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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Amy Auth
202-225-2071

This week, Congress returns to Washington following a busy month of work in the district. For a majority of August, I traveled throughout the Fifth District and conducted scores of meetings with veterans, teachers and many other constituent groups. During this time, I gained valuable insight into the needs of the people I serve and look forward to continuing to address their concerns.

The needs of the Fifth District have always been and continue to be my number one priority. However, as a Member of Congress, it is my duty to educate myself on international affairs and foreign policy, especially when it pertains to the Middle East. While our foreign neighbors may be far away from Northwest North Carolina, our relationships with them affect everyone.

For one week in August, I was fortunate to be given the opportunity travel to Israel with the American Israel Education Foundation. This educational trip gave me the opportunity to witness how America’s national security interests are directly tied to developments in the Middle East and specifically to Israel’s own security. Strategic cooperation between our country and Israel in intelligence sharing, fighting the War on Terror, strengthening homeland security and increasing technology development is vital to the well being of my constituents.

The United States and Israel have long maintained a strong friendship since the modern Jewish State was founded in 1948. Our two countries share much more in common than you may realize. We believe in freedom and equality and share many basic rights such as free elections, a free press and freedom of religion. We were both founded by people seeking freedom from tyranny. And we both continue to serve today as symbols of liberty in a world plagued by oppression.

During my trip, I had the opportunity to travel the countryside and visit military bases, universities, children’s homes, holy sites and strategic locations. The very first thing that struck me was just how much has been accomplished by the Israeli people in their short history. I witnessed capitalism at work and saw how it has enabled the country to prosper. Israel has an amazing network of roads, a national water system and has developed other impressive infrastructure. It is hard to believe they have accomplished so much in just 55 years.

The next thing that struck me was Israel’s size. The entire country is smaller than the State of New Jersey. In fact, Israel is only nine miles wide at its most narrow point. This helped illustrate how vulnerable the country is in terms of security.

In addition, I had the privilege to meet with a broad spectrum of Israeli and Palestinian officials – including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas. By talking to these leaders, I was able to gain insight on fundamental issues of security, peace negotiations and defense cooperation.

Israel has proved that it is willing to form a lasting peace with any country that has extended its hand in friendship. In the War on Terror, American and Israeli interests are the same. We are both committed to stopping the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and curbing state-sponsored terrorism. For years, we have worked together for a more stable and peaceful Middle East.

Unfortunately, Israel has had to deal with war and terrorism since it was established and has recently suffered through four years of violence that has targeted innocent civilians through suicide bombings on buses, in restaurants and in shopping malls.

Just prior to my arrival in Israel, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon made the decision to disengage from Gaza and the northern West Bank. Israel withdrew more than 8,000 citizens from their homes and communities and relocated them at tremendous emotional and financial costs to the Israeli government.

Disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank holds enormous potential in advancing the peace process if the Palestinians demonstrate they can govern themselves and curb terrorism. However, it also carries great political and security risks for Israel. Prime Minister Sharon explained that he was willing to take these risks because he believes that disengagement is in the best long-term interests of Israel.

After this rigorous and informative trip, I am more convinced than ever that it is crucial that the United States continue our strong support for Israel. The country is a beacon of democracy in a sea of violence and hostility, and its ability to function and defend itself against terrorism is in no small part due to support from the United States. It is in our national security interests to continue to support them.

Editor’s Note: Virginia Foxx is a United States Representative from North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District. You may contact her office toll free at 1-866-677-8968 or e-mail her from her website, www.house.gov/foxx.

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