2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel’s Declaration of Independence guarantees legal and political equality without discrimination based on sex. In 1951, the Knesset passed the Women’s Equal Rights Law, and in the 1970s and 1980s, the Knesset enacted additional legislation to bolster anti-discrimination laws. Whereas many of Israel’s neighbors suffer from a high illiteracy rate among women and struggle to balance gender equality and cultural norms, Israel has achieved educational parity for men and women. Israel ranks seventh in the Western world in the percentage of women studying in institutions of higher learning. Women receive 57 percent of all academic degrees, and 46 percent of today’s doctoral students are women. Israel Is a Safe Haven for Immigrants From Around the World Like the United States, Israel is a country established by immigrants. Since its founding, the tiny state has absorbed millions of immigrants from more than 100 countries, including Jews from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia and those forced to flee from Arab countries. A haven for Jewish refugees from around the world, Israel has also reached out to assist Jews wherever they suffer from persecution and has made the successful absorption of new immigrants in society a top priority. Following the War of Independence, Israel struggled economically, with food and other basic commodities rationed, and new immigrants lived in temporary structures. Despite these shortages, Israel took measures to ensure the safety of Jews at risk abroad. Later, to handle the influx of immigrants to Israel, the government created absorption centers to provide housing and Hebrew classes. Jews from Arab countries were among the first immigrants to be flown into Israel, out of harm’s way. One year after independence, the Israeli government arranged to airlift approximately 45,000 Yemenite Jews to Israel in Operation Magic Carpet. In 1951, Israel coordinated with the Iraqi government to allow 130,000 Jews to be transported to Israel. Israel’s dedication to helping Jewish communities at risk was also clearly shown when Israel carried out secret missions to rescue Jews in Ethiopia. In 1991, with the help of the United States, Israel flew more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to the Jewish state. And with the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, Israel absorbed a massive wave of new immigrants. More than 1 million Jews from the former Soviet Union immigrated to Israel, changing the face of Israeli society. 25
WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Has Done to Recognize Israel’s Vibrant Democracy Celebrated Israel’s Creation During Key Anniversaries. Congress has long celebrated Israel’s creation and its commitment to the ideals of Western democracy. With overwhelming bipartisan support, the House and the Senate have routinely passed resolutions in honor of Israel’s anniversary—including its milestone 50th in 1998 and 60th in 2008—that highlight the two countries’ shared values. In 1998, then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R- GA) and then-House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-MO) led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Israel to mark Israel’s golden anniversary. Backed Israel’s Inclusion in International Organizations. Congress has regularly pushed for the fair treatment and inclusion of Israel in a variety of international institutions. During the past decade, members of Congress helped advance Israel’s membership in such groups as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and backed the inclusion of Magen David Adom, Israel’s emergency medical service, in the International Committee of the Red Cross. Similarly, Congress has encouraged the United States to help Israel gain membership in the United Nations’ Western European and Others (WEOG) regional group, which greatly enhances Israel’s right to participate in various U.N. bodies, potentially including the Security Council. Visited Israel to Learn About the Issues. Members of Congress have also routinely traveled to Israel to educate themselves about the key issues facing the region and to express solidarity with their Israeli counterparts. More than half of the House and one-third of the Senate have visited the Jewish state. Senior lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, including Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), have participated in these important trips. 26
Page 1 and 2: 1 1 3 T H C O N G R E S S • 1 S T
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREIGN AID 102 F
Page 5 and 6: INTRODUCTION What AIPAC Supports Th
Page 7 and 8: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Why Israel Matte
Page 9 and 10: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS The Jewish Conne
Page 11 and 12: THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL’S BORDERS L
Page 13 and 14: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS massacres, prese
Page 15 and 16: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS An Ancient Capit
Page 17 and 18: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel. However,
Page 19 and 20: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Di
Page 21 and 22: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Shares Am
Page 23 and 24: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Respects
Page 25: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS prime minister.
