It seems that almost every day there is a new sign of hope coming from the Obama Administration that U.S. policy toward Israel/Palestine is changing for the better. For example, today we learned that the State Department sent Israel a formal diplomatic note three weeks ago pressing Israel to lift the siege of the Gaza Strip.

111th Congressional Report Card

Are Members of Congress getting close to adopting some of President Obama’s viewpoints and initiatives? Find out in our new, interactive 111th Congressional Report Card, which grades Members of Congress on major pieces of legislation and Congressional “Dear Colleague” letters on Palestine/Israel in the current Congress.

We grade Senators on two items and Representatives on eight. How does your Member of Congress stack up? Who made our Hall of Fame and our Hall of Shame? Find out by clicking here.

This year’s Congressional Report Card not only features a new and improved user interface, but it also includes a little attitude. Because, let’s face it, many of the things that Congress does on Palestine/Israel would be laughable were the consequences not so tragic. So, for example, we describe one gushy resolution about how Israel is the best thing since sliced bread as “quaint,” and in another resolution we question whether Members of Congress “are stuck in some parallel universe where Palestinians occupy Israel.” Read more by clicking here.

Read about Our Adventures on Capitol Hill

Speaking of us getting a little snarky, check out National Advocacy Director Josh Ruebner’s blog posting on his adventures yesterday on Capitol Hill trying to get into the House Appropriations Subcommittee “mark-up” session, during which Members of Congress recommended $2.775 billion in military aid to Israel in FY2010. Read our exclusive blog content, “Willy Wonka Goes to Washington.”

Meet with Your Member of Congress in August

It’s not too early for you to start thinking about putting together a delegation to meet with your Members of Congress during the August Congressional recess to discuss with them their voting records on Israel/Palestine and urge them to have a serious debate on the merits of increased military aid to Israel during the rest of this year’s budget process. If you can commit to setting up a meeting with your Member of Congress in August, then please click here.

Don’t worry if you’ve never set up a meeting before with your Member of Congress. We will provide you with resources, talking points, and a how-to conference call so that you’ll be empowered to do it. It’s our responsibility as good citizens to communicate our views to our Members of Congress, so please sign up today to organize a meeting in August by clicking here.

Help Us Keep this Important Work Moving Forward

Do you appreciate the work we’re doing to shift public discourse and affect policy change? Are you encouraged by the recent changes we’re witnessing and our collective ability to help bring them about? If so, then consider making a tax-deductible donation of $42 to the US Campaign to mark the 42^nd anniversary of Israel’s illegal military occupation of the Palestinian West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.

We need your support to take full advantage of all the opportunities that are out there for us right now. This month we’re doing an on-line fundraising campaign to bring in some much-needed money during this tough economic time. But we’re less than 25% of the way to our goal. Can you please help us get there by making a tax-deductible contribution today by clicking here?

A Word of Thanks

Finally, a big shout out to one of summer interns, Maria Underwood, for researching and compiling the data for the new Congressional Report Card. Don’t forget to check it out by clicking here.