A PROUD SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL

Since its founding, Israel and the United States have always been natural friends and allies because of our shared commitment to freedom and our common values. Having served as a paratrooper in the Middle East, I understand just how vital an ally Israel is in the fight against terrorism. If the values of democracy and freedom are to prevail, the relationship between the U.S. and Israel must remain strong. In Congress, I will always work to foster and maintain the special relationship between America and Israel.”

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Fighting Anti-Semitic Boycotts of Israel

Introduced a Resolution Condemning the Decision by the University and College Union (UCU) of the United Kingdom to Support a Boycott of Israeli Academia (H. Res. 467)

• The UCU is one of the largest unions in Britain, and it is imperative that we fight against this misguided decision.
  
  
• Rep. Murphy’s resolution condemns the UCU’s anti-Semitic boycott and urges governments and educators throughout the world to reaffirm the importance of academic freedom and open dialogue.
  
  
• This resolution has 70 cosponsors, both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the support of local and national Jewish and Pro-Israel groups. The resolution passed the House on July 11, 2007 by a vote of 414-0.

Getting Tough on Iran

Co-Sponsor of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act

• Congressman Murphy is a co-sponsor of H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act, a bill empowering the President to impose new economic sanctions on foreign firms involved in the export of gasoline and other refined petroleum products to Iran.
  
  
• Iran currently lacks the refining capacity to meet domestic consumption and must import as much as 40% of its gasoline from abroad.
  
  
• The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support on December 15, 2009 by a vote of 412-12.

Co-Sponsor of the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act

• Congressman Murphy co-sponsored the Iran Counter-Proliferation Act, a bill placing stricter limits on U.S. exports to Iran and prohibiting all Iranian imports. It forbids nuclear cooperation between the United States and any nation that provides nuclear assistance to Iran.
  
  
• This bill highlights a pragmatic way forward to slow, and possibly stop, the Iranian weapons programs that could present a grave threat to the U.S. and its allies in the Middle East, Europe, and around the globe.
  
  
• The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support on September 25, 2007 by a vote of 397-16.

Co-Sponsor of the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act

• Congressman Murphy is a co-sponsor of H.R. 1327, the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act. This tough legislation empowers state and local governments to pressure the Iranian regime by divesting their pension fund assets from companies with investments of $20 million or more in Iran’s energy sector.
  
  
• The legislation also makes it easier for investment firms and pension funds to divest funds from these companies without risking legal action, and would support divestment efforts in states, localities, and at universities.
  
  
• The bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support on September 25, 2007 by a vote of 397-16 and again on October 14, 2009 by a vote of 414-6.

Condemning Calls to “Wipe Israel Off the Map”

• Congressman Murphy is a co-sponsor of and voted for H.Res. 435, a resolution urging that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad be charged with violating the 1948 Genocide Convention and the UN Charter because of his calls for the destruction of Israel.
  
  
• During his most notorious address on this topic at the 2005 World Without Zionism Conference in Tehran, Ahmadinejad urged that Israel be “wiped off of the map.” The 1948 Genocide Convention not only prohibits genocide, but also prohibits “direct and public incitement to commit genocide.” This resolution passed the House on June 20, 2007 by a vote of 411-2.

Cracking Down on Hezbollah and Hamas

Stopping Illegal Arms Trafficking to Hezbollah

• Congressman Murphy signed a letter to then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking her to work with the United Nations to give the UN force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) the mandate it needs to stop illegal arms flows across the Syrian border to Hezbollah.
  
  
• Under UN Security Council Res. 1701, UNIFIL cannot engage Hezbollah forces transferring arms across the Syrian border without a specific request from Lebanon. To date, no such requests have been made. This letter encouraged Secretary Rice to work within the UN Security Council to give more authority to the UNIFIL force.

Pressuring Europe to Crack Down on Hezbollah

• Congressman Murphy signed a letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy urging him to encourage the European Union to add Hezbollah to the EU’s terror list.
  
  
• Such action would effectively bar Hezbollah from fundraising in Europe, freeze Hezbollah’s European assets, and thwart Hezbollah from continuing to use the European banking system as a conduit for channeling money from Iran.
  
  
• On March 10, 2005, the EU Parliament voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution that affirmed Hezbollah's involvement in terrorist activities and ordered the EU Council to "take all necessary steps to curtail" Hezbollah. Despite this action, the EU has failed to place Hezbollah on its list.

Putting Political Pressure on the Hamas-Led Palestinian Government

• Congressman Murphy signed a letter to the High Representative of the European Union requesting that the EU not provide any aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government.
  
  
• A quartet composed of the United States, EU, the United Nations, and Russia agreed upon a series of conditions that would be required before a Hamas-led Palestinian government would be eligible for economic assistance, as well as recognition by the international community. In a statement on February 2, the quartet reiterated its call for the Palestinian government to adhere to the basic principles of renunciation of violence, recognition of Israel, and acceptance of previous agreements (including the Roadmap).
  
  
• Hamas leaders have refused to agree to these basic conditions, and Rep. Murphy believes that it is imperative that the world speak with a unified voice that this is unacceptable- and that we must collectively keep the pressure on Hamas by withholding aid.

Working to Reengage America in the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

America’s Voice has been Absent in the Mid-East Peace Process for Far Too Long

• Congressman Murphy was an original cosponsor of a H. Res. 143, a resolution that urged the President to appoint a Special Envoy for Middle East peace.
  
  
• This resolution states that it is in America’s interest, as well as the world’s, to bring an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict that has devastated an entire region of the world and cost countless lives.
  
  
• The resolution states that if the U.S. fails to act, some other state, perhaps with hostile intentions, may seek to fill the void.
  
  
• Congressman Murphy strongly believes that we must work together to solve this conflict, and that this resolution is a small step in the right direction.

Creating a Strategic Partnership Between the U.S. and Israel

Co-Sponsor of the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act

• As part of our effort to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, the U.S. government should encourage the American and Israeli private sectors and academia to work cooperatively for the development of alternative and efficient-energy technologies.
  
  
• Congressman Murphy is a co-sponsor of the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Act, H.R. 1838, which would create a grant program administered by the Department of Energy to provide support for joint venture research into the development of alternative energy sources and technologies which make our use of traditional energy sources more efficient.

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