On Sunday, October 20th, NORPAC will be hosting an event in support of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) at the home of Rabbi Steven & Yael Weil. Jeffries is a freshman Congressman whose district encompasses the lower-middle and eastern portions of Brooklyn, including Canarsie and East New York. He currently sits on the Committees on Budget and Judiciary, respectively. As a Member of Congress, Hakeem Jeffries co-sponsored the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013 (H.R. 850), The U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013 (H.R. 938), and The Iron Dome Support Act (H.R. 1130).  Please join us and ask questions pertaining to the U.S.-Israel relationship, and help us support Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.

According to Cong. Jeffries, “As a member of the United States Congress, I will continue to strongly advocate for our vital alliance with the State of Israel and endeavor to enhance this essential relationship. Any serious threat to Israel’s security also represents an explicit threat to the interests of the United States in the critical Middle Eastern region. This understanding should continue to be a pillar of American foreign policy.

“In a positive development for Israel and for the region, the peace process has recently been reinstituted. I strongly support Israel’s quest for peace and believe that a two-state solution is the surest road to long-term regional stability. It is vital that any agreements guarantee and protect the civil liberties, rights and security of the citizens of both states. An independent and demilitarized Palestinian state, living side-by-side with Israel, is the best outcome for both parties. In various ways, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations have all expressed interest in resolving the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

“However, these forces on the world stage are insufficiently supportive of the State of Israel to bring about a fair resolution. Given the severe shortcomings of the other interested parties, and the historic distrust that exists in the region, the United States… is best positioned to serve as an honest broker of the peace process. Notwithstanding the vital role that the United States can play, we should not seek to impose a solution on the parties that forces Israel to undermine its own strategic interests. In addition, we should not abide any effort to delegitimize the State of Israel, such as those frequently attempted in the United Nations.

“We should also promote the democratic aspirations of those Palestinians who seek a secular state, free of influence from terrorist organizations like Hamas. In the context of our role as an honest broker, three realities should shape America’s posture in the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians: First, it is essential that Palestinian authorities recognize Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state, a fact that the United Nations formally acknowledged in 1948 and the United States has reaffirmed on many occasions. Additionally, any international recognition of a Palestinian state should only occur as a part of a comprehensive peace process.

“Second, as the only true and stable democracy in the Middle East, the deep diplomatic and economic relationship between Israel and the United States is critical to both nations. Beyond the region, Israel has one of the most robust democracies in the world with every point of view represented in the Knesset. The United States has a strong interest in promoting democracy and Israel is an important ally in this regard.

Third, it is essential to recognize that Israel resides in a tough neighborhood: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah to the North, Syria to the East, Egypt in a fragile condition, Iran with nuclear aspirations and Iraq emerging from chaos. Given the political and national security realities of this environment, Israel must be able to defend itself. Security is paramount.”