[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4050]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS WANT A STRONG U.S.-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Dold) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DOLD. Mr. Speaker, 4 years ago, amid concerns of hostile 
treatment against Israel at the United Nations, I launched an 
initiative where I wrote letters to dozens of foreign ambassadors to 
the United Nations and explained why it was important that they stood 
against anti-Israel actions at the U.N.
  I am saddened, Mr. Speaker, that the United States is apparently now 
in need of such a letter. Recent public reports indicate that President 
Obama warned Prime Minister Netanyahu, fresh off of his democratic 
election by the Israeli people, that the U.S. will reassess our options 
at the U.N.
  Think about that for a second, Mr. Speaker. President Obama has left 
everyone with the impression that the United States could change its 
course and abandon Israel at the U.N. I can't think of a worse message 
to send to our friends in Israel and a better gift to the anti-Israel 
factions of the international community.
  The delegitimization efforts of Israel are on the rise around the 
world and in the United Nations. Israel needs its friends in the United 
States now more than ever before.
  These are bipartisan concerns, Mr. Speaker. Republicans and Democrats 
alike want a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, and the days of this 
administration challenging and undercutting Israel's Prime Minister, 
regardless of who that Prime Minister may be, must stop. The stakes are 
far too high. The challenges are amongst us.
  We have to stand and speak with one united voice, Republicans and 
Democrats alike, that we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our one 
true ally. This is not right versus left; this is right versus wrong.

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