Hello, Matthew. We want to thank you for your time and look forward to our Congressman's response. SO, just to recap our key points:
1. We are asking Representative Delgado to co-sponsor HR. 2407, the “No Way to Treat a Child Act” introduced by Representative Betty McCollum.
2. The bill in question would prohibit the use of foreign assistance funds to support the military detention, interrogation, abuse or ill treatment of children in violation of international law. The bill would apply broadly to all recipients of U.S. military aid or assistance. The bill also prohibits such funds from being used to support certain practices against children, including torture, sensory deprivation, solitary confinement, and arbitrary detention.
3. The bill would also authorize the Department of State to provide funding to NGOs to monitor and assess incidents of Palestinian children being subjected to military detention and would provide treatment and rehabilitation to Palestinians under 21 who were subject to military detention as children.
4. Although the law would apply universally, Israel deserves special mention as the largest recipient of US military aid and as a specially favored ally with the continued and well-documented abuse of children in the Palestinian territories and Gaza.
5. Americans and, increasingly, American Jews, do not support the level of US military aid to Israel and are not in favor of our government’s unquestioning support of Israel’s extremely right wing government.
6. Any politician who describes him or herself as a progressive must support a progressive foreign policy. This means a foreign policy centered in human rights and diplomacy rather than military intervention and weapons sales. Co-sponsoring HR 2407 is one small step in creating the change we need to see in our foreign policy. In addition, UNICEF has called for the immediate release of all Palestinian Children detained in Israeli prisons & detention centers due to the heightened risk of COVID-19.
7. Representative Delgado’s revered predecessor Maurice Hinchey stands as an excellent example of a progressive politician unafraid to stand up for the human rights of Palestinians and others. He was re-elected repeatedly despite strong opposition from the Israel lobby. Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to abuse children and no progressive politician should be afraid to say so. While we were disappointed that our meeting with Representative Delgado was cancelled, we trust that you will convey our message. While we would suggest that this is not so much a complicated decision as it is a sensitive one, we want you and the Congressman to know that we are here to support him should he take this action and can mobilize many in the district to, in effect, "get his back" should he decide to take this principled, progressive stance.
We respectfully request a response from the Representative by June 2 so we can report to our constituencies who are awaiting his decision. Thank you,
H.R. 2407 Committee