WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King, along with a bipartisan group of 75 other senators, today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to reaffirm his commitment to working closely with the new government of Israel and to oppose Palestinian efforts to either circumvent direct negotiations with Israel or delegitimize Israel.The Senators wrote:
“Palestinian efforts to bypass direct negotiations with Israel by taking unilateral steps for international recognition are, in our view, unacceptable. When you meet with Palestinian leaders, you should make clear that the pathway for peace is through unconditional direct negotiations between both the Israelis and Palestinians and that the United States vigorously opposes any Palestinian efforts to circumvent direct negotiations.”
The Senators also urge the President to identify and promote policy solutions, such as Iron Dome, that address the urgent and important security challenges facing both Israel and the United States. “We also hope that you will reiterate the United States’ support for Israel, her right to defend herself, and the Iron Dome project. In such a tumultuous region of the world, and during such challenging times, a strong relationship between our two countries has never been more important.”
In addition to Senators Collins and King, the letter was signed by Senators Cardin, Menendez, Corker, Boxer, Rubio, Casey, Flake, Shaheen, Barrasso, Coons, McConnell, Murphy, Chambliss, Schumer, Cornyn, Stabenow, Vitter, Cantwell, Kirk, Mikulski, Coats, Klobuchar, Blunt, Whitehouse, Moran, Mark Udall, Boozman, Hagan, Grassley, Landrieu, Lee, Bennet, Cruz, Gillibrand, Fischer, Manchin, Cochran, Wyden, Isakson, Blumenthal, Johanns, Tester, Burr, Heinrich, Crapo, Schatz, Hatch, Hirono, Roberts, Franken, Murkowski, Baucus, Scott, McCaskill, Wicker, Merkley, Heller, Begich, Portman, Donnelly, Thune, Pryor, Tim Johnson, Lautenberg, Sherrod Brown, Warner, Ayotte, Graham, Hoeven, Toomey, Sessions, Ron Johnson, Reed, Alexander and Paul.The full text of the letter is as follows:
