This harmful initiative would hurt Israel's ability to defend itself, by itself, and undermines the very principles that have led to Arab-Israeli agreements.
The bill claims to stop U.S. aid from being used for annexation, however current law already prevents Israel from using our aid for annexation. It would restrict Israel from deploying life-saving missile defense systems like Iron Dome, protecting its citizens from terror attacks, defending its eastern border, and protecting all of Jerusalem—including the Western Wall & Temple Mount.
Threatening Israel’s security has never, and will never, lead to peace.
We believe, and history has shown, that peace can only come when Israel feels secure in the context of a rock-solid U.S.-Israel alliance.
Below you'll find more news we're following, along with an invitation to join this week’s AIPAC Engage briefing with Israeli innovators working to treat and cure COVID-19.
Sincerely,
Brian Shankman
Director of Regional Affairs and Development
AIPAC Briefing: Solving the Plastic Problem
Featuring: Sharon Barak, Solutum Ltd. Co-Founder and CTO (6 minutes)
Solutum is an innovative cleantech start-up that targets one of the world’s major challenges—plastic pollution. Sharon Barak, Co-Founder and CTO of Solutum Ltd., talks about the unique compound her company created that replaces plastic with a cost-efficient, strong and eco-friendly solution.
AIPAC Statement on Arms Embargo Resolution
Last week's rejection by the United Nations Security Council of the U.S. resolution to extend the arms embargo on Iran dangerously serves to further empower the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism.
Supplying arms to the Iranian regime threatens to further destabilize the region and is contrary to the security interests of the United States and our allies. Iran remains the principal obstacle to peace and stability in the Middle East.
Even under the constraints of the arms embargo, Iran has continued its malign behavior by attacking American troops and its regional neighbors and supporting terrorism.
We appreciate the efforts of the Trump Administration to extend the embargo.
We also thank the overwhelming bipartisan majorities in Congress that expressed strong support for extending the embargo. Now, the U.S. must explore additional options to ensure that Iran will not be allowed to further arm itself and its terrorist allies.
Israel and UAE Launch Direct Phone Lines
The Times of Israel
Following last week's agreement to establish full diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, telephone service between Israel and the UAE began working Sunday.
Journalists in Jerusalem and Dubai were able to call each other from both landline and cellular phones, and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan called Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabi Ashkenazi.
Additionally, Israel's President Reuven Rivlin invited the Crown Prince of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to visit Israel.
Read AIPAC's statement on this diplomatic breakthrough.
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