Updates on policy initiatives affecting the Middle East and U.S.-Israel relationship
As America’s leading pro-Israel lobby, AIPAC is closely involved in public policy affecting the Middle East and the U.S.-Israel relationship. AIPAC provides daily updates and analysis on important legislation and policy initiatives.
Lawmakers Criticize Export-Import Bank on Iran
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Eight members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Export-Import Bank criticizing it for its loan guarantees to companies linked to Iran, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported. The bank has underwritten $900 million in loan guarantees to U.S. companies that supply equipment to Reliance Industries, a company that refines gasoline and exports refined petroleum to Iran. “We are deeply concerned about the inadequate attention paid to other vital national interests in the approval of these guarantees,” the letter said. Signatories of the bipartisan letter include Reps. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Howard Berman (D-CA) and Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Ed Royce (R-CA), Steve Israel (D-NY), Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and Ron Klein (D-FL).
217 Lawmakers Urge Robust Foreign Aid Budget
Lawmakers urged Obama to support a robust foreign aid budget.
More than 200 members of Congress – including 51 senators and 166 House members – on Tuesday sent letters to President-elect Barack Obama that urge him to support a robust international affairs budget for fiscal year 2010, which includes critical security assistance for Israel. The letters, led by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Richard Lugar (R-IN) in the Senate and by Reps. Howard Berman (D-CA) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) in the House, reinforce America’s commitment “to invest in the strategic tools that are essential to ensuring our national security, building economic prosperity and demonstrating our moral values.” The international affairs budget directly funds vital security assistance to Israel and thus plays a critical role in ensuring that our America’s close ally has the resources to maintain its qualitative military edge and to defend itself against increasing threats.
U.S. Warns of Dangers of Hizballah Rearmament
Hizballah is amassing thousands of rockets to attack Israel.
A U.S. envoy warned against the ongoing rearmament of the terrorist group Hizballah by Syria and Iran, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reported. “The rearmament of Hizballah through Syria and Iran may re-incite confrontation with Israel, which could destroy Lebanon once again,” said U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Hale on Wednesday during a visit to Beirut. Hale also said the United States aimed to achieve the goal of a “free, sovereign and independent Lebanon,” a task complicated by Syria’s interference in Lebanese affairs and its support for Hizballah. To date, Hizballah has amassed more than 40,000 long- and short-range rockets deployed both north and south of the Litani River—nearly three times more than the number of rockets the terrorist army had before its war with Israel in 2006.
