Washington – Two thirds of US House members sign a letter of support for Israel.
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Three hundred and twenty-seven members of the House of Representatives signed a letter addressed to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in which they expressed their concern over the tensions between the US and Israel, declared their support for Israel and called on the Obama Administration to commit the security of the Jewish state.
Letter from members of Congress
Dear Secretary Clinton:
We are writing to reaffirm our commitment to the unbreakable bond that exists between our country and the State of Israel and to express to you our deep concern over recent tension. In every important relationship, there will be occasional misunderstandings and conflicts.
The announcement during Vice President Biden’s visit was, as Israel’s Prime Minister said in an apology to the United States, “a regrettable incident that was done in all innocence and was hurtful, and which certainly should not have occurred.” We are reassured that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s commitment to put in place new procedures will ensure that such surprises, however unintended, will not recur.
The United States and Israel are close allies whose people share a deep and abiding friendship based on a shared commitment to core values including democracy, human rights and freedom of the press and religion. Our two countries are partners in the fight against terrorism and share an important strategic relationship.
A strong Israel is an asset to the national security of the United States and brings stability to the Middle East. We are concerned that the highly publicized tensions in the relationship will not advance the interests the U.S. and Israel share. Above all, we must remain focused on the threat posed by the Iranian nuclear weapons program to Middle East peace and stability.
From the moment of Israel’s creation, successive U.S. administrations have appreciated the special bond between the U.S. and Israel.
For decades, strong, bipartisan Congressional support for Israel, including security assistance and other important measures, have been eloquent testimony to our commitment to Israel’s security, which remains unswerving.
It is the very strength of this relationship that has, in fact, made Arab-Israeli peace agreements possible, both because it convinced those who sought Israel?s destruction to abandon any such hope and because it gave successive Israeli governments the confidence to take calculated risks for peace.
In its declaration of independence 62 years ago, Israel declared: “We extend our hand to all neighboring states and their peoples in an offer of peace and good neighborliness, and appeal to them to establish bonds of cooperation and mutual help with the sovereign Jewish people settled in its own land.”
In the decades since, despite constantly having to defend itself from attack, Israel has repeatedly made good on that pledge by offering to undertake painful risks to reach peace with its neighbors.
Our valuable bilateral relationship with Israel needs and deserves constant reinforcement.
As the Vice-President said during his recent visit to Israel: “Progress occurs in the Middle East when everyone knows there is simply no space between the U.S. and Israel when it comes to security, none. No space.”
Steadfast American backing has helped lead to Israeli peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan. And American involvement continues to be critical to the effort to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
We recognize that, despite the extraordinary closeness between our country and Israel, there will be differences over issues both large and small.
Our view is that such differences are best resolved quietly, in trust and confidence, as befits longstanding strategic allies. We hope and expect that, with mutual effort and good faith, the United States and Israel will move beyond this disruption quickly, to the lasting benefit of both nations.
We believe, as President Obama said, that “Israel’s security is paramount” in our Middle East policy and that “it is in U.S. national security interests to assure that Israel?s security as an independent Jewish state is maintained.”
In that spirit, we look forward to working with you to achieve the common objectives of the U.S. and Israel, especially regional security and peace.
Sincerely,
STENY HOYER ERIC CANTOR
HOWARD L. BERMAN ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN
GARY ACKERMAN DAN BURTO
just letters and no actions means nothing.
Jimmy carter was better for the jews.
Where can we see a list of the congressmen that signed? Are there Jews that did not sign? Are there representatives that cover Jewish areas (like the 5 towns) that did not sign?
Too little, too late.
Did Chuckie Schumer sign?
Its about time!
We should do the right things and I am sure God will help us. We will have freedom. Lets pray to Hasham.
what about telling her she lied to the ny jewish community when she said she supports an undivided jerusalem..she is a lier from day # 1.. a pure anti-semite….
it’s beyond me why we don’t come out strong and say the truth about obama that he should stop playing out his real inner jermy wright feeling about sreal I believe jews where never in such danger as of now with obama he is a muslim and we need to hold him down what a bum
Who cares who did not sign, and what does it matter?
We have emuna that Jerusalem wil be rebuilt. The fact is its happening in our days. We are waiting every day for the geula shleima. We hope this month of Nissen the geulah will come again.
2/3 means that over 100 did NOT sign. Hopefully because it was Shabbes (except in the case of Schumer).
Obama can’t care less about congress they are his pawns to bully around
Its the same Clinton who was silent when Mrs.Arafat claim that isreal poisoned the arabs
One hundred sixty three members did NOT sign. Does that tell us something .
Is this in the mainstream media. I didn’t see it on Drudge or CBS. When was it signed?
Indeed, Schumer is a Senator and therefore did not sign. However, let’s see if he puts on paper and transcribes a letter for all the senators to sign in addition to the House. After all, he is jewish and “speaks’ of being pro Israel. His actions will speak louder than words.
By the way, I hope that Hilliary’s new future son-in-law (Marc Mezvinsky–jewish) also takes the time to write a letter to his future mother-in-law to find favor for the jewish state.
Pelosi is not on the list
Can anyone tell me why Schumer, Gillerbrand & Yvette Clark are not screaming at Obama & Clinton for the disrespectful treatment that Obama did to Netanyahu & all Jews last week? Their silence is deafining. For that matter ist here any chance of someone seriously getting them out of office?
Its time to send ObamaClinton a message. Vote Republucan for every political race this November, even for dog catcher.
It’s interesting to note that only the House issued this letter of support for EY.
I wonder why the Senate has not done a similar gesture.
A list of who signed (or a link to the letter with signatures) would be helpful for those of us who feel that we should get out of the area completely. There is no peace to be had between Israel and Palestine why are we wasting our inflated dollars.
I have no ill will towards either country but enough is enough. I would like to know who signed so that I can make sure that I won’t vote for them, simple as that. I think we could better use the money to pay down our huge debt.