A Palestinian activist targeted by both Israelis and Palestinians is hoping that U.S. congressional support will help him in an upcoming trial before an Israeli military court.
"It has a huge effect," Issa Amro said in an interview published Friday by the web site The Intercept.
"At least I am recognized in the U.S. here as a human rights defender. That gives me a lot of support within my community and in front of the Israeli occupation forces as they can't claim I'm a terrorist."
Sen. Bernie Sanders and congressional Democrats have praised Amro, who was charged in Israel with inciting riots and in the West Bank with accusing the Palestinian Authority of human rights abuses.
Amro, whom critics accuse of anti-Semitism and defenders cite as a human rights advocate, called the Vermont socialist, who electrified left-wing Democrats in last year's presidential primary, "my hero" on a visit to Washington last month. He has also condemned President Donald Trump as a racist for his support of Israel.
Sanders and congressional Democrats defended Amro in a June letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, urging him to "urgently pursue all diplomatic tools at your disposal" to guarantee that Amro gets a fair trial in an Israeli military court with authority over Hebron, a tumultuous West Bank city, divided between Israeli and Palestinians.
"We fear that the Israeli military courts deliberating over Mr. Amro's charges will not render a fair and impartial trial," said the letter signed by Sanders, four senators Democrats and 34 House Democrats.
The Palestinian Authority has also targeted Amro, who was arrested in September after he complained of civil rights abuses by the Palestinian government.
"We are living in a quasi-state that needs to respect freedom, freedom of expression, and its international commitments," he wrote on Facebook.
He has also accused Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of racism.
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