PRESS RELEASE: EMET Strongly Applauds Representative Ann Wagner, (R-MO), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Michael McCaul, (R-TX), Brad Schneider, (D-Il), and the Overwhelming Majority of Members of the US House of Representatives for Passing a Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing the Profound Strength of the United States-Israel Partnership

Press Release
April 26, 2023
Contact: Sarah Stern
(202) 601-7422
sstern@emetonline.org

EMET Strongly Applauds Representative Ann Wagner, (R-MO), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Michael McCaul, (R-TX), Brad Schneider, (D-Il), and the Overwhelming Majority of Members of the US House of Representatives for Passing a Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing the Profound Strength of the United States-Israel Partnership

(April 26, 2023, Washington, DC) –

On this, the occasion of Israel’s 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel, representatives Ann Wagner (R-MO), Kathy Manning, (D-NC), Chairman Michael McCaul, (R-TX), and Brad Schneider (D-Il) introduced a Sense of the Congress Resolution which was voted on by the vast majority of the US House of Representatives. This proves that, despite the pulls of the most radical, progressive wing of the democratic party, the strength of the US-Israel relationship remains overwhelmingly healthy, and that most American members of Congress fully appreciate the profound strength of the US-Israel partnership.

The Resolution put forth encourages the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords, urges other nations to normalize relations with Israel, and ensures that all existing agreements continue to reap tangible economic and security benefits for all the people of the region.

By recognizing the significance of Israel as “a major non-NATO ally”, and
as “ a major strategic partner”, this Sense of Congress Resolution understands and appreciates the robustness of the US-Israeli relationship, and knows that it is not simply a one-way street.

Indeed, it speaks of the US as having “a close and robust bilateral relationship marked by strong people-to-people ties and close cooperation on a wide range of issues, including defense, diplomacy, energy, cybersecurity, agriculture, science and space.”

The Resolution “encourages the United States and Israel to continue to deepen and expand its bilateral cooperation across the full spectrum of economic, security and civilian issues”; “encourages the expansion and strengthening of the Abraham Accords to urge other nations to normalize relations with Israel and ensure that existing agreements reap tangible security and economic benefits for all the citizens of those countries and all peoples in the region”; “expresses continues support for security and assistance to Israel as outlined in the United States-Israel Memorandum of Understanding, to ensure that Israel can defend itself by itself;” and “supports Israel’s robust involvement as an active member of the community of nations to benefit Israel and the United States as partners who share common values and a commitment to democracy.”

Of the 435 members of the US House of Representatives, there were only 19 who voted against the Resolution, 18 Democrats and 1 Republican. They were Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY), Cori Bush (D-MO), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Summer Lee (D-PA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Chuy Garcia (D-IL), Andre Carson (D-IN), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Delia Ramirez (D-IL).

EMET Founder and President, Sarah Stern, states, “EMET profoundly thanks Representative Ann Wagner and the remaining House Members who signed onto this incredibly valuable Resolution. It understands and appreciates that especially today, when the US has a decreasing footprint in the Middle East, Israel is an essential partner with the United States, sharing intelligence and military strategy with the United States in a close non-NATO member and CENTCOM relationship. It also recognizes and appreciates that Israel, as opposed to our shared foes, Iran, Russia, and China, is a robust and vibrant democracy, which is witnessed by the fact that there are demonstrations in the streets today, where citizens freely participate without fearing for their very lives. As Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig once said, “Israel is the largest American aircraft carrier in the world, that cannot be sunk, does not carry even one American soldier, and is located in a critical region for American national security.”

About The Endowment for Middle East Truth
Founded in 2005, EMET is a pro-American, pro-Israel, and pro-human rights, foreign policy think tank and policy shop in Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit www.emetonline.org