ALON SHVUT, West Bank. Ruth Lieberman, a Jewish settler in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is leveraging her connections with prominent U.S. Republicans to counter international pressure for Palestinian statehood. Lieberman, a political consultant who frequently hosts U.S. delegations, has hosted key figures such as Senator Mike Lee and House Speaker Mike Johnson, strengthening ties between Israeli settlers and the Republican Party’s religious right.
Weeks after the October 7 attack by Hamas, Lieberman hosted conservative Senator Mike Lee, a Mormon, for a Shabbat meal at her home in Alon Shvut, a major settlement in Gush Etzion. During their conversation, Lieberman emphasized that the attack had solidified Israeli opposition to Palestinian statehood. “The attack has hardened Israeli resistance to the idea of a Palestinian state,” Lieberman stated in an interview.
Such interactions, Lieberman argues, are crucial for aligning U.S. Republican views with the stance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. She highlighted her efforts to influence the Republican Party ahead of the upcoming U.S. elections. Lieberman and her colleagues recently met with Johnson and Lee in Washington, presenting their case against Palestinian statehood.
Despite Trump’s previous support for Israeli policies, his current position on Palestinian statehood remains ambiguous. The U.S. has traditionally supported the two-state solution, but recent events have intensified debates. “Israel has never had a better friend in the White House than Trump,” a campaign spokesperson said, though specifics on Trump’s views were not clarified.
The United Nations recently ruled that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal, a decision Israel dismissed as “fundamentally wrong.” Meanwhile, U.S. President Joe Biden has renewed calls for a negotiated Palestinian state encompassing the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem.
A May poll by Tel Aviv University shows a decline in support for a two-state solution within Israel, with only 33% in favor, down from 43% before October 7. Conversely, support for annexation and restricting Palestinian rights has risen to 32%.
Israeli Rabbi Pesach Wolicki has spearheaded the “Keep God’s Land” campaign, which seeks to influence U.S. policy against the two-state solution. The campaign, supported by evangelical Christians and Jewish leaders, has grown to over 1,000 members.
Southern Baptist pastor Tony Perkins has been a significant advocate for aligning evangelical support with Israeli right-wing interests. “Support for settlers among evangelicals has increased since the Hamas attack,” Perkins noted. The attack, which resulted in over 1,200 Israeli casualties and around 150 hostages, has shifted U.S. evangelical opinion.
Recent U.S. legislative proposals reflect this shift, such as Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s bill to use the biblical terms “Judea and Samaria” instead of the West Bank in official documents. The bill, which has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, signifies a growing alignment with Israeli right-wing terminology.
As settlement expansion accelerates, the U.N. reports a 30% increase in the Israeli population in the West Bank over the past decade. This expansion and the related violence have prompted sanctions from the U.S. and EU, though Lieberman and her supporters argue that such actions exacerbate conflict.
David Friedman, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, now advocates for a single expanded Israel, a position he likens to Puerto Rico’s status. “We need to reach an agreement with the Palestinians to ensure peace,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, emphasizing the ongoing need for a resolution.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
