Israel, United States to remain loyal allies

LISA ATKINS

Ensuring Israel's security and stability has been at the center of our Middle East policy since the founding of modern Israel in 1948. As democracies, our countries have a close association based on a mutual respect for the basic principles of freedom and equality. United States foreign policy acknowledges this relationship and it is enforced by our commitment to ensuring economic stability and securing peace in the region.

Israel is a strategic ally of the United States, and as a member of Congress, I will support efforts to maintain strong relations between our two countries as we work together to strengthen fellow democracies worldwide.

Middle East Peace Process
The United States and Israel share the common goal of peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors. Since the Carter administration, the United States has been very involved in brokering peace in the Middle East, and we should continue to be an active participant in the peace process. The ongoing political violence committed against innocent Israeli citizens is deplorable, and I support Israel's right to defend itself against terrorist aggressors. I commend the Bush administration's efforts to try to end this violence against innocents, and working through a complex issue.

The United States should continue to exert pressure on Yasser Arafat, or any new leader, to condemn the violence perpetrated by individuals and fundamentalist organizations under his authority. Terrorism is not a legitimate policy instrument to attain a political goal, and until the attacks on innocent civilians are halted, there can be no meaningful negotiations toward peace.

In order to achieve peace, all parties must fulfill their responsibilities outlined and agreed to in signed peace accords. Such peace accords cannot, however, be imposed, but must be the achieved through mutual, bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

Foreign aid
The United States cannot remain the world's preeminent power and meet its international responsibilities through defense spending alone. Foreign aid is a tool by which we can influence policy, provide for economic stability and promote peace and democracy. While we should not extend foreign aid to countries that will use such assistance against us, we should support our friends. In the case of Israel, the economic and military aid we provide is essential to helping Israel meet its security needs and maintain its qualitative advantage. As other countries in the region build up their arsenals, it is absolutely necessary that we continue to provide the assistance to Israel that it needs to defend itself.

Strategic cooperation
Israel and the United States have formed a strategic partnership to meet the growing dangers of one of the world's most volatile regions. By providing a wide range of military technology and intelligence cooperation, Israel has supported our war on terrorism, while our foreign policy programs have helped Israel maintain military superiority and deter aggression by potential enemies. With Israel, we have a reliable, democratic and technologically advanced partner that has helped secure American strategic interests by providing us with invaluable knowledge, expertise and firsthand intelligence. We also jointly benefit from our close association with the Israeli Defense Forces, and the pre-positioning of equipment in Israel. As a result, our ability to respond to future crises in the Middle East is greatly advanced, and Israel receives a ready source of emergency supplies.

Jerusalem
While the future of Jerusalem should be a part of any mutual, bilateral negotiations, I support Jerusalem as the undivided capitol of Israel. To fulfill the provisions of the Israeli Embassy Relocation Act of 1995, as a Member of Congress, I would urge President Bush to follow through on the legal requirements to construct the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, Israel's historic capitol.

Lisa Atkins is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, District 2. Other candidates for the seat are Republicans Scott Bundgaard, Trent Franks, Dick Hensley, Dusko Jovicic, John Keegan and Mike Schaefer; Democrats Linda Calvert, Randy Camacho, Elizabeth Farley and Sandy Reagan; and Libertarian Edward Carlson.