2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

ISRAEL AT RISK
Turmoil in the Arab World
For the past four decades, the Arab regimes surrounding Israel were largely
stable and predictable, and Israel was able to avoid large-scale regional wars.
Today, with a new regime in Egypt, chaos in Syria, Hizballah dominating
in Lebanon, and uncertainty in Jordan, Israel must tackle new threats while
thwarting ongoing Palestinian terrorism and a looming nuclear Iran.
KEY POINTS
• Unprecedented political change in the Middle East, including the rise of Islamist parties,
could lead to significant new strategic threats to Israel.
• Israel must now devote time and resources to prepare for threats from countries that
avoided conventional warfare with Jerusalem during the past four decades.
• Egyptian-Israeli peace has been the cornerstone of regional stability for more than three
decades; it is critical that the new government in Egypt maintain peace with Israel.
• Violence in Syria and the likely end of the Assad regime raise the risk of conflict with Israel
and require planning to secure Syria’s arsenal of missiles and chemical weapons.
• The United States must work with Israel to ensure the Jewish state’s continued qualitative
military edge and ability to defend itself against these emerging challenges.
The Important Role That Congress Can Play
During this period of turmoil, Congress should continue to press Egypt and Jordan to uphold
their peace treaties with Israel as the cornerstones of regional peace and stability. Egypt must be
pressed to retake control of the Sinai Peninsula and prevent the area’s continued deterioration into
a terrorist safe heaven. Congress should work with the administration to ensure Syria’s weapons
arsenal cannot threaten Israel. Congress also should continue to ensure Israel has the means to
defend herself against new threats by backing security assistance to the Jewish state.
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