Israel
Summary of Key Positions
Israel: I am absolutely committed to the safety and security of Israel. As a Member of Congress, I will be committed to the security of America’s only truly democratic ally in the region, Israel — and to the belief that Israel’s gain is our gain, and Israel’s struggles are our struggles.
A Special Relationship: The special relationship between the United States and Israel is founded upon their shared belief in democracy and freedom, and now the United States and Israel are partners in the struggle against terrorism. The United States can best promote peace by giving Israel the support it needs to take risks for peace, and by standing firm against those who will not even acknowledge its right to exist.
Foreign Aid to Israel: I will fight to continue or increase foreign aid to Israel per the current Memorandum of Understanding signed by President Bush and Prime Minister Olmert in 2007 or any other agreements reached by the Obama Administration and the government of Israel. The annual foreign aid bill, perfect or imperfect, is the only vehicle for providing foreign aid to Israel. Israel is a top priority for me, and I will vote for the annual foreign aid bill every year.
Iran: Iran poses a profound threat to both the United States and Israel, and we must stand firmly and unequivocally with Israel against the threat of Iranian aggression.
Peace Process: The United States must send a clear and unmistakable message — leading the international community — that we cannot support a regime that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel, our strategic ally. As a member of Congress, I will unequivocally support Israel’s efforts for peace, stability and security. Peace must be negotiated by the parties themselves; a lasting peace cannot be imposed by outside parties. Peace is not possible without an absolute Palestinian commitment to end violence, terror, and incitement and a commitment to build the institutions necessary for a viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace with the Jewish state of Israel inside secure borders.
I am absolutely committed to the safety and security of Israel. Israel is our foremost ally, and a key partner in our efforts to combat terrorism and advance democratic values. The U.S.- Israel relationship covers many different areas — from stopping the spread of terrorism, to supporting democratic values, to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
Tikkun Olam
In a very real way, my own achievements would not have been possible without the work of previous generations. As an African-American, I credit the civil rights movement and its many leaders and supporters with fighting for the educational and professional opportunities people of all races and faiths enjoy today.
It is important to remember that American Jews played a significant role in founding and participating in some of the most successful and important civil rights organizations. In 1909, Henry Moscowitz joined the great W.E.B. DuBois and others to found the NAACP. Another Jewish American, Kivie Kaplan, a vice-chairman of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now the Union for Reform Judaism), served as NAACP president through the turbulent years of 1966 to 1975. Prominent Jewish leader Arnold Aronson and African-American leader A. Philip Randolph worked together to found the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR).
The ties between the African American and Jewish American communities are still very much alive today. I grew up in Hyde Park, went to camp at the JCC, and attended Boston University. I know and embrace the concept of Tikkun Olam. My visit to Israel in April 2006 deepened my commitment to Israel even further.
Our communities share the common values of equality and faith and the common goals of peace and justice. I will fight for those common values and common goals as a Member of Congress, and do all I can to “repair the world.”
A Special Relationship
The United States and Israel have shared a deep bond since the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. It is a strategic alliance based on common values and a shared commitment to the promotion of peace and democracy in the Middle East. Events transpiring in that region now — in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran — have a profound effect on Israel and a significant impact on the safety and security of the entire world.
The special relationship between the United States and Israel is founded upon their shared belief in democracy and freedom, and now the United States and Israel are partners in the war on terrorism. Both nations are built on the conviction that people should live free from oppression and should be able to freely exercise their rights as citizens of a democratic nation. As America’s only truly democratic ally in the Middle East, Israel is a model for other nations in the region — a diverse, pluralistic, and free democratic society. I support continued military assistance to Israel both because these are values I cherish and because it demonstrates our commitment to Israel and the values we share.
Jerusalem must remain Israel’s undivided capital, and the United States should show the world that it stands behind Israel by moving its embassy to Jerusalem. I believe that Israel wants peace and that Israel is in the best position to determine what risks to take for peace. For that reason the United States can best promote peace by supporting Israel. Peace must be negotiated by the parties themselves; a lasting peace cannot be imposed by outside parties. Peace is not possible without an absolute Palestinian commitment to end violence, terror, and incitement and a commitment to build the institutions necessary for a viable Palestinian state living side by side in peace with the Jewish state of Israel inside secure borders. We also need to see Arab states moving toward normalization of relations with Israel and supporting moderate Palestinians.
As Israel moves down the path of peace, it is crucial that publicly the United States and Israel move in lockstep. To some this may seem counterintuitive, but in fact this increases Israel’s ability to take risks for peace. When Israel trades land for peace, agrees to remove roadblocks in the West Bank, releases Palestinian prisoners, or any number of other steps, it makes decisions that potentially place its own people in danger. Israel has repeatedly shown a willingness to do this for the sake of peace, but it is much more likely to take such steps when it can feel confident in its relationship with its closest ally. Public feuds between the countries serve only to embolden Israel’s enemies and make Israel feel less safe, and thus less willing to compromise. Disagreements between the governments in Jerusalem and Washington are bound to arise, as they would between two close friends, but it is critical that these disagreements are dealt with in private and not aired in public.
Foreign Aid to Israel
America’s place as a global superpower has long enabled us to provide support for allies in need. US foreign aid will total nearly $50 billion in 2010 and the positive results can be seen across the world. Less than $3 billion of that will go to Israel. Congress must continue to recognize this foreign aid as a high budget priority, reflective of the critical strategic importance of the American relationship with Israel. The total foreign aid budget is only about 2% of the federal budget, and aid to Israel is only about 0.1% of the federal budget. We cannot afford to spend less in this vital area.
