A progressive US congresswoman introduced a bill that would condition US aid to Israel on Thursday. Rep. Betty McCollum’s legislation reflects an increasingly active and vocal group of progressive Democrats espousing pro-Palestinian positions on the conflict and was criticized by a leading pro-Israel group.
The Minnesota Democrat’s bill is named “Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act.” The legislation would prohibit US government funds sent to Israel from supporting the following: Military detention and interrogation of Palestinian children; seizing Palestinian property; forced population transfers in the Palestinian Territory the West Bank; and anything that would “facilitate or support further unilateral annexation” of the West Bank into Israel.
