Pod Save America Hosts Call on Democrats to Cut All Israel Military Aid, No Longer Accept AIPAC Funding
Jews, Israelis Targeted in Austria Amid Surge in Antisemitic Incidents; Local Jewish Community Calls for Action
‘All of Our Strength’: Over 1,000 Pro-Israel Activists Gather in DC for Solidarity Conference
‘Devastated’: Wesley LePatner, Killed in Manhattan Mass Shooting, Was a Jewish Communal, Philanthropic Leader
Sen. Angus King Vows to No Longer Vote for Israel Military Aid Until Gaza Conditions Improve
Europe Won’t Pressure Israel to ‘Commit Suicide’ Amid Gaza Backlash, Palestinian State Push, Says Israeli FM
Israel’s National Soccer Coach Attacked in Athens Before Soccer Fans Chant ‘F–K Israel, Free Palestine’ at Match
New York Judge Sentences Neo-Nazi to 5 Years for Livestreaming Bomb Threats Against Jewish Hospitals
US Pressures Lebanon to Issue Cabinet Decision to Disarm Hezbollah Before Talks Continue
UK Plans to Recognize Palestinian State in September Unless Israel Meets Conditions, Starmer Says
Senate Foreign Relations Chair Menendez: No ‘Blank Check’ to Egypt
Error: Contact form not found.
by JNS.org
Sen. Robert Menendez. Photo: U.S. Senate.
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the new chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday told the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference that U.S. aid to Egypt should be contingent upon Egypt upholding its 1979 peace treaty with Israel.
“American security assistance to Egypt cannot be a blank check,” Menendez said.
Menendez, who follows current Secretary of State John Kerry and Vice President Joe Biden as foreign relations chair, said, “There will never be any daylight between the United States and Israel on my watch. Never. Not on my watch.”
“The fact is we need to be ahead of the curve, and as chairman I intend to keep us ahead of the curve when it comes to the present and future threats to our security,” he said.
Drawing a standing ovation from the AIPAC crowd, Menendez reaffirmed the biblical Jewish connection to the land of Israel.
“There can be no denying the Jewish people’s legitimate right to live in peace and security in a homeland to which they have a connection for thousands of years,” he said.
Menendez condemned the Palestinians’ unilateral statehood bids at the United Nations the last two years, which included their attainment of nonmember observer state status last fall.
“To create a sovereign Palestinian state with clear boundaries, there has to be a negotiated settlement with the state of Israel,” he said.
As far as the Iranian nuclear threat goes, Menendez said, “Containment is not an option for the United States.”
“Our clear intention must be to prevent Iran from ever reaching nuclear capacity,” he said.
“We will not and cannot talk for talking’s sake,” he said of the diplomacy track for Iran. “We cannot allow the negotiations to become just a stalling tactic for Iran to buy time.”