Meeting Israel’s special needs for foreign aid has traditionally been a priority for the U.S. Congress. I support maintaining the funding increases currently agreed upon under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by President Bush and Prime Minister Olmert in 2007. Recognizing the tremendous importance of America’s security aid to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge, I will vote every year for the annual foreign aid bill.
The Problem of Iran
Iran is an existential threat to Israel, and we must stand firmly and unequivocally with Israel. Nearly every day, we read a new report of defiance and virulent anti-Semitism emanating from Iran’s leadership. Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons seems certain, and left to its current path, it is only a matter of time before we must deal with the reality of a nuclear-armed Iran. The entire globe is threatened by an Iran with nuclear capability, but Israel faces the most clear and immediate danger. Iran’s hostility to Israel and ties to terrorist networks such as Hezbollah and Hamas are well-known. Between the Iranian president’s calls to “wipe Israel off the map” and outspoken support of terrorist groups, it is reasonable to assume that Israel would be Iran’s primary target. However, the range of Iran’s missile arsenal, and the proven global reach of its terror clients, means that an Iran emboldened by atomic weapons poses a tremendous threat to the Middle East, to key allies, and the United States itself.
We must pursue every available option to prevent Iran from developing nuclear arms. I fully support the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009 (H.R. 2194) and the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2009 (H.R. 1327). We should continue to work the process through the International Atomic Energy Agency and United Nations, and persuade Russia and China to take a proactive role. The entire world must stand against Iran’s intentions. As a member of Congress, I will work tirelessly to ensure that we are taking every possible measure to prevent Iran from pursuing its agenda of destruction. The security of America, Israel, and the entire world depends on our success. While war must be a last resort, no option, including military actions, should be taken off the table.
The Peace Process
As a member of Congress, I will unequivocally support Israel’s efforts for peace, stability and security. I will fight to hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for their actions. Successive Israeli administrations from both sides of the political spectrum have demonstrated Israel’s deep commitment to peace. It is high time that the Palestinian Authority take steps that demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace. Mahmoud Abbas must direct his security forces to effectively dismantle the infrastructure of terror, both by weakening Hamas and his own al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades. The Palestinian Authority must also halt incitement against Jews and Israel over its airwaves and in its classrooms.
The United States must send a clear and unmistakable message — leading the international community — that we cannot support a regime that is dedicated to the destruction of Israel. America must isolate Hamas and make it clear to them that they will be international pariahs until they change their stated goals and activities. We must force Hamas to choose between terrorism and the welfare of the Palestinian people. Hamas must renounce violence, recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, and agree to abide by all agreements between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. The initial election of Hamas to power in the Palestinian territories, followed by the group’s complete coup of government structures in Gaza, set back prospects for peace many years. Israel showed incredible restraint in the face of daily deliberate rocket attacks, and Israel was fully within its rights to defend itself. Imagine how we would feel if we were subject to daily rocket attacks and our children were not safe at home, in school, or at restaurants. I doubt that we would exercise even a tenth of the restraint that Israel showed.
We should all mourn the loss of all innocent life. But the difference between Hamas attacks and the Israeli responses is that Hamas deliberately targets civilians. The world must understand that Israel’s military and economic pressure on Hamas in Gaza is the result, not the cause, of terrorism initiated by Hamas and that the fault for the conflict in Gaza lies clearly with Hamas and its sponsors, Iran and Syria. There is no “cycle of violence” and there is no moral equivalence.
Another crucial aspect of the peace process is the normalization of relations with Arab states. While the Saudi Peace Initiative of 2002 was a welcome change from decades of uninterrupted hostility, the Arabs did not follow up with a willingness to compromise and negotiate that denotes the behavior of states truly desirous of peace. I strongly support President Obama’s efforts to elicit productive steps from key Arab states. It is crucial for countries like Saudi Arabia to begin to take the initial steps that create a true climate for peace—public appearances with Israeli officials, trade relations, and the opening of tourism. Even more important, Arab states must take steps to encourage and empower the Palestinian Authority to promote peace and end incitement against Israel. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and others need to make good on repeated promises of aid to Abbas’ government so that the Palestinian Authority can fund its operations in full. It is also time for Mahmoud Abbas to be pressured into taking tangible steps to decrease terrorism and provide him with political cover while he decreases incitement and fundamentalism. Arab states are in a unique position to compel such actions and to make them successful.
It is also critical to underscore that the policies I’m promoting are to the benefit of all people in the region, Arab and Jewish alike. The leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, and too many other leaders in the region promote abusive, authoritarian, and theocratic policies that harm the very people that they claim to be acting for. These leaders foster division and incite violence because it enables them to more easily control the reins of power—they scapegoat Israel to justify subjugating their own people. By directing their people’s anger unjustifiably toward Israel and the United States rather than at the governments that have failed them, they secure their own wealth and influence while perpetuating the overwhelming poverty prevalent throughout the region. The Arab people should not be denied the benefits of democracy and prosperity. If we can succeed in encouraging genuine, good faith steps toward peace, then Israel can look forward to safety for all of its citizens, Arab and Jews, and the broader Arab world can advance and grow in their own peaceful prosperity.
Our common values of freedom and democracy will always tie us to Israel. It is our duty as a nation to protect the safety and security of our friend and ally. The challenges are great and the solutions are elusive, but we must continue to pursue peace and stability in the Middle East. As a Member of Congress, I will be committed to the security of America’s only truly democratic ally in the region, Israel — and to the belief that Israel’s gain is our gain, and Israel’s struggles are our struggles.
