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US-Israel Relationship  -  Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process  -  Threat from Iran  -  Negotiations with Syria

U.S.-Israel Relationship

"We’re collaborating right now and have been on longer range missile defense systems like Arrow and David’s Sling, and tying Israel into our early warning radar system.  The U.S. and Israel’s top political, defense, and security intelligence officers are engaged in the most consistent, comprehensive consultations ever."
- New York Campaign Event (April 26, 2012)

"I am here to remind you, and I hope you will never forget, that America stands with [Israel] shoulder to shoulder."
- Speech at Tel Aviv University (March 11, 2010)

"In my 34-year career, I have never wavered from the notion that the only time progress has ever been made in the Middle East is when the Arab nations have known that there is no daylight between us and Israel. So the idea of being an ‘honest broker’ is not, as some of my Democratic colleagues call for, the answer. It is being the smart broker; it is being the smart partner."
- Interview with The Forward (March 20, 2007)

Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

"We must lay the foundation for a broader peacemaking effort ... It’s long time passed for us to secure a just, two-state solution. We will work to achieve it. And we'll work to defeat extremists who perpetuate the conflict. And in building on positive elements of the Arab Peace Initiative put forward by Saudi Arabia, we'll work toward a broader regional peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and we'll responsibly draw down our forces that are in Iraq in the process."
- Munich Conference on Security Policy (February 7, 2009)

"Hamas has to decide between bullets and ballots - either it lays down its arms and acts democratically, or it continues as a terrorist organization and is treated as such. It cannot have it both ways ... I would also support alternatives to Hamas. I would urge Palestinian leaders to reform Fatah, to combat corruption and build efficiency. I would use a $20 million fund that I created last year to promote democratic alternatives at the grass roots in the Palestinian areas - a fund the Administration has never used. And I would press the oil-rich Arab states to do the same."
- Interview with The Jerusalem Post (July 5, 2007)

"Hamas's victory [in Palestinian elections] casts a pall on the future of the peace process. Israel cannot be expected to negotiate with a party that calls for its destruction, engages in terrorism, and mantains an armed militia."
- US Senate, Committee on Foreign Affairs (February 15, 2006)

Threat from Iran

"We will not allow the Iranians to get a nuclear weapon."
- Vice Presidential Debate (October 11, 2012)

"Iran is more isolated today than when we took office. It was on the ascendancy when we took office. It is totally isolated."
- Vice Presidential Debate (October 11, 2012)

"...the Iranians are - the Israelis and the United States, our military and intelligence communities are absolutely the same exact place in terms of how close - how close the Iranians are to getting a nuclear weapon. They are a good way away. There is no difference between our view and theirs."
- Vice Presidential Debate (October 11, 2012)

"There is no weapon that the Iranians have at this point. Both the Israelis and we know – we'll know if they start the process of building a weapon."
- Vice Presidential Debate (October 11, 2012)

"War should always be the absolute last resort. That's why these crippling sanctions, which Bibi Netanyahu says we should continue, which...Governor Romney says we should continue...he says they're working. And the fact is that they [the Iranians] are being crippled by them. And we've made it clear, big nations can't bluff. This president doesn't bluff."
- Vice Presidential Debate (October 11, 2012)

"Were I an Israeli, were I a Jew, I would not contract out my security to anyone, even a loyal, loyal, loyal friend like the United States ... I would not contract out my nation’s security, and clearly no Jewish state should ever assume that history had changed so fundamentally that they would do that."
- Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement Convention (May 7, 2012)

"The window has not closed in terms of the ability of the Israelis if they choose on their own to act militarily ... But diplomacy backed by serious, serious sanctions and pressure – on that score the window is closing in the near term."
- Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement Convention (May 7, 2012)

"Iran has acted in ways that are not conducive to peace in the region or to the prosperity of its own people. Its illicit nuclear program is but one of those manifestations ... [Our administration] will be willing to talk to Iran and to offer a very clear choice: Continue down the current course and there will be continued pressure and isolation; abandon the illicit nuclear program and your support for terrorism, and there will be meaningful incentives."
- Munich Conference on Security Policy (February 7, 2009)

"I stand with the many citizens – from the U.S. and around the world – who are concerned at the prospect of Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Nuclear proliferation is a grave concern to international stability, and in the hands of the sponsors of terrorism, is entirely unacceptable."
- Statement to the Israel Project (July 19, 2007)

