The Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim, representing over 950 American rabbis — calls upon the United States House of Representatives to reject HR 2590 which would undermine Israel’s security and jeopardize peace in the Middle East.
As millions of Israelis huddle in bomb shelters because Hamas and PIJ rockets are raining down on Israeli population centers, there is a disturbing development in Congress. A few members of the United States House of Representatives are contemplating introducing drastic legislation under HR 2590 which would undermine Israel’s security and jeopardize peace in the Middle East. This legislation is a flawed foreign policy which would place Israel, America’s trusted ally in the Middle East, in harm’s way.
Rabbi Mendy Mirocznik, Executive Vice-President of the Rabbinical Alliance of America, stated, “the value of the U.S. relationship with Israel is at risk with this proposed legislation. America and Israel work very closely every day and America must stand by and support her allies and friends. America must state clearly and unambiguously that it will support Israel’s right to maintain domestic security. Conditioning aid to Israel signals Israel’s enemies to attack civilians and thereby undermines the peace and stability in this volatile region of the world. Plainly put, it would deprive the United States of its most capable and committed partner and would at the same time endanger both Israeli and Palestinian civilians by emboldening terrorist activities.
“An attempt by Congress to institutionalize such provision as law would establish a dangerous precedent that foreign aid to Israel can be used as a partisan weapon. The U.S.-Israel security relationship is too important to fall victim to the instabilities of domestic partisan politics. Following the 1973 Yom Kippur War, American strategists realized a stronger Israel was the best deterrent against large-scale regional conflicts. Now, as the United States seeks to reduce its footprint in the region, supporting Israel is one means towards ensuring regional stability without sending additional U.S. troops abroad. Israel has spearheaded efforts to restrain an increasingly aggressive Iran, deterring Tehran’s proxies on numerous fronts. It should be assisted in these efforts, not reprimanded. U.S. assistance is used by Israel to defend itself as a sovereign, free State and defeat these shared threats. Attempts to reduce this assistance by placing conditions on it, particularly conditions based on an inaccurate understanding of the situation in the region, would endanger U.S. strategic interests and allow the Middle East to grow even more unstable, leading to potentially more violence inside Israel. Security assistance also enables Israel to take risks when pursuing peace with its neighbors, in that it knows that, should a given dynamic with a partner go awry, it has a credible commitment that the United States will support Israel’s right to self-defense.
“At a time when the Jewish community in the United States faces increasing anti-Semitism, it is shameful that the House of Representatives is even considering singling out the Jewish state for reduced or conditional aid.”
Therefore, the Rabbinical Alliance of America calls upon the United States House of Representatives to reject HR 2590 in its entirety and support Israel in its attempts to foster peace in the Middle East.