Letter to Honorable Chairwoman Kay Granger and Bill Young & Ranking Members Nita Lowey and Norman Dicks

Letter

Dear Chairman Granger and Young & Ranking Members Lowey and Dicks:

As Congress moves to reduce government spending and bring our national debt under control, we know how important it will be to prioritize appropriations in the Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution. With America at war, escalating instability in the Middle East and democratic allies threatened, prioritizing America's foreign assistance spending will be even more important for our national security.

Your commitment to the security of Israel has been unwavering, and we applaud you longstanding leadership in ensuring the strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship. We write today to reaffirm our strong commitment to the U.S.-Israel relationship and urge your prioritization of U.S. security assistance to America's strongest ally in the Middle East.

In recent days, we have witnesses a succession of mass protests and turmoil in many Middle Eastern nations. This regional upheaval underscores the importances of Israel as the preeminent, stable democracy in the Middle East and America's strongest ally in the region. We know that the national security of the United States is directly tied to the strength and security the State of Israel. Ensuring Israel's continued qualitative military edge in the region and completing the U.S.-Israel 10-year Memorandum of Understanding for military assistance remains a key American national security priority. As Israel faces threats from renewed instability in Egypt, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the existential danger posed by Iran's nuclear program, U.S, security assistance to Israel, including supporting Israel's acquisition of the Iron Dome rocket defense system, has never been more important for our own national security interests.

Therefore, as you consider the State-Foreign Operations and Defense Appropriations for Fiscal Year in 2011 in the upcoming Continuing Resolution, we urge you to include America's full $3 billion commitment for Fiscal Year 2011 under the 10-year U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding. We also urge that you provide the necessary funding to help Israel deploy the Iron Dome rocket defense system, to protect its civilian population from rocket attacks. These measures will ensure our critical democratic ally maintains her qualitative military edge in a dangerous region of the world.

Sincerely,

Robert Dold Member of Congress
and
Gary Peters Member of Congress

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