1. United States
2. Letter

As we near the end of another week, I again express my thanks and great admiration for the continued actions taken by you and your administration to impose crippling economic sanctions against additional companies and individuals who have engaged in the unlawful purchase, trading, storage and shipment of millions of barrels of illicit Iranian crude oil and petroleum products. The culprits sanctioned this week by the U.S. State Department and by the U.S Treasury Department include multiple companies based in China, Hong Kong, the UAE, the Marshall Islands, and the British Virgin Islands.  Also sanctioned is a Greek national who reportedly has been involved in the transport and sale of Iranian petroleum products for many years. In addition, the State Department also issued severe economic sanctions this week against four more ICC officials – two trial judges and two deputy prosecutors – who have been engaged in the ICC’s ultra vires (i.e., unlawful) and meritless malign efforts against the U.S. and Israel. As a result of the sanctions summarized above, all property and interests in property owned by the sanctioned parties that are in the U.S., or that are in the possession or control of U.S. persons, are blocked. Also, all U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in any transactions involving any blocked property. I share in the following sentiments expressed on August 20 by Prime Minister Netanyahu concerning the sanctions imposed against the ICC officials: “This is a decisive action [by the U.S.] against the false smear campaign against the State of Israel and the IDF, and in favor of truth and justice.” 

Furthermore, as is so often the case, your defense of Western civilization, the U.S., Israel and the hostages this week has extended well beyond the imposition of the aforementioned sanctions.  Among other things, you reiterated on social media that: “We will only see the return of the hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed!!! The sooner this takes place the better the chances of success will be . . . Play to WIN, or don’t play at all.” Also, you praised Mr. Netanyahu as a “war hero” during your interview on August 19 with Mark Levin. In addition, your Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, continued to publicly articulate your support for Israel in an interview which he gave on August 21. Among other things, Ambassador Huckabee criticized the various nations who have rewarded Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel by expressing their support for a Palestinian state with the following strong admonition: "We have no intention of playing along with this ridiculous game that’s prolonged the hostage's situation. There were negotiations under way, and then the European nations began to speak of a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state and Hamas was giddy with glee.” 

Thank you again for your unparalleled defense of, and support for, Israel, and for your continued leadership in the fight against antisemitism.