Foreign Affairs

Iran

While a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Israel introduced language for consideration for all fiscal year 2011 House Appropriations bills that would require tougher enforcement of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 by federal agencies. The language was included and passed as part of several of the 2011 appropriations bills. A New York Times report in March 2010 found that U.S. companies doing business in Iran had been awarded $107 billion in contract payments, grants and other benefits by the federal government over the last decade. 

Rep. Israel has consistently advocated for the Administration to enforce current sanctions and punish companies that violate American law. Watch Rep. Israel question Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner about enforcement of the Iran Sanctions Act.

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.

Israel

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:

• H.Res. 268 — A resolution that supports an Israeli-Palestinian peace process and opposes Palestinian attempts to seek unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
• H.Res. 244 — A resolution to oppose aid to a Palestinian government that includes Hamas.
• H.R. 1592 —A bill to prohibit U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority if the Palestinians unilaterally declare a Palestinian state.
• H.R. 4133 - The United States -Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012. This bill affirms the deep military ties forged over the years between the U.S. and Israel and reiterates our firm commitment to Israel's security.
• H.R. 4229 - The Iron Dome Support Act. This bill would authorize the President to help Israel procure additional Iron Dome defense systems. The Iron Dome is Israel's key defense against missile barrages by Hamas and Hezbollah in the Gaza Strip and Southern Lebanon.

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.

Iraq & Afghanistan

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.

Darfur

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.

In January 2009, Rep. Israel wrote a letter to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice urging her to resist any U.N. attempts to delay action on the International Criminal Court warrant for the arrest of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir. The bipartisan letter, which was led by Rep. Israel and signed by 22 Members of Congress, also called for a Presidential Envoy to respond to the ongoing crisis in Sudan.

In the 110th Congress (2007-2008), Rep. Israel wrote a provision that was passed in the House of Representatives that takes aim at expanding genocide relief missions in Darfur through an upgrade of the nearby Abeche airfield in Chad. The Abeche airfield, located near the Darfur region of Sudan, is currently used for some limited military transportation and humanitarian operations but may need upgrades to the air strip and hangars to allow for the increased air traffic that would arise through a UN or NATO deployment or expanded relief missions to Darfur. The Department of Defense (DOD) conducted a study on the feasibility of such an expansion, which sent a message to Sudan's President Omar Hassan Ahmed al-Bashir that the United States is interested in expanding the Abeche airfield for genocide relief missions, NATO operations or a possible U.N. deployment to the region.

Helpful Links

• U.S. State Department
• U.S. Agency for International Development
• United Nations