"Iran with the bomb could spark an arms race in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Syria joining in. Given the fault lines - between Sunni and Shia, Israelis and Palestinians, Persians and Arabs, Turks and Kurds, fundamentalists and moderates - that's the last thing we need. And it's the last thing Israel needs ... We need a policy that isolates Iran, not America and tips the balance in Iran against pursuing nuclear weapons."
- Interview with The Jerusalem Post (June 7, 2007)

"Force must be the last option because it's a bad option ... The only thing worse than a poorly planned intentional war is an unplanned unintentional war."
- Interview with The Jerusalem Post (June 7, 2007)

Negotiations with Syria

"There are plenty of reasons to mistrust Assad, but there could be real benefits to hard-headed diplomacy. Syria is the common denominator of many problems - in Lebanon , the Palestinian territories, and to a lesser extent Iraq. They are Iran 's closest ally. But it is also a fundamentally weak and isolated regime. We should work to break up its marriage of convenience with Iran. If Syria could be encouraged to act less irresponsibly it could have a real impact in the region."
- Interview with The Jerusalem Post (August 8, 2007)

"It is a mistake not to let Israel, if it wishes to, if it sees an opportunity, to go out and explore possibilities with the Syrians. If I’m in Damascus, what’s in my best interest? My best interest is to be free of Iran’s yoke, on the good side of the equation with the oil-producing Sunni states, and able to deliver for my people what appears to be a victory by having a settlement on the Golan. Now, whether that can be accomplished remains to be seen, but it should be explored."
- Interview with The Forward (March 20, 2007)

UNITED STATES SENATE (1973-2008):

US-Israel Relations   -   Jerusalem   -   Terrorism   -   Peace Process   -   Anti-Semitism   -   Iran

 

US-Israel Cooperation:

- Co-sponsored SR-189 in October 1973.

The bill called for the continued transfer of Phantom aircraft and other military equipment to Israel as it is policy of the United States to maintain Israel's deterrent strength. SR-189: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SR-255 in December 1981.   

This bill expresses the Senate’s sense that Ziad Abu Eain should be remanded to the custory of Israeli officials and that the Secretary of State should take actions necessary to ensure his extradition to Israel. SR-255: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-31 in November 1995.   

Condemns the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Extends condolences to his family and to all the people of Israel. Expresses admiration for his historic contributions and support for the government of Acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres. Reaffirms a commitment to the process of building a just and lasting peace between Israel and its neighbors. Provides for the adjournment of the Senate as a further mark of respect for Rabin. SCR-31: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SJR-46 in April 1998.

Recognizes the historic significance of the 50th anniversary of the reestablishment of the State of Israel. Commends the Israeli people for their achievements in building a new state and a pluralistic democratic society in the Middle East. Reaffirms the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the United States and Israel. Extends congratulations and best wishes to the State of Israel and her people for a peaceful, prosperous, and successful future. SJR-46: CLICK HERE
      (Similar Legislation: Co-sponsored SR-463 in May 2006 - CLICK HERE;
                                        Co-sponsored SR-522 in April 2008 - CLICK HERE)

- Sponsored SR-142 in April 2007.   

Joins people around the world in observing Yom Hashoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, and mourning the millions who were lost during the Holocaust. Commends the US, UK, Israel, Poland, and the Netherlands as the member countries of the International Commission of the International Tracing Service that have ratified the May 2006 amendments to the Agreement Constituting an International Commission for the International Tracing Service (Bonn Accords).  SR-142: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SR-188 in May 2007.   

Supports Israel's accession to the Convention on the OECD and calls on the US government to advocate for such accession before and during the OECD ministerial meeting in May 2007. SR-188: CLICK HERE

Jerusalem:

- Co-sponsored S-2031 in October 1983.   

Requires that the U.S. Embassy in Israel and the residence of the American Ambassador to Israel shall be located in Jerusalem.  S-2031: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-106 in March 1990.

Acknowledges that Jerusalem is and should remain the capital of the State of Israel. Declares that Jerusalem must remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic religious group are protected. Calls upon all parties involved in the search for peace to maintain their efforts to bring about negotiations between Israel and Palestinian representatives. SCR-106: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-113 in June 1992.

