including sanctions, curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional influence amid escalating tensions.
- Authorized strike killing General Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, demonstrating a successful use of American military force to directly counter Iran’s malign influence and terrorist activity in the region. Soleimani was responsible for more American casualties in Iraq than any other single person.
Biden-Harris Administration:
- Prioritized negotiating with Iran to renew the disastrous “Iran deal” (JCPOA). Negotiations failed, stymieing efforts to halt Iran’s nuclear program as Iran expands nuclear enrichment capabilities beyond JCPOA’s limits.
- Unfroze $6 billion in assets intended for Iran, as part of a prisoner swap. This money was later refrozen following Iran’s role in backing Hamas as part of the October 7 atrocities against Israel.
- Emboldened Iran by failing to take additional actions to end their circumvention of sanctions; failing to stop their nuclear program; and failing to hold Iran accountable.
See the .pdf version of the memo HERE.
