U.S. - Israel Relationship

U.S. - Israel Relationship

The United States and Israel share a special bond, derived not only from our common democratic values, religious affinities and security interests but a shared origin, rising up against overwhelming odds to achieve freedom and independence.  It is this bond that makes the U.S.-Israeli relationship so special, and one I have sought to strengthen in my capacity as co-chairman of the House Republican Israel Caucus, as a member U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, and as the Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee’s Taskforce on Foreign Policy.

Last year, I had the privilege to travel to Israel with my colleagues to see firsthand the importance of this relationship. This visit reaffirmed my position in support of continuing the U.S.’s long history of providing friendship and foreign aid.  

As both Israel and the U.S. remain targets of threats from nations harboring terrorists, and as Iran grows closer to developing nuclear weapons, it is imperative that we maintain a close relationship in order to protect our own security and the security of the region. We must send a message that we support the Jewish State of Israel and stand with them as they deal with the growing unrest in the region and threats from neighboring nations.

In addition, I have firmly called for the revocation and rejection of the “Goldstone Report” - a UN report accusing the Israeli military of deliberately attacking civilians, while ignoring extensive evidence of war crimes by Hamas and other violent Islamist groups. I also support the U.S.-Israel Energy Cooperative Agreement, which facilitates greater cooperation and sharing of knowledge between American and Israeli universities on alternative energy. Finally, I believe in giving U.S. citizens born in Jerusalem the right to list their birthplace as Israel on their passports – modifying current policy that only allows for Jerusalem to be listed.