Jewish Dems Speak Alongside Jewish Republicans about Israel on Capitol Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington, DC – Today, at an event for the American Zionist Movement (AZM), the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) and Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) appeared together for the first time since JDCA’s inception in 2017.

To mark the occasion, Halie Soifer, Executive Director of JDCA, thanked the “American Zionist Movement for convening this important event” and acknowledged her “colleague from the Republican Jewish Coalition,” adding “our being on this stage together epitomizes the theme of today’s event regarding the importance of bipartisan support for Israel.”

Soifer stressed the importance of maintaining bipartisan support for Israel and the role that JDCA has played in furthering that objective, “JDCA strongly believes that U.S. support for Israel should be a bipartisan issue, which is why a central tenet of its platform includes an explicit statement of support for the unbreakable bond between the U.S. and Israel in light of our shared security interests and common values.

“While we know there is a wide range of views on policies of the U.S. government, as well as the Israeli government, within the Jewish community, that does not diminish the bipartisan commitment to the bond between our two nations.

“It is encouraging to know that bipartisanship still exists on issues related to Israel – perhaps more so than nearly any other issue, and that must continue.”

Full remarks below:

Prepared Remarks of Halie Soifer
Executive Director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America
American Zionist Movement, December 12, 2018

I want to thank the American Zionist Movement for convening this important event and recognize the Members of Congress, congressional staff, Jewish community leaders, and others who have joined today.

I also want to acknowledge my colleague from the Republican Jewish Coalition, Noah Silverman. Our being on this stage together epitomizes the theme of today’s event regarding the importance of bipartisan support for Israel.

On behalf of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, we could not agree with you more. We strongly support the U.S.-Israel relationship, and have repeatedly – and forcefully – spoken out in support of maintaining bipartisan support for Israel.

We did so just last week, when JDCA issued an action alert to the Senate and House in support of passage of the Israel Anti-Boycott Act in the end of the year spending bill.

We did so the week before, when JDCA called on Senator Rand Paul to lift his hold on legislation authorizing the U.S.-Israel Memorandum of Understanding codifying the ten-year $38 billion commitment to U.S. military aid to Israel made by President Obama.

We did so during the midterm election, when JDCA endorsed 58 candidates – more than 80 percent of which won their election – who shared our values, including the importance of maintaining a strong and bipartisan commitment to Israel.

We also did so during the election, when JDCA spoke out against three Democratic candidates who did not share our views or values on Israel.

And we did so earlier this year, when we called on U.S. Ambassador David Friedman to stop using his diplomatic platform to espouse a partisan perspective on Israel. No U.S. ambassador has ever spoke in such partisan terms, and JDCA does not believe it’s in either the U.S. nor Israel’s interests to do so.

JDCA strongly believes that U.S. support for Israel should be a bipartisan issue, which is why a central tenet of its platform includes an explicit statement of support for the unbreakable bond between the U.S. and Israel in light of our shared security interests and common values.

We know that the majority of American Jews share this view. That is why more than 92% of Jewish American voters – according to a bipartisan poll conducted in October – identified as pro-Israel.

While we know there is a wide range of views on policies of the U.S. government, as well as the Israeli government, within the Jewish community, that does not diminish the bipartisan commitment to the bond between our two nations.

In closing, I will reflect on the fact that I have worked for four Members of Congress, going back to 2002. I have worked in the executive branch during both the Obama and Bush administrations.

I have seen firsthand the importance of bipartisan support of Israel, including sharing a Shabbat with Senator McCain on a CODEL to Israel eight years ago.

It is encouraging to know that bipartisanship still exists on issues related to Israel – perhaps more so than nearly any other issue, and that must continue.

JDCA will continue our efforts to ensure that is the case, and we are confident that the Democratic leadership that will soon assume control of the House will ensure that’s the case in the 116th Congress and well into the future.

Thank you.