UPDATE [4/27]: This language has been added to the trade bills by the Senate Finance Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee. Now we are working to remove the language. === Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) is expected to introduce an amendment to a bill in the Senate Finance Committee that would demand that the Obama Administration pressure Europe not to enforce policies against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The amendment is expected to be similar to S. 619 [1] which Cardin introduced March 2. Similar legislation (HR 825) was introduced in the House on February 10. [2] Both bills target actions to “limit commercial relations” with “territories controlled by Israel.” By equating “Israeli settlements in the West Bank” with “Israel,” these bills are endorsing the Israeli annexation of the West Bank. These bills are trying to pressure the European Union (EU), which is currently negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with the United States, to reverse course on the steps it has taken in recent years to oppose Israeli settlements in the West Bank. These include new guidelines preventing entities operating in Israeli-occupied territory from receiving EU funding and a recent push to label settlement products entering the EU. Urge your Senator and Representative to oppose this legislation by signing our petition. References: 1. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/s619 2. https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/114/hr825

The Illinois House and Illinois Senate may vote by April 24 on HB4011 [1] and SB1761.[2] These bills attempt to legitimize the de-facto Israeli annexation of the West Bank by cutting off state contracts with companies that boycott Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Boycotting Israeli settlements in the West Bank as a means of protesting the Israeli occupation has wide political support in the US and internationally, including by Peace Now (Shalom Achshav) in Israel and Americans for Peace Now in the US [3], and the Presbyterian Church [4], and United Methodist Church [5] in the US. Any private Israeli entity that wants to receive funding from the European Union must demonstrate that it has no links to the West Bank. [6] Urge your Representative and Senator in the Illinois legislature to oppose HB4011 and SB1761 by signing our petition at MoveOn. References: 1. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/fulltext.asp?DocName=&SessionId=88&GA=99&DocTypeId=HB&DocNum=4011&GAID=13 2. http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1761&GAID=13&DocTypeID=SB&LegId=88517&SessionID=88 3. http://archive.peacenow.org/entries/apn_joins_peace_nows_call_for_boycotting_settlements 4. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/21/us/presbyterians-debating-israeli-occupation-vote-to-divest-holdings.html 5. http://umc-gbcs.org/resolutions/opposition-to-israeli-settlements-in-palestinian-land 6. http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/.premium-1.536155

The Philippines was tagged "The Sick Man of Asia" and "Zaire of Asia." If independence was ever going to work for the Filipino people, it would have done so by now. It clearly has not. Rather, the millions of Filipinos are needlessly suffering because of corrupt politicians despite the country's massive natural resources.

House Democrats are playing and will play a key role in whether the Obama Administration can get a deal with Iran. Under the Corker-Cardin deal on the Corker Congressional review legislation, we need at a minimum at least a third of the Senate or a third of the House to be willing to sustain a Presidential veto of Congressional legislation against the deal. Given that Republicans are likely to oppose the President, that means we need at least 2/3 of House Democrats to support the President. [1] Illinois Democrat Jan Schakowsky is circulating a letter in support of the talks. [2] Some House Democrats, like Florida Representative Alan Grayson, are attacking the talks by trying to introduce issues that are outside the scope of the talks and by setting an impossible standard for a “good deal.” [3] Urge House Democrats to stand with Rep. Jan Schakowsky in support of the talks by signing the Schakowsky letter, by signing and sharing our petition. If your House Representative is a Democrat, please call them in support of the Schakowsky letter and report your call here: http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/act/schakowsky-letter References: 1. Robert Naiman, “What Did Democrats Win in the Cardin Compromise on the Corker Bill?” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-naiman/what-did-democrats-win-in-cardin-compromise_b_7073264.html; J Street, “J Street Welcomes Compromise on Iran Agreement Review Bill,” http://jstreet.org/blog/post/j-street-welcomes-compromise-on-iran-agreement-review-bill_1 2. http://www.niacouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/scorecard///Schakowsky-Doggett-Price.pdf 3. “Correspondence with Rep. Alan Grayson About the Iran Talks,” http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/node/1597

