On September 21 NORPAC welcomed Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to a dinner event in Manhattan chaired by Jerry Gontownik. During the two-hour event McConnell greeted and conversed with dozens of guests before sharing his perspective on current issues that affect the United States and Israel.

McConnell, who serves as the Senate Minority Leader since 2006, has consistently co-sponsored and upheld legislation in support of Israel and in condemnation of Hamas and Hezbollah. He has been a regular speaker at AIPAC’s Policy Conference and has expressed solidarity with Israel several times during his visits and meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“We can’t push Israeli’s into making a deal they can’t live with because they have to live there not us,” said McConnell at the dinner function. The Senator explained that there is no moral equivalency between Israel and Hamas. “Israel uses missiles to protect its people,” said McConnell, “Hamas uses humans to protect its missiles.”

McConnell is a firm supporter of increasing sanctions against Iran to prevent it from building nuclear missiles. He said, “Sanctions work with Iran. They’ve got Iran to the table and stricter sanctions would work better.” McConnell explained that if he were the Senate Majority Leader next year the Senate will pass a bill with additional sanctions against Iran. He expressed his discontent with the reduction of sanctions, along with the overall direction of the administration’s foreign policy.

Senator McConnell expressed what he believed to be a failure to not assist Syrian rebels a few years ago and voted against President Obama’s plan to combat ISIL. “It’s unlikely some Arab success on the ground will take out ISIL. It would take serious ground troops to take down ISIL. If I were Majority Leader I’d be able to bring bills to the floor that are better for the United States-Israeli relationship,” said Senator McConnell.

By Ryan Prince