Thursday, October 19, 2023
2:00-3:30pm
Rayburn House Office Building 2247
Stream here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWxwUk4TvVo
Terrorist attacks against innocent Israeli and Ukrainian civilians have shocked the world with their cruelty and sophistication. These unprovoked attacks are fueled by transnational terrorist networks that include Hamas, Russia, and the Iranian regime, and which regularly target Ukrainian and Israeli civilians and infrastructure. Israel and Ukraine face common foes in terrorist networks that use acts of brutality against innocent people to accomplish their goals and undermine democracy and the rule of law. Networked authoritarian terror has emerged as one of the most pressing and existential threats to free societies.
This hearing will examine how the United States can help its allies Israel and Ukraine counter these terrorist networks. Witnesses will discuss policy options including weapons transfers, enhanced sanctions, new technology, and designating Russia a state sponsor of terrorism. Witnesses will also discuss the depth and breadth of these networks of tyrannical terror and how a network of well-equipped democratic states can fight back.
The following witnesses are scheduled to testify:
Opening remarks by Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States of America.
- Jamil N. Jaffer, Founder and Executive Director, National Security Institute at George Mason University
- Dr. Jonathan Schanzer, Senior Vice President, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies
- Dr. Dan Twining, President, International Republican Institute
Additional witnesses may be added.
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The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent commission of the U.S. Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental, and military cooperation in 57 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.
