Click HERE for a PDF version of this position paper.

Position Paper on the United States and State of Israel Relationship  

Tom Watson, Republican Candidate for the US House of Representatives, CA-23

August 2010 

The US and Israel have a relationship based upon shared values, a love of liberty, an embrace of self-determination, free market economic principles and mutual security interests.  Israel is America’s best ally in the Middle East and the only truly stable democracy.  I believe that the US has both the interest and responsibility to stand by the State of Israel’s side as an anchor of freedom in a sea of Tyranny and uncertainty that is the Middle East.  Israel’s mere existence and legitimacy are under constant threat from a variety of players both in and out of the region.  The US has both a moral and practical obligation to help protect an ally and partner such as Israel in this uncertain world.

I have always supported and respected the State of Israel both during my time in the service and as a private citizen.  If elected by the citizens of California’s 23^rd Congressional District, I will continue my wholehearted support of the US-Israel relationship. 

Support for Israel’s Right to Self-Defense

As a sovereign state, Israel has the unqualified right to defend itself against all enemies, just as any other country does.  Be they other countries or non-state terrorists.  Israel has demonstrated remarkable restraint in most regards in dealing with fanatical and suicidal enemies over the years since it’s founding.  I supported passage of House Resolution 867, which reiterated supported for Israel’s right to defend itself in Operation Cast Lead and pointed out the many flaws in the UN Goldstone Report.

The Goldstone Report was blatantly unfair and ignored the reality of the repeated attacks on civilians from Hamas over an extended period of time and the restraint Israel demonstrated in responding to these unprovoked attacks.  It also ignored the fact the Israeli Defense Forces did more to protect the Palestinian civilians in a combat zone than had been demonstrated in any armed conflict in history.  This while Hamas intentionally put their own people at risk by launching attacks against Israeli civilians from apartment buildings and hospitals inviting unintentional civilian casualties.  Despite the many flaws in this report, many countries with horrendous records on Human Rights continue to push this travesty forward.  As a Member of Congress, I would continue to oppose this report and efforts to sanction Israel for daring to defend itself.  The Goldstone report, if accepted as valid, would weaken all countries ability to defend themselves against terrorist attacks.  I would join other congressional leaders in “opposing further consideration of this report or any measures stemming from this report.”

There is a disturbing trend in both the developed and underdeveloped countries of the world to unilaterally criticize and blame Israel for any perceived or real problem in the area.  Israel, like any human organization, isn’t perfect.  Nor are they always wrong, as their detractors would depict.  Israel, like the US, is a collection of human beings voluntarily engaged in commerce and self-governance.  Imperfect yet efficient.  Governed by the Rule of Law, not ruled by autocrats or dictators.   Israel has few natural resources yet they are by far the most prosperous and productive country in the Middle East, they should be emulated and admired, not condemned.   Yet they have been attacked repeatedly over their short history as a nation and have defended themselves well.  With the advent of suicide terror bombings it became necessary to take extraordinary measures to prevent the senseless attacks.  A security barrier was erected and has proven to be highly effective.  To the extent the barrier can be moved or relaxed to minimize hardships to the Palestinians, it should be, providing safety for Israeli citizens can be secured. 

Military Support for Israel

As a veteran that has interacted with the Israeli Defense Forces and toured the country in an IAF helicopter, I am acutely aware of the security challenges Israel faces.  I have been to the Golan Heights, the northern border, Masada, the southern border and the major cities in the country.    I support continued military support to Israel.  It is in the US interest to ensure the Israeli Defense Forces maintain a military edge over potential aggressors in the region.  The Israeli’s are a stabilizing force in the region and do not seek to dominate or destroy their neighbors.  By having the IDF as a capable and ready force in the Middle East, it reduces the need for forward US deterrent presence in the region.  Military aid to the State of Israel is money well spent and has proven to reduce the possibility of another ill-considered war in the area.   To that end, I support the recently executed 10 Year Memorandum of Understanding between our two countries to provide $30 Billion in military aid until 2017.

