United States Senator Mike Crapo - Idaho
*Backing Israel in Both
Word and Deed*
The October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on civilians
commands a forceful response.
The world has watched with grief the
accounts of the injuries, tortures, slaughters and takings of
thousands of people, including Americans.
The United States stands
firmly with our ally Israel and backs its right to defend itself.
-
I *co-sponsored, and the Senate unanimously passed, a bipartisan
resolution* introduced [link 1] by fellow Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho)
and Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) expressing solidarity with Israel in the
wake of the Hamas attacks and ongoing operations to safeguard Israeli
citizens.
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We also need to take concrete steps to address Iran's
support of terrorism.
*I co-sponsored two pieces of legislation that
would re-freeze the $6 billion of Iranian assets and block Iran from
accessing them*.
The legislation follows an August letter to the U.S.
Departments of State and Treasury demanding [link 2] answers from the
Biden Administration regarding the release of funds to Iran in
exchange for American prisoners.
We wrote, "The release of such a
significant sum to the Iranian regime . . . will only serve to
encourage additional hostage taking for financial or political
gain."
Additionally, I joined calls [link 3] for a Senate
investigation into the release of $6 billion to Iran.
It has since
been reported that the Biden Administration has agreed to stop Iran
from accessing the $6 billion account, which is a positive step to
ensure no fungible funds are used to perpetrate terrorist acts.
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It is also time to finally stop funding the anti-Israel United Nations
(UN) Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA).
UNRWA has a long history of using textbooks antagonistic to
Israel, and Hamas uses UNRWA schools to store its weapons used to
attack Israel.
For these reasons, *I recently co-sponsored the U.N.
Anti-Terrorism Accountability Act*, which prohibits the U.S. from
making any financial contributions to UNRWA.
Previously, I
co-sponsored Senator Risch's UNRWA Accountability and Transparency
Act, which outlines a comprehensive approach to cease U.S.
contributions to the UNRWA.
-
Finally, the antisemitism we have
seen in our own country is unacceptable and must be condemned.
In
response to the hateful rhetoric and displays on college campuses
around the country, my colleagues and *I **sent a letter* [link 4]*to
Harvard University President demanding that the university condemn the
statement issued by student groups supporting Hamas' attack on
Israel*.
Further, we also sent a letter [link 5] to U.S. Department
of Education Secretary Cardona *urging a swift response to the
increase in violent activities against Jewish students*.
We share
the loss of the Israelis, and we stand with them now unequivocally in
word in deed.
My continued prayers are with the victims and families
of those killed in the senseless October 7 terrorist attacks, as well
as the over 200 individuals still held hostage.
I pray for their safe
return.
You can read my full column on these efforts by visiting
my website:
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[link 6]
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Contact
Information:
Website:
Offices:
239 Dirksen Senate
Building
Washington D.C., 20510
Phone: (202) 224-6142
Idaho
Falls
410 Memorial Drive
Suite 205
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
Phone:
(208) 522-9779
Boise
251 East Front Street
Suite 205
Boise, ID
83702
Phone: (208) 334-1776
Lewiston
313 'D' Street
Suite 105
Lewiston, ID 83501
Phone: (208) 743-1492
Caldwell
524 East
Cleveland Blvd.
Suite 220
Caldwell, ID 83605
Phone: (208)
455-0360
Pocatello
275 South 5th Avenue
Suite 100
Pocatello,
ID 83201
Phone: (208) 236-6775
Coeur d' Alene
610 Hubbard
Street
Suite 209
Coeur d' Alene, ID 83814
Phone: (208) 664-5490
Twin Falls
202 Falls Avenue
Suite 2
Twin Falls, ID 83301
Phone:
(208) 734-2515
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