2013 Briefing Book - Print Version - Aipac

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ISRAEL AT RISK Israeli officials are particularly concerned about the fate of Syria’s arsenal of long-range missiles and chemical weapons. Today, Syria maintains the largest stockpile of chemical weapons in the Middle East and has the capability to place such weapons on long-range SCUD missiles. As the regime collapses, there is concern that these weapons could be transferred to Hizballah in Lebanon or otherwise fall into the hands of terrorists that might use them against U.S. or Israeli targets. Jordan Remains Stable—For Now While Jordan has remained relatively stable amid the dynamic changes in the region, the potential for instability and expanding protests in the Hashemite Kingdom is another cause for concern. Since the 1997 treaty between Jordan and Israel, the Hashemite kingdom has emerged as a key ally in the region of both Israel and the United States, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism and intelligence sharing. Additionally, in a widely touted joint U.S.-Jordanian program, Palestinian Authority national security forces have been trained in Jordan under U.S. personnel and curriculum since 2007. With the beginning of the Arab Spring in 2011, King Abdullah has worked hard to respond to public calls for political reforms, often firing governmental ministers for not moving quickly to implement changes. Jordan’s monarchy remains deeply concerned by the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, as it has the potential to embolden the Islamic Action Front (IAF), the Brotherhood’s organization in Jordan, which has long opposed peace with Israel. King Abdullah of Jordan has thus far survived internal opposition to his rule. Israel’s border with Jordan is the longest border it has with any of its Arab neighbors. The border has been kept quiet and free of smuggling for many decades, but now plays host to more than 100,000 Syrian refugees. Should dramatic change come to Jordan, the potential that weapons and rockets could be smuggled to terrorists in the West Bank could become a serious concern. Rockets launched from the West Bank would pose an intolerable risk to Jerusalem and other Israeli population centers as well as Ben Gurion International Airport. 91
WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Has Done to Reinforce U.S. Principles amid Arab Turmoil Urged Egypt to Maintain Peace Treaty with Israel. After the fall of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, 326 House members sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urging her to call on Egypt to maintain its international obligations, including its peace treaty with Israel. The March 2011 letter also stated that Egypt must continue to play a constructive role in opposing Iran’s nuclear program and combating terrorism and Islamic extremism. Conditioned Aid to Egypt on Maintaining Peace with Israel. Congress passed legislation in December 2011 that conditions future aid to Egypt on the country’s adherence to its peace treaty with Israel, its holding of free and fair elections, and its successful transition to a civilian government that implements policies protecting freedom of expression, association, religion and due process of law. Increased Aid to Jordan. Recognizing the important role Jordan plays in maintaining relations with Israel and helping the United States train Palestinian security forces, Congress has provided increased aid to Jordan in recent years, including $360 million in economic assistance and $300 million in security assistance during the past two fiscal years. Restricted Aid to Lebanese Army. In light of Hizballah’s expanded influence over the Lebanese government, the fiscal year 2012 foreign aid bill does not provide a specific amount for security assistance to Lebanon and new language restricts any funds from going to the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) if it is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization. Any funds that would go to the LAF could only be used to professionalize the LAF, strengthen border security, combat terrorism, interdict arms shipments, prevent Lebanon from being a safe haven for terrorist groups, and implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701. Congress also directed that any aid to the LAF “not affect Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region.” 92
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1 1 3 T H C O N G R E S S • 1 S T
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TABLE OF CONTENTS FOREIGN AID 102 F
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INTRODUCTION What AIPAC Supports Th
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Why Israel Matte
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS The Jewish Conne
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THE HISTORY OF ISRAEL’S BORDERS L
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS massacres, prese
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS An Ancient Capit
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel. However,
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Di
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Shares Am
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Respects
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS prime minister.
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israel Provides
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli agricult
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS Israeli High-Tec
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WHY ISRAEL MATTERS What Congress Ha
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RELATIONSHIP Relationship—Key Pri
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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 89 and 90: ISRAEL AT RISK A Region in Flux The
Page 91: ISRAEL AT RISK The Egyptian militar
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 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
Page 113 and 114: FOREIGN AID Securing America, Stren
Page 115 and 116: FOREIGN AID Foreign aid plays a cri
Page 117 and 118: FOREIGN AID What Congress Has Done
Page 119 and 120: IRAN Iran—Key Principles PREVENT
Page 121 and 122: IRAN How a Nuclear Iran Would Under
Page 123 and 124: IRAN UNDERMINE AMERICA’S CREDIBIL
Page 125 and 126: IRAN purpose but to produce and tes
Page 127 and 128: IRAN In 2012, the Obama administrat
Page 129 and 130: IRAN A Terrorist Regime Iran is the
Page 131 and 132: IRAN The Islamic Revolutionary Guar
Page 133 and 134: IRAN What Congress Has Done to Coun
Page 135 and 136: IRAN The Regime Has a Long History
Page 137 and 138: IRAN What Congress Has Done to Oppo
Page 139 and 140: 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.
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PEACE PROCESS THE UNITED STATES SHO
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ISRAEL’S QUEST FOR PEACE Even bef
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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
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PEACE PROCESS What Congress Has Don
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SYRIA-LEBANON Syria and Lebanon—K
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SYRIA-LEBANON The Syrian Regime Has
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SYRIA-LEBANON can consolidate the m
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SYRIA-LEBANON ASSAD REJECTED U.S. O
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SYRIA-LEBANON What Congress Has Don
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SYRIA-LEBANON Hizballah Serves as I
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SYRIA-LEBANON What Congress Has Don
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