WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) joined U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) and 16 other Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution condemning the slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free.” The resolution also states that the slogan and its derivations are a call for the genocide of Jewish people and the destruction of the Jewish state.
“People who invoke this disgraceful, antisemitic slogan are calling for the mass murder of Jews, whether they know it or not. On October 7, the world saw the genocidal intent of the chant, ‘From the River to the Sea.’ No one who uses this slogan should escape condemnation,” said the resolution.
Also joining Senators Tuberville and Cotton in introducing the resolution are U.S. Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Katie Britt (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Kennedy (R-LA), John Boozman (R-AR), Ted Budd (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Thune (R-ND), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), James Lankford (R-OK).
Complete text of the resolution can be found here.
BACKGROUND:
Senator Tuberville stands unequivocally with Israel and is horrified by the rise of antisemitism among Democrats, and especially on college campuses. As a former educator and coach, he believes that teachers and professors have a tremendous responsibility to provide moral clarity to students on the difference between right and wrong. Coach Tuberville believes that the Hamas-backed terror attacks on innocent Israeli and American citizens are morally repugnant.
Senator Tuberville delivered a floor speech supporting Israel following the attacks. In the wake of the terror attacks, Coach Tuberville joined legislation to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel. Coach Tuberville also wrote an op-ed and sent a letter on the importance of separating Israel aid from Ukraine aid.
Senator Tuberville joined 31 other Republican senators in urging the Biden Administration to address growing antisemitism toward Jewish children in K-12 schools across the country. He also joined his Republican colleagues in raising concerns with the Biden Administration over the resurgence of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement on college campuses to economically harm Israel and threaten Israel’s right to exist as a nation.
Senator Tuberville cosponsored the Revoke Iranian Funding Act to freeze the $6 billion in funding the Biden Administration released to Iran at the bank in Qatar where it is currently being held. This would ensure these dollars are not used by Iran to promote terrorism against Israel or any other nation.
Senator Tuberville also cosponsored the Emergency Resupply for IRON DOME Act of 2023, a bill to authorize the Executive Branch to redirect U.S. foreign assistance away from Hamas-controlled Gaza and instead to help Israel replenish its Iron Dome, which has been highly effective in intercepting rockets and saving lives.
Senator Tuberville also joined legislation to cut U.S. funds to the antisemitic United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). The UNRWA has a history of employing individuals affiliated with Hamas, an Iranian-backed, U.S.- designated terrorist organization. Additionally, UNRWA schools have been used to store Hamas weapons and promote antisemitic education in their textbooks.
Senator Tuberville also joined his colleagues in calling on President Joe Biden to enforce existing law and revoke the visas of foreign nationals who endorse or espouse activity in support of Hamas or other Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).
Senator Tuberville also joined more than thirty of his colleagues in sending a letter to President Biden asking him to prioritize rescuing American hostages that were taken by Hamas during its attacks on Israel and to support Israel’s efforts to wipe out Hamas.
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees.
###
