º These attacks are the first to target Jerusalem since the 2014 war and forced the evacuation of the Israeli Knesset, the Israeli parliament. [...] Hamas seeks to exploit the convergence of Ramadan, Jerusalem Day, the Sheikh Jarrah eviction case and the ensuing violence, as well as the cancelation of Palestinian elections by turning these events into a public relations victory. [...] º The indiscriminate nature of Hamas’ rocket fire renders it in violation of the law of war spelled out in Protocol I (1977 amendment to the Geneva Convention), which calls for belligerent parties to engage in distinction between civilian and non-civilian targets. [...] What Can the United States Do Next? • President Biden should quickly appoint an ambassador to Israel, who may not be in the position to address the ongoing issues but whose appointment would signal America’s support for Israel’s right to self-defense and an interest on the part of the administration in de-escalating tensions. [...] • The Biden administration should continue to express support for Israel’s right to self- defense against rocket attacks and call on it to maintain the rule of law in Jerusalem with respect to the multiple faiths that place importance on Jerusalem.
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