Republican Tom Price Conveys Support for State of Israel in letter to PM Netanyahu

(RSC).Republican Study Committee Chairman Tom Price sent the following letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express his strong support for Israel and the security of the Israeli people prior to a scheduled meeting tomorrow between the Prime Minister, Palestinian President Abbas, and President Obama:

"Dear Mr. Prime Minister Netanyahu.

As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, the largest caucus in the U. S. House of Representatives, it is a great honor for me to convey our strongest support for the State of Israel. We firmly believe the United States can and should play a central role in helping to achieve peace in the Middle East. However, we feel it is important to clarify that our support for the advancement of peace will not come at the expense of Israeli security. We commend you for your efforts to fight radicalism, and we will support the undeniable right for Israel to exist as a free Jewish state.

Any plan for peace in the Middle East must consist of a commitment by the Palestinian Authority (PA) to investigate and prosecute Hamas to the fullest extent of the law. We assure you that we will continue to repudiate the violent terrorist actions of Hamas and place pressure on Palestinian officials to do the same.

The PA has provided significant roadblocks in the quest for peace. They have been unwilling to move toward an agreement with Israel, and expect Israel to freeze settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem before even beginning substantive talks. We support you in your insistence that Palestinians and all Arab nations come to the table with constructive plans.

Like you, we also argue that a settlement freeze is not the only way to begin the peace process. Without a firm commitment by the PA and its supporters to end the violence and recognize Israel as a Jewish state, we understand there is little incentive to yield to such demands in the interest of a solution. Israel should never be forced to make unilateral concessions.

We also support you in your efforts to counter the Iranian nuclear threat. Just as recently as late August, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that Iran "should have constructive interaction with all nations and countries with the exception of the illegal Zionist entity." With such a hostile country in the region, Israel’s safety and security greatly depend on United States’ and international support against the threat of Iran’s weapons program.

The United States must address the Middle East peace process with the strongest of support for Israel. We believe that members of the Jewish faith should be able to freely and securely live and work anywhere, including in all of historic Israel. Allow my to assure you that we will not turn our back on promises the United States has made to assist and defend Israel during such turbulent times. You are a successful democracy, ally, and unconditional friend, and you have our full support.

Sincerely,


Tom Price, M.D.

Chairman, U.S.
House Republican Study Committee