United States and Israel
                                                                                                                                            
The United States has a moral and strategic interest in a strong, secure and viable Israel.

The special relationship between the United States and Israel is based on shared values and a commitment to democratic principles. Israel is a democracy and values human rights, having been created not only out of biblical history, but also out of the worst violation of human rights in recent centuries - the Holocaust.  Israel remains the only true democracy in the Middle East; therefore it is in the critical interest of the United States to strongly support Israel and its people.

The United States has a strategic interest in many parts of the world where ally countries share similar values and goals and can cooperate in advancing mutual interests, such as promoting commerce and fighting terrorism.  Israel and the United States have a long and valued history of mutual economic and trade interests, shared research goals and programs in the biotech, medical, information and energy sectors and many common diplomacy objectives.

The United States must continue to support the defense of Israel, including honoring its foreign aid commitments as set forth in the August 2007 Memorandum of Understanding on U.S. Military Assistance. Further, our nations must work jointly to eliminate domestic and international terrorism and to stop the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.

The elimination of terrorism and the reduction of the spread of weapons of mass destruction require the United States, Israel and other countries to unify around a strategy to induce Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program and to cease the support of terrorist organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah.  A nuclear armed Iran will create serious instability in the region and will likely cause a nuclear arms race in the area. If Iran continues to defy the UN’s resolutions, then additional pressure should be applied by all nations to embargo refined oil products into Iran.  It is in every nation’s interests to stop nuclear proliferation and state sponsored terrorism.  The United States should be prepared to sanction energy companies that invest in Iranian energy sector or violate any embargo of refined oil products into Iran.  As the prime sponsor of Hamas, Iran must be considered a threat to peace and must cease their support of terrorist organizations.  As a member of Congress I will vote for, sponsor, or co-sponsor resolutions and laws to effect these policies.

The Palestinian – Israeli conflict requires a solution based on the two-state strategy which can best be achieved through the resumption of bilateral negotiations between the Palestinian Authority and Israel.  The United States should be the principle convener and mediator while continuing to be friend and supporter of Israel.  The United States should seek to reduce Hamas’s influence, while strengthening the Palestinian Authority.  Efforts to seek a peace settlement would be advanced by other Arab States normalizing relations with Israel and assisting moderate Palestinians who are committed to peace.

Israel and the United States both have well developed technology sectors that have and should continue to interact.  The economies of both countries have benefited from the bilateral trade, investment and educational programs that have been developed since Israel was established as a nation.  The United States should encourage these relationships and take steps to enhance them. Of particular importance at this moment is the biotech, solar energy, and water conservation technologies that Israeli companies have developed. 

I am honored to have visited Israel twice and am proud to be among its staunchest supporters.