Yesha Council head lobbies against Palestinian state in DC

(JNS) — Israel Ganz, chairman of the Yesha Council and head of the Binyamin Regional Council, is in Washington this week to advocate against a Palestinian state.

Ganz met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday in an effort counter the push by the White House to establish a Palestinian state in the wake of the Hamas-led massacre of Oct. 7.

“There is no room for a two-state solution. [President Joe] Biden cannot appoint conditions for Israel, whether with regard to the Palestinian state or to stopping the war with Hamas. We in the United States stand by your side unconditionally,” Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) told Ganz.

Ganz also met with other senior senators and representatives during his trip, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

“He presented them with maps and information about the activities of the Palestinian Authority and claimed that the American administration’s undertaking will lead to another massacre, which next time will be in cities like Kfar Saba, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem,” a statement from the Yesha Council said.

Lee said, “We need to ensure the continued existence of Judea and Samaria and to protect its residents from danger. I am your friend and you have many friends in the Senate and in other American states who are on the side of Israel.”

Ganz was joined on the Hill by members of the Binyamin Council’s foreign desk including Eliana Passentin and their consultant on government relations, Ruthie Lieberman.

They asked lawmakers to vote for a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court in The Hague for targeting Israeli officials, and met with the initiator of the bill, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.).

Later in the day, the House  passed the bill by a vote of 247 to 155, with 42 Democrats voting with all but two Republicans for the bill. Reps. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) voted “present.”

It faces a more difficult road in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

“We traveled here to protect our home and to protect the State of Israel. We have completed a series of important meetings here, and there are senior members in the Senate and Congress who understand the danger the establishment of a Palestinian state can lead to,” Ganz said.

“They understood that awarding the prize of a Palestinian state to Hamas murderers is a dangerous step, not just for Israel but for the whole free world. We continue to move forward with them to advocate our opposition to the same process the administration is attempting to accelerate.”