As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to address Congress on Tuesday, human rights groups are calling on President Joe Biden to address the recent revelations of a secret social media campaign aimed at influencing U.S. lawmakers in favor of Israel.
The campaign, which was uncovered by The Intercept, involved a network of fake social media accounts run by an Israeli government-linked firm, Archimedes Group. The accounts, which posed as American citizens, were used to spread pro-Israel messages and attack critics of the Israeli government.
This revelation has sparked outrage among human rights organizations, who are demanding answers from the Biden administration about the extent of Israel’s influence on U.S. politics.
In a statement, Amnesty International USA’s Deputy Director for Advocacy and Government Relations, Philippe Nassif, said, “The use of fake social media accounts to manipulate public opinion and influence lawmakers is a serious violation of democratic principles. The fact that this was done by a foreign government is even more concerning.”
The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) also condemned the campaign, stating, “The use of fake social media accounts to push a political agenda is a direct attack on the democratic process. It is unacceptable for a foreign government to interfere in U.S. politics in this manner.”
The revelations have raised questions about the extent of Israel’s influence on U.S. politics and the level of transparency in the relationship between the two countries. Many are calling on the Biden administration to address these concerns and take action to prevent foreign interference in U.S. politics.
In a letter to President Biden, a coalition of human rights organizations, including Amnesty International USA, ADC, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), demanded answers about the Israeli government’s involvement in the social media campaign and called for measures to prevent similar actions in the future.
The letter stated, “We urge you to take immediate action to address this issue and ensure that foreign governments are not able to manipulate public opinion and influence U.S. policies through deceptive means.”
The organizations also called on Congress to hold hearings and launch an investigation into the matter, stating, “The American people deserve to know the truth about the extent of foreign interference in our political process.”
The revelations of the secret social media campaign have also sparked a debate about the U.S.’s relationship with Israel and the level of support given to the country. Many are questioning the massive amount of aid and political support that the U.S. provides to Israel, despite its human rights violations and illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
In a statement, CAIR’s National Executive Director, Nihad Awad, said, “The U.S. must re-evaluate its relationship with Israel and hold the country accountable for its actions. It is unacceptable for the U.S. to continue to provide unwavering support to a government that violates international law and human rights.”
The Biden administration has yet to respond to the demands of the human rights organizations, but the issue is likely to be raised during Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on Tuesday. Many are calling on lawmakers to use this opportunity to address the issue and hold Israel accountable for its actions.
As the U.S. and Israel continue to strengthen their relationship, it is crucial for the Biden administration to ensure transparency and prevent foreign interference in U.S. politics. The American people deserve to know the truth about the extent of Israel’s influence and the actions taken to protect the integrity of our democratic process.
In the words of Amnesty International USA’s Nassif, “The U.S. must take a strong stance against any attempts to manipulate public opinion and influence our policies. We cannot allow foreign governments to undermine our democracy.” Let us hope that the Biden administration will take swift action to address these concerns and uphold the principles of democracy and transparency.