Iranian Threat

The threat to Israel and the world of a bellicose and unpredictable Iran cannot be overstated.  Iran shares no borders or has any legitimate issue with Israel, yet they are sworn to the destruction of the State of Israel.  It is beyond obvious that the Iranians are attempting to develop nuclear weapons with all possible haste.  There is absolutely no good that can come from the Iranian regime possessing nuclear weapons, none.  Even if they never used them, the fact they had them would set off a scramble in the Middle East with other countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt and others to embark on developing their own nuclear weapons capability.  It would be beyond foolish for the world to allow that to happen.  The US must take the unambiguous lead in ensuring this will not occur.

Unfortunately, the current US administration has pursued an approach of antagonizing Israel and other allies and embracing our enemies or taking an overly passive approach to the problem.  This approach will fail and is already clearly not working.  The US needs to make it crystal clear to the Iranian regime that under no circumstances will the US allow them to develop or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons.  By not doing that we are virtually guaranteeing a bad outcome.   Israel is uniquely vulnerable and the Iranian regime repeatedly threatens to destroy the State of Israel.  No responsible government can ignore such threats.  Israel has a right to defend itself and to do so preemptively when there is such a clear and present danger emerging.  If that occurs the US will have no one to blame but ourselves as we have the power to prevent the Iranians from continuing on this clearly destructive path.  

I support any manner of aggressive sanction to cripple the Iranian regime and prevent them from achieving their destructive ambitions.   The US has tremendous leverage to financially strangle the regime and we should use it.  We should not allow ourselves to be hamstrung in the UN by countries that do not have our best interests in mind.  The consequences of the Iranians achieving a nuclear weapons capability are too great to allow.  Clear and unequivocal leadership by the US is required now.  All options must be available to the US to prevent the Iranian regime from procuring nuclear weapons.

The Palestinians & Middle East Peace

Like all freedom loving people, I support a peaceful and enduring solution to the problems in the Middle East.  Enduring peace requires the active commitment and participation of both sides.  When one side will not guarantee or recognize the right of the other party to exist, it is not possible to have an enduring peace.  Sadly, that has been the case in the Palestinian situation.   In any negotiation there will need to be compromises and give and take but there can be no compromise in the basic recognition of one’s right to exist.  Until that basic precondition is met there really is little to discuss.  Unfortunately, one party, Hamas, which controls Gaza is sworn to the destruction of the State of Israel.  How exactly can the Israeli’s be expected to negotiate for permanent peace with a group that has as their basic charter Israel’s destruction?   When the Palestinians are prepared to recognize and guarantee Israel’s basic right to exist then some meaningful discussions on a permanent solution, be it two state or otherwise, can begin.  Until that occurs, any negotiations are of little consequence.

The US can and should facilitate such discussions but we need to be firm in insisting that security guarantees and recognition are of primary importance to both parties.  Neither Israel nor the Palestinians can be expected to compromise their security with a neighbor who wishes them ill.

Regional Relationships

All nations have a basic right to exist and have their legitimacy recognized, that includes the State of Israel.  Unfortunately, some countries and non-state actors refuse to concede that fundamental fact.  The belligerents in the Middle East are pretty clear.  If the Iranians, Syrians, Hezbollah and Hamas unilaterally laid down their arms they would have nothing to fear from the Israeli’s.  If the Israeli’s unilaterally laid down their arms, these groups would destroy them in short order.  Israel would be well served to continue working to improve commerce and relations with their neighbors and the US should continue to help facilitate those relationships by:

·         Encouraging formal military exchanges and relations

·         Discouraging or punishing Arab boycotts of Israeli products and services

·         Speak out clearly against Arab demonization of Israel in their press and official government communications

·         Encourage Democracy, individual freedom, freedom of the press and economic liberalization in Arab countries

·         Seek free trade agreements in the area that include the State of Israel

Summary

The US and Israel have significant shared interests and values and it is in both countries interest to maintain and nurture strong ties economically and militarily.  There are disturbing trends internationally of rising anti-Semitism and unfair press bias in regards to Israel.  The US needs to support Israel and fight the forces that seek the de-legitimization and ultimate destruction of Israel.

Click HERE for a PDF version of this position paper.