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August 12,
2003
Orthodox Union Applauds Congressional Letter Urging
Administration Not to Cut Loan Guarantees for Israel
The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America,
the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish synagogue organization, today
applauded a House letter to President Bush urging the Administration not
to cut loan guarantees for Israel. At the initiative of Representative
Nita Lowey (D-NY), House lawmakers noted “with grave concern” that,
according to media reports, the Administration is considering reducing
loan guarantees for Israel “in an effort to pressure Israel into
suspending construction of the security fence between Israel and
Palestinian-controlled areas.” In the letter, the Representatives stated
that “U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process must always have
as its primary objective the preservation of Israel’s security and
stability. As a sovereign, democratic nation – and our closest ally in the
Middle East – Israel has the right and responsibility to make decisions
affecting its own future… The U.S. must never pressure Israel to take a
position or action which would jeopardize the security of its citizens.”
The Orthodox Union commends the Representatives for urging the
Administration not to use U.S. assistance to “dictate how the State of
Israel addresses its security needs.” The Administration has indicated it
was considering withholding some of the $9 billion in loan guarantees in
the $78.5 billion Iraq War Supplemental Spending bill (PL 108-11) that
Congress cleared in the spring. Betty Ehrenberg, Director of International
and Communal Affairs said, “As President Bush has repeatedly stated,
terror is terror, regardless of where in the world it occurs and America
must respect and support Israel’s right to act in its own self-defense. We
call on the Administration to adhere to the President’s resolve and his
total denouncement of Palestinian terror. The fence is a response by the
Israelis to nearly three years of a campaign of terror in which more than
800 civilians have been killed. The fence is meant to protect citizens of
Israel from being murdered and maimed by terrorists and is in defense of
Israel’s security. Today’s suicide bombings at Ariel and Rosh Ha’ayin,
proudly claimed by Hamas and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, serve as powerful
examples of why the fence is necessary. We applaud the Congressional
letter to the President urging that Israel not be penalized for acting in
her self-defense. Israel has acted and continues to act in good faith
employing confidence-building measures in an effort to achieve peace and
security in its entire region, and we should support her.”
The following Representatives signed Representative Lowey’s letter to the
President:
Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA); Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD);
Gary Ackerman (D-NY); Shelley Berkley (D-NV); Howard Berman (D-CA); Dennis
Cardoza (D-CA); Brad Carson (D-OK); Ander Crenshaw (R-FL); Joseph Crowley
(D-NY); Peter Deutsch (D-FL); Rahm Emanuel (D-IL); Eliot Engel (D-NY:
Martin Frost (D-TX); Jane Harman (D-CA); Alcee Hastings (D-FL); Steve
Israel (D-NY); Mark Steven Kirk (R-IL); Tom Lantos (D-CA); Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY); Robert T. Matsui (D-CA); Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY); Robert Menendez
(D-NJ); Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Steven Rothman (D-NJ); Max Sandlin (D-TX);
Adam Schiff (D-CA); Brad Sherman (D-CA); Henry Waxman (D-CA); Anthony
Weiner (D-NY); Robert Wexler (D-FL)
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