Page 29 and 30: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Provides
Page 31 and 32: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli agricult
Page 33 and 34: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli High-Tec
Page 35 and 36: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
Page 37 and 38: RELATIONSHIP Relationship—Key Pri
Page 39 and 40: RELATIONSHIP The United States Has
Page 41 and 42: RELATIONSHIP that providing militar
Page 43 and 44: RELATIONSHIP What Congress Has Done
Page 45 and 46: RELATIONSHIP Israel Is America’s
Page 47 and 48: RELATIONSHIP boosting Israel’s ro
Page 49 and 50: RELATIONSHIP cooperation between th
Page 51 and 52: RELATIONSHIP State, Local Officials
Page 53 and 54: WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
Page 55 and 56: RELATIONSHIP America’s Oil Depend
Page 57 and 58: RELATIONSHIP The United States and
Page 59 and 60: RELATIONSHIP oil through the deploy
Page 61 and 62: RELATIONSHIP The U.S.-Israel Econom
Page 63 and 64: RELATIONSHIP Apple, Google, Intel a
Page 65 and 66: RELATIONSHIP Israeli companies have
Page 67 and 68: RELATIONSHIP What Congress Has Done
Page 69 and 70: ISRAEL AT RISK Why Israel Is at Ris
Page 71 and 72: ISRAEL AT RISK Iran: The Leading St
Page 73 and 74: TERRORIST BUILDUP IN GAZA Ashkelon
Page 75 and 76: ISRAEL AT RISK U.N. Security Counci
Page 77 and 78:
ISRAEL AT RISK The Missile Threat I
Page 79 and 80:
THE IRANIAN MISSILE THREAT BEL LARU
Page 81 and 82:
ISRAEL AT RISK Syrian Weapons Arsen
Page 83 and 84:
ISRAEL AT RISK What Congress Has Do
Page 85 and 86:
ISRAEL AT RISK Iran Pursues Nukes,
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
ISRAEL AT RISK A Region in Flux The
Page 91 and 92:
ISRAEL AT RISK The Egyptian militar
Page 93 and 94:
WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
Page 95 and 96:
ISRAEL AT RISK From Double Standard
Page 97 and 98:
ISRAEL AT RISK repeatedly held “E
Page 99 and 100:
ISRAEL AT RISK 2002 alone, Palestin
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
FOREIGN AID Foreign Aid—Key Princ
Page 105 and 106:
FOREIGN AID U.S.-Israel Agreement A
Page 107 and 108:
FOREIGN AID The most recent U.S.-pr
Page 109 and 110:
INCREASED THREATS, INCREASED COSTS:
Page 111 and 112:
FOREIGN AID Keeping America Safe, S
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FOREIGN AID Securing America, Stren
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FOREIGN AID Foreign aid plays a cri
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FOREIGN AID What Congress Has Done
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IRAN Iran—Key Principles PREVENT
Page 121 and 122:
IRAN How a Nuclear Iran Would Under
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IRAN UNDERMINE AMERICA’S CREDIBIL
Page 125 and 126:
IRAN purpose but to produce and tes
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IRAN In 2012, the Obama administrat
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IRAN A Terrorist Regime Iran is the
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IRAN The Islamic Revolutionary Guar
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IRAN What Congress Has Done to Coun
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IRAN The Regime Has a Long History
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IRAN What Congress Has Done to Oppo
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PEACE PROCESS The Peace Process—K
Page 141 and 142:
PEACE PROCESS United States, Israel
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PEACE PROCESS a state in other U.N.
Page 145 and 146:
PEACE PROCESS THE UNITED STATES SHO
Page 147 and 148:
ISRAEL’S QUEST FOR PEACE Even bef
Page 149 and 150:
PEACE PROCESS What Congress Has Don
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PEACE PROCESS Hamas: 25 Years of Te
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PEACE PROCESS right and real way to
Page 155 and 156:
PEACE PROCESS What Congress Has Don
Page 157 and 158:
SYRIA-LEBANON Syria and Lebanon—K
Page 159 and 160:
SYRIA-LEBANON The Syrian Regime Has
Page 161 and 162:
SYRIA-LEBANON can consolidate the m
Page 163 and 164:
SYRIA-LEBANON ASSAD REJECTED U.S. O
Page 165 and 166:
SYRIA-LEBANON What Congress Has Don
Page 167 and 168:
SYRIA-LEBANON Hizballah Serves as I
Page 169:
SYRIA-LEBANON What Congress Has Don
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