You can affect
Israel's future and promote America's
interests in the Middle East by urging
your Members of Congress to support
these important initiatives.
Stop Iran's Nuclear Program
With Iran continuing to defy the international community's demands to suspend its nuclear activities, members of the House and Senate have introduced comprehensive legislation aimed at increasing economic and political pressure on Iran to persuade Tehran to end its nuclear program. The legislation -- introduced in the House by Reps. Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and in the Senate by Sens. Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) -- closes loopholes in existing sanctions law, strengthens U.S. tools to cut off funds to Iran's nuclear program and prohibits U.S. nuclear cooperation with those aiding Iran's atomic efforts. Please urge your members of the House and Senate to support this critical legislation.
Support Military Aid to Israel
For decades, presidents and lawmakers of both parties have backed aid to Israel as a means to ensure that America's closest ally in the Middle East can defend itself against regional threats. President Bush has requested $2.4 billion in military aid to Israel as part of his 2008 fiscal year budget submitted to Congress. The proposed aid for Israel represents the last year of a 10-year plan between Israel and the United States to phase out economic aid to Israel while gradually increasing the amount of military aid. The 2008 budget request also includes $40 million in assistance to help Israel absorb refugees from the former Soviet Union and other countries. Please urge your members of Congress to support the president's aid request for Israel.
Stop the Weapons Smuggling in Gaza
The terrorist group Hamas is smuggling tons of increasingly advanced explosives and weaponry across the Egyptian border into Gaza, carrying out rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and preparing for wider-scale future operations. Members of the Senate are circulating a letter calling on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to conduct a comprehensive review of the situation in Gaza, to urge the Egyptians to stop the weapons smuggling, and to insist that Hamas stop firing rockets at Israel. The letter was authored by Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Norm Coleman (R-MN). Please urge your members of the Senate to sign the letter.
Stop the Rearming of Hizballah
Syria and Iran are rearming Hizballah in violation of the key provisions of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which was passed to end last summer's war between Israel and Hizballah. Members of the House are circulating a letter calling on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to work with the U.N. Security Council to expand the mandate of the United Nations Interim Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to stop arms shipments to Hizballah across the Syrian border. Under its current mandate, UNIFIL cannot engage Hizballah forces transferring arms from Syria without a specific request from the Lebanese army, which has yet to issue one. The letter was authored by Reps. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Steve Israel (D-NY). Please urge your member of the House to sign the letter.
Support Divestment from Iran
As Iran continues to make rapid advancements in its illicit nuclear weapons program, members of the House and Senate have introduced have introduced the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007. The bill authorizes state and local governments to divest from companies investing in Iran's petroleum and natural gas sector and protects fund managers who divest from such companies from potential lawsuits. Companies invested in Iran's oil and natural gas sector, which accounts for 80 percent of the country's hard currency, provide the economic wherewithal needed by Iran to fund its nuclear weapons pursuit and support for terrorism. The legislation was introduced in the House by Reps. Barney Frank (D-MA) and Christopher Shays (R-CT) while Sens. Barack Obama (D-IL) and Sam Brownback (R-KS) introduced the bill in the Senate. Please urge your members of the House and Senate to cosponsor the legislation.
