A powerful rightwing pressure group, the American Legislative Exchange Council (Alec), is engineering pledges of unconditional support for Israel’s attack on Gaza by state legislatures across the US. Alec is promoting a model resolution expressing “support for Israel’s right to pursue without interference or condemnation the elimination of Hamas”. A version has been accepted by legislatures in at least eight states, including Pennsylvania, Nebraska and North Dakota. The resolution adopts Israeli claims that Hamas uses “civilians as human shields” and names Iran as giving logistical support to the group. Some state legislatures have also denounced calls for a ceasefire in...