The year 2019 was a year of notable anniversaries, some of which helped define the Jewish people and the State of Israel over the past century.
2019 marked 75 years since the liberation of the first Nazi concentration camp …50 years since the election of Golda Meir as the first female prime minister of Israel …40 years since the Israel-Egypt peace treaty.
While these events shaped the way we contextualize Israel, 2019 also marks anniversaries that framed how we think about the Middle East.
Forty years ago, Iran became an Islamic Republic, sparking Iran’s Islamic Revolution. That same year, armed civilians overthrew the House of Saud, empowering a new Saudi king and oppressive enforcement of Islamic law.
With Iran positioned as the leader of Shia Islam and Saudi Arabia as the leader of Sunni Islam, the Shia-Sunni conflict escalated and has enflamed the region for the past 40 years.
Yet, amidst perpetual turmoil, Israel has remained an anchor of stability and a valued partner for the United States in a region full of growing threats.
The U.S. Israel relationship is built on shared values and interests, dedicated to rule of law, human rights, and freedoms of speech and religion.
But this vital U.S.-Israel partnership—critical for bolstering Israel’s ability to defend itself and advancing American interests in the Middle East—does not simply happen. It relies on us, working together with leaders in Congress, to support policies that help keep both nations strong and secure.