Congratulates the residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel on the 25th anniversary of the reunification of that city. Urges that Jerusalem remain an undivided city in which the religious rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected and that the President and Secretary of State should issue an unequivocal statement in support of such principle. SCR-113: CLICK HERE
      (Similar Legislation: Co-sponsored SCR-21 in April 1997 - CLICK HERE)

- Co-sponsored S-770 (Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Implementation Act) in May 1995.

Declares it is U.S. policy that: (1) Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the State of Israel; and (2) construction of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem should begin no later than December 31, 1996, and officially open no later than May 31, 1999. Requires the Secretary of State to report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on progress made toward opening the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. S-770: CLICK HERE
      (Similar Legislation: Co-sponsored S-1322 in October 1995 - CLICK HERE;
                                        Co-sponsored S-1323 in October 1995 - CLICK HERE)

Terrorism:

- Co-sponsored SR-324 in May 1974.

Declares it to be the sense of the Senate that it most strongly condemns all acts of terrorism; and that the President and the Secretary of State are urged to call upon all governments to condemn inhuman acts of violence against innocent victims and to strongly urge the countries where these groups and individuals are found to take appropriate action to rid their countries of those who subvert the peace through terroism and senseless violence. SR-324: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-72 (Counter-Terrorism Act) in March 1978.

The bill condemns terrorism in Egypt, Israel, and Jordan and extended Congressional condolences to victims of such attacks. The bill also declared that the President should: intensify efforts of the executive branch to counter international terrorism; report to Congress on the implementation of laws regarding terrorism; report to Congress on the activities of the Palestine Liberation Organization office in New York; and, report to specified Congressional committees the names of nations which furnish assistance to the PLO. SCR-72: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SR-228 in February 1996.

Condemns the terror attacks in Jerusalem and Ashkelon. Calls upon the Palestinian Authority and Chairman Arafat to apprehend the perpetrators of terror attacks, to do more to prevent such acts in the future, and to eschew all statements and gestures which signal tolerance for such acts and their perpetrators. Calls on the PA to take all possible action to eliminate terrorist activities by Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Urges the Clinton Administration to act against those who continue to harbor, arm, or finance terror groups seeking to undermine the peace process. SR-228: CLICK HERE

- Sponsored SCR-88 in December 2001.

Condemns the terrorist murders of 26 innocent people in Israel within 14 hours during December 1-2, 2001, and extends the deepest sympathies of Congress to Israel and to the families of the victims. Expresses outrage at the ongoing Palestinian terrorist campaign and insists that the Palestinian Authority take all necessary steps to end it. Urges the President to suspend all relations with Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority if they fail to take specified action to stop Palestinian terrorist groups from committing acts of terrorism. Expresses U.S. solidarity with Israel in their struggle against terrorism. SCR-88: CLICK HERE
      (Similar Legislation: Co-sponsored SR-247 in April 2002 - CLICK HERE)

- Co-sponsored S-2370 (Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act) in March 2006.

Calls on the US to: Support a peaceful, two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and oppose those organizations, individuals, and countries that support terrorism and violently reject such two-state solution; Promote democracy and the cessation of terrorism and incitement in institutions and territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority; and Urge members of the international community to avoid contact with and refrain from financially supporting the terrorist organization Hamas until it agrees to recognize Israel, renounce violence, disarm, and accept prior agreements. S-2370: CLICK HERE
      (Similar Legislation: Co-sponsored SR-534 in July 2006 - CLICK HERE)

Peace Process:

- Co-sponsored SR-374 in April 1982.

This bill commended the completion of the Camp David Agreement between Israel and Egypt.  Specifically, the bill commends Israel for completing the Israeli withdrawal from the Sinai Peninsula in accordance with the Camp David Accords.  Finally, it expresses confidence that Israel and Egypt will continue normalizing relations. SR-374: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SR-406 in May 1982.

Expresses the sense of the Senate that the United States: (1) should not sell advanced weapons to Jordan; (2) should ensure that Israel retains its qualitative military edge in the Middle East; and (3) should focus its efforts on bringing Jordan into direct peace negotiations with Israel. SR-406: CLICK HERE
      (Similar Legislation: Co-sponsored SR-72 in February 1983 - CLICK HERE;
                                        Co-sponsored SJR-223 in October 1985 - CLICK HERE;
                                        Co-sponsored SR-177 in June 1985 - CLICK HERE)

- Co-sponsored SR-148 in May 1983.

