Issue Position: Israel

Issue Position

As a Jewish American, I have a deep personal connection to the State of Israel, and I have consistently been a steadfast friend and supporter of the Jewish state in her quest for peace and security. Both at home in my district and in the halls of Congress, I am always working to strengthen the U.S.-Israel bond, and to advance the security of the only true democracy in the Middle East, our ally Israel.

I am committed to ensuring the survival of Israel as a Jewish State. A negotiated, two-state solution that provides safety and security for all people in Israel alongside a Palestinian state offers the best prospect for long-term peace for the region. Such an agreement has the potential to provide lasting security for Israel, a better life for Palestinians, and a future for both. While the United States cannot dictate the terms of a peace agreement, strong U.S. leadership in support of peace remains critical.

Israel continues to face serious security threats, and U.S.-Israel security cooperation is as close as it has ever been. In fact, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that President Obama has "used every considerable means and influence of the United States to help us. We owe him a special measure of gratitude. This attests to the strong alliance between Israel and the United States." In addition to critical security funding and weapons sales for the Jewish state, the U.S. engages in training and joint military exercises with our Israeli partners and supports the research and development of new defense systems. Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak has said that the "administration under President Obama is doing in regard to our security more than anything that I can remember in the past."

In addition, the U.S. and Israel continue to closely partner in efforts to halt Iranian aggression and pursuit of nuclear weapons. As President Peres stated in March 2012, "The United States and Israel share the same goal--to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. There is no space between us."

President Obama and the U.S. Congress have strongly supported the 2007 Memorandum of Understanding signed between Israel and the United States and the Obama Administration has request billions in security funding for Israel. We need to continually renew and strengthen this relationship.

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