Foreign Affairs |
Iran | Israel | Iraq & Afghanistan | Darfur | Links Iran In December 2009 Rep. Israel vote yes on the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2009 (H.R.2194). In October 2009 Rep. Israel voted for H.Res.175, which condemned the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights. Rep. Israel co-sponsored and voted for the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. This legislation, which has since become law, imposed mandatory financial sanctions, expanded energy sanctions and sanctions on Iran’s human rights violators, supported states’ divestment efforts, and prohibited the issuance of licenses for nuclear cooperation. He also co-led a bipartisan letter to the Government of India protesting the trade delegation it was sending to Iran, and co-sponsored H.Res.568- A resolution affirming that it is U.S. policy to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability. Rep. Israel is one of the leading voices in Congress supporting Israel. He believes the United States should continue our commitment to pursuing peace in the Middle East and defending our allies. In the 112th Congress (2011-2012), Rep. Israel is a co-sponsor of the following:
In May 2011, Rep. Israel led a bi-partisan letter to the Prime Minister of Turkey urging the Turkish government to intervene and stop a second flotilla from departing for Gaza. “Another so-called aid flotilla to Gaza is nothing but an attempt to provoke Israel. The Turkish government can help prevent violence by saying ‘no.’ We are urging Prime Minister Erdoğan to actively work to put a stop to this and join with Israel in providing real humanitarian assistance to Gaza,” said Rep. Israel. Rep. Israel has also worked to shut down the smuggling tunnels between Egypt and Gaza. From his position on the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee, Rep. Israel has worked to provide assistance to the region so that these tunnels can be shut down and the supply of weapons that threaten Israel and harm civilians can be minimized. Congressman Israel recently led a letter to the President of the International Olympic Committee with Rep. Richard Hanna and 21 of their colleauges expressing disappointment with the IOC's decision to reject requests for a moment of silence during the London Olympic Games in memory of the 1972 Munich victims and urging the IOC to reverse their decision. Rep. Israel has made multiple visits to Iraq and Afghanistan to meet with U.S. Armed Forces and top military commanders. In May 2011, he visited Iraq as part of a bipartisan Congressional Delegation to to assess progress on redeployment, thank U.S. troops in the region and to meet with Iraqi and U.S. officials. In December 2009, he visited Afghanistan as the leader of a Congressional Delegation trip. During that visit he met with General Stanly McChrystal, the Commander of U.S. Forces Afghanistan, to discuss U.S. strategy and policy for Afghanistan. Rep. Israel has been a leading voice in Congress raising awareness about the genocide in Darfur and working to provide assistance through his position on the House Appropriations State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee. For more on the Congressman's work on Darfur, click here. |