Expresses the support of the Senate for Lebanon's and Israel's agreement on arrangements for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon. Urges Syria and the Palestine Liberation Organization to agree to the arrangements for the withdrawal of their forces from Lebanon. SR-148: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-142 in September 1988.

Congratulates Israel and Egypt for a decade of peace based upon the Camp David accords. Calls upon other Arab states and Palestinians to join in the peace process, renounce the state of war and acts of violence, and enter into direct negotiations with Israel to achieve a lasting peace. SCR-142: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-16 in March 1991.

Expresses the sense of the Congress that all Arab nations should recognize Israel, end the economic boycott against Israel, end the state of belligerency with Israel, and enter into direct negotiations with Israel for the purpose of concluding peace treaties and establishing full diplomatic relations. SCR-16: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-5 in February 1999.

Declares that the final political status of the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority can only be determined through negotiations and agreement between Israel and that any attempt to establish Palestinian statehood outside the negotiating process will invoke the strongest congressional opposition. Urges the President to unequivocally assert U.S. opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state. SCR-5: CLICK HERE

Anti-Semitism:

- Co-sponsored SCR-73 in November 1975.

Condemns the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly which equates Zionism with racism; opposes participation by the United States Government in the Decade for Action to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination; calls for reconsideration of the Zionism resolution; and directs the International Relations and Foreign Relations Committees to begin hearings immediately to reassess the United States' further participation in the UNGA. SCR-73: CLICK HERE
      (Similar Legislation: Co-sponsored SR-288 in October 1975 - CLICK HERE;
                                         Co-sponsored SJR-205 in November 1987 - CLICK HERE;
                                         Co-sponsored SJR-110 in March 1991 - CLICK HERE)

- Co-sponsored SR-214 in July 1975.

Expresses the disapproval of the United States Senate of attempts to expel Israel for the United Nations. States that if Israel is expelled the Senate will review United States commitments to the Third World nations involved in the expulsion and will consider the implication of continued membership in the United Nations. SR-214: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SR-240 in September 2005.

Urges the President to direct the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to continue working toward further reduction of anti-Semitic language and anti-Israel resolutions. Calls on projects funded through the Middle East Partnership Initiative and U.S. overseas broadcasts to include efforts to educate Arab and Muslim countries about anti-Semitism, religious intolerance, and incitement to violence. SR-240: CLICK HERE

Iran:

- Co-sponsored S-994 (Iran and Libya Sanctions Extension Act) in June 2001.

Iran and Libya Sanctions Extension Act of 2001 - Amends the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996 to extend it for another five-year period. S-994: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SR-304 in February 2004.   

This bill urged the United States to not support the elections in Iran scheduled to take place in February 2004, as such elections stifle the growth of the democratic forces in Iran and do not serve the national security interest of the United States.  The policy of the US should be to advocate a democratic government in Iran that will restore freedom to the people of Iran, will abandon terrorism, will protect human rights, and will live in peace and security with the international community.  SR-304: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SCR-78 in January 2006.   

Condemns Iran's many failures to comply with its nuclear nonproliferation obligations, including its obligations under the Safeguards Agreement, its suspension commitments under the Paris Agreement, and prior commitments to the EU-3 to suspend all enrichment- and reprocessing-related activities. Urges the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors at its February 2006 special meeting to order that Iran's noncompliance be reported to the U.N. Security Council.  SCR-78: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored SR-633 in December 2006.   

Condemns the December 2006 conference denying the Holocaust's existence that will take place in Iran under the aegis of the Foreign Ministry of Iran. Calls on the President, on behalf of the United States, to repudiate in the strongest terms such conference and its goal of denying the Holocaust's existence. SR-633: CLICK HERE

- Co-sponsored S-1430 (Iran Sanctions Enabling Act) in May 2007.

The bill directs the Secretary of Treasury to publish a list of people and organizations, both within or outside the United States, that have direct investment of more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector. It also states that it is US policy to support the decision of governments and educational institutions to divest from those on the list. S-1430: CLICK HERE