Republicans in Congress are going into overdrive trying to undermine President Obama's efforts to get a diplomatic agreement with Iran. To block these Republican efforts, we need Democrats to stand together. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is standing with President Obama. [1] Unfortunately, Florida Democratic Representative Alan Grayson, who has a national profile as a progressive Democrat, is not yet standing with President Obama and Leader Pelosi. Grayson has attacked the framework deal with Iran that the Administration and European allies negotiated with Iran, while well-known Iran hawks like Rep. Brad Sherman concede that the Administration won significant concessions from Iran in the deal. [2] Urge Rep. Grayson to stand with President Obama and Leader Pelosi on Iran diplomacy by signing our petition. 1. http://thehill.com/homenews/house/238272-pelosi-comes-out-against-iran-bill 2. http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/237903-obama-officials-launch-full-court-press-against-iran-legislation

There were 73 decrees to wipe out Yezidis through murder and forced conversion over the past 700 years, which led to the loss of 22 million Yezidis. Please help us to stem the tide of this 74th attempt to wipe out the Yezidis. Yezidis International works to raise consciousness about the Yezidi crisis in Northern Iraq. The Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, California is also sponsoring an effort to raise consciousness about the plight of the Yezidis.

US diplomats have secured a historic, breakthrough: a framework that will ensure Iran can only have a peaceful nuclear program through rigorous inspections and verification.[1] This is perhaps the most significant foreign policy accomplishment of the Obama presidency, and offers the promise of a peaceful path with Iran, rather than a rush into an unnecessary war. But Republican war hawks—and too many Democrats who are siding with them—are continuing their crusade against the president and trying to sabotage this deal. We need all members of Congress to recognize that the alternative to diplomacy is war, and that they must reject the Corker-Menendez bill (Senate Bill 615), the Kirk-Menendez bill (Senate Bill 269), and any other legislative attempts to blow up the diplomatic process. References: 1. "Iran and E.U. Announce Framework for Nuclear Accord," The New York Times, April 2, 2015 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/03/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-talks.html

The Syriza party won Greek parliamentary elections on January 25 on an anti-austerity program [1], after 6 years of depression [2] that were prolonged and exacerbated by Eurozone authorities (including the European Central Bank, European Commission, and the International Monetary Fund [IMF]). On February 4 -- just 10 days after the Syriza government was elected -- the ECB cut off the main source of financing for Greek banks [3]. There was no reason to do this other than bullying; it was more than three weeks before the deadline for the decision. This and other threats and statements by the ECB have driven tens of billions of dollars from the Greek banking system. The ECB has also refused to lift a cap on the amount that Greek banks can lend to the government, an action that it did not take against the previous government. The ECB’s actions have already contributed to serious damage to Greece’s nascent economic recovery: the Greek economy was projected to grow by 2.9 percent this year, but partly as a result of this instability stoked by the ECB, this forecast has been cut in half. On April 1 the Greek government put forward a detailed and credible reform plan [4] to increase revenues, so as to ensure that it can make its debt payments. The Greek government has negotiated in good faith; the ECB should not be pushing the Greek government to the brink of default, and undermining the economy, in order to gain advantage in these negotiations. The ECB should immediately lift the cap on Greek bank lending to the government, and the restore the government’s ability to borrow from the Central Bank that the prior government had before the elections. Urge President Obama to press European authorities to end their destabilization of the Greek economy to undermine democracy by signing our petition. References: 1. http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/3/destroying-the-greek-economy-in-order-to-save-it.html 2. http://www.cepr.net/index.php/publications/reports/the-greek-economy-which-way-forward 3. http://www.cepr.net/index.php/op-eds-&-columns/op-eds-&-columns/greece-ecb-kicks-syriza-in-the-face-syriza-turns-the-other-cheek 4. http://im.ft-static.com/content/images/55b27a7e-d87c-11e4-ba53-00144feab7de.pdf

Her opinion will matter. As a potential candidate for President, she owes it to the public to speak out in support of this now --- especially when the enemies of the agreement are dominating the air waves.

The Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen threatens to turn what has been a civil war into a wider regional struggle involving Iran. It could also destroy any hope of stability in Yemen. [1] On Tuesday, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights warned that Yemen is on the brink of collapse. [2] Rather than bombing – which has already killed more than 40 civilians in a single strike [3] - Saudi Arabia should be using its power and influence to pursue diplomatic negotiations, which offer the only hope of a durable solution. President Obama should use his influence with Saudi Arabia to encourage all sides to work toward a political solution to prevent a wider conflict and to give Yemen a chance at stability. Meanwhile, President Obama should evacuate US citizens in Yemen who are in danger – as other countries have. [4] Urge President Obama and Members of Congress to press for a political solution in Yemen and to evacuate Americans in danger by signing our petition. References 1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/opinion/saudi-arabias-ominous-reach-into-yemen.html 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/01/world/middleeast/un-warns-of-total-collapse-in-yemen-as-houthis-continue-offensive.html 3. http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/30/us-yemen-security-idUSKBN0ML0YC20150330 4. http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-03-30/bombs-are-falling-americans-yemen-theres-no-evacuation-sight

Deir Ezzor city, located in the east of Syria, for more than 3 months, has been suffering from a strict siege imposed on the civilians there by the ISIS and Al Assad troops at the same time. The fact that more than 300 thousands civilians live in the city currently makes it the largest human community under siege since the embark of the Syrian revolution, which is considered an imminent threat to the lives of the civilians staying there, not to mention that half of them are children. Deir Ezzor city has been destroyed by Al Assad air strikes over 4 years and 70% of its neighborhoods suffer because of complete lack of the basic needs for life. Inhabitants of the city find no means whatsoever to get food, medicine or communications, especially with the fever of high prices where prices jumped to more than 1500 times. Food supplies are controlled by the Regime's officers and intelligence in coordination with the mercenaries of ISIS who prevent food supplies from civilians but allow the landing and take-off of the airplanes providing supplies for Al Assad troops. In no time, Deir Ezzor will most probably be the worst human catastrophe in Syria, if not in the whole world. If the international community, the United Nations and the International Coalition do nothing to stop this catastrophe this will create an environment for more radicalism in the area. We strongly urge you to apply strong pressure on Al Assad Regime and ISIS to lift this strict siege and facilitate the process of providing food and humanitarian supplies to the city. We also appeal to the International Coalition to take necessary procedures to break this tight siege of the city.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has announced that he will not run for re-election. [1] Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) has been mentioned as a potential candidate to lead Senate Democrats. But Schumer has signed on as a co-sponsor of two dangerous bills sponsored by Sens. Corker, Kirk, and Menendez, which would undermine diplomacy and risk putting the United States on a path to war with Iran. Ilya Sheyman, executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action, said: “Supporting reckless legislation that undermines President Obama’s diplomacy with Iran and risks a dangerous, unnecessary war in the Middle East should disqualify anyone from leading the Senate Democratic caucus. Sen. Schumer needs to withdraw his support from the Corker and Menendez legislation.” [2] Show you agree with MoveOn that Schumer must withdraw support from the Corker and Menendez bills by signing our petition. References: 1. “Harry Reid Says He Won’t Seek Re-Election,” Carl Hulse, New York Times, March 27, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/us/politics/senator-harry-reid-retire.html 2. “MoveOn reaction to pending opening in Democratic caucus leadership and Sen. Schumer’s position on Iran diplomacy,” Brian Stewart, MoveOn.org, March 27 2015, http://front.moveon.org/moveon-reaction-to-pending-opening-in-democratic-caucus-leadership-and-sen-schumers-position-on-iran-diplomacy/