Bipartisan Senate Resolution to Support Israel

By 

Nathanael Bennett

|
March 1, 2013

3 min read

Israel

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Israel has long been one of our nation’s closest – and most important – allies.  It is our relationship with Israel that serves as the foundation of our foreign policy in the most volatile region of the world – the Middle East.  Israel has consistently and steadfastly stood with the United States, and has often done so when virtually none its neighbors have joined them.  It is a relationship that the U.S. can ill afford to lose. 

Fortunately, our alliance with Israel has also been something that the vast majority of both Democrats and Republicans have supported.  In an environment where our two political parties agree on very little, support for Israel has run deep within both parties.

That is why it has been so troubling to observe the current Administration adopt a much more combative posture toward Israel.  Over the course of the last four years, the strained relationship between the Obama Administration and Israel has served to embolden Israel’s enemies, and give Israel’s leaders reason to doubt the strength of their alliance with the United States.  This is particularly problematic as Israel faces a rapidly growing threat from an Iranian regime that is closing in on nuclear capabilities.

Given that the President does not appear to fully appreciate the value of our relationship with Israel, we are extremely grateful that Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) have introduced a resolution specifically spelling out the United States’ commitment to Israel.  Among other things, this resolution states that:

  • the policy of the United States is to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon capability and to take such action as may be necessary to implement this policy, and
  • if the Government of Israel is compelled to take military action in self-defense, the United States Government will stand with Israel and provide diplomatic, military, and economic support to the Government of Israel in its defense of its territory, people, and existence.

 It is unfortunate that a resolution like this is even necessary, as the contents of it have long been embraced by a long string of U.S. Presidents from both parties.  It is especially disappointing that we need a resolution like this one at a time when Israel faces so many threats from radical regimes in the region. 

Israel needs the assurance of U.S. support more today than ever before.  With the President failing to provide this assurance, we are hopeful that an overwhelming majority of U.S. Senators will step forward and fill that void by supporting this timely resolution.