Jewish settler works to influence US Republicans against Palestinian statehood

Ruth Lieberman, a Jewish settler in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, is steadfast in her efforts to counter international pressure for the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state.

Leveraging her connections with prominent US Republicans, particularly those from the party's religious right, Lieberman believes she is making significant strides, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

In the weeks following the October 7 attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Lieberman hosted conservative Senator Mike Lee for a Shabbat meal at her home near Bethlehem in Alon Shvut, a settlement within the Gush Etzion cluster. During the meal, the conversation turned to the issue of Palestinian statehood. Lieberman conveyed to Lee that the attack had solidified Israeli opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state, a stance she shared in an interview from her home. Senator Lee has not responded to requests for comment.

Lieberman, a political consultant who frequently hosts US delegations visiting settlements, believes that these interactions are aligning the views of senior Republican officials with those of settlers and the Israeli government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. She highlighted the support from figures like Senator Lee and US House Speaker Mike Johnson, who visited her family in February 2020 during Donald Trump's presidency, as crucial. Johnson, an evangelical Christian, has also not responded to requests for comment.

Since the October 7 attack, Lieberman and her allies have intensified their efforts to influence the Republican Party's stance on Palestinian statehood, particularly ahead of the November US election, which could potentially see Trump return to office. "Having friends and voices like that in very high places in the US helps us," Lieberman said, underscoring the importance of these high-level connections in shaping policy.