Christians United for Israel opposes the Van Hollen amendment
"The amendment endangers Israelis and Palestinians who both rely on Israel having the necessary operational freedom to protect against terrorist activities in the West Bank."
By OMRI NAHMIASSOME OF THE thousands of Christian supporters of Israel at the CUFI Summit in Washington, July 2019.(photo credit: CHRISTIANS UNITED FOR ISRAEL)
WASHINGTON – The Christians United for Israel (CUFI) Action Fund on Monday announced it opposes Senator Chris Van Hollen’s (D-Maryland) amendment to the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment would prohibit Israel from using US security assistance funds for the annexation of parts of the West Bank.“Senator Van Hollen’s proposed amendment would endanger Israelis and Palestinians who both rely on Israel having the necessary operational freedom to protect against terrorist activities in the West Bank,” CUFI Action Fund chairwoman Sandra Parker said in a statement.By limiting systems such as the Iron Dome from being deployed in Judea and Samaria, this legislative language “would only ensure that any future military conflict in the area would result in a much bloodier confrontation,” she said.“Despite focusing this amendment on the discussion over the extension of Israeli sovereignty to Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, Senator Van Hollen and several of the amendment’s backers seem to consistently find a reason to undermine key elements of American support for the Jewish state,” she added.“This amendment should never see the President’s desk, but it is very unfortunate that a small but vocal minority in Congress feel the need to seemingly seek out opportunities to attack our strongest ally in the world,” Parker said.Last week, Van Hollen filed the amendment, which was joined by senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), among others.“I am a strong supporter of robust security assistance to our friend and ally Israel, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forged by president Obama, providing $3.8 billion in annual Foreign Military Financing and missile defense support,” Van Hollen said in a statement.“However, I oppose the use of any of these funds to support the unilateral annexation of Palestinian territories by Israel,” he added. Neither the US government nor American taxpayers should finance or facilitate the move, Van Hollen said.The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) last week announced it opposes the amendment, saying it politicizes US support for Israel’s security.“This amendment contradicts the Obama-Biden MOU and goes far beyond current law in ways that damage American interests, risk Israel’s security, and makes peace less likely,” AIPAC said in a statement.
“Senator Van Hollen wants to ensure no US funds are used for annexation. But that’s already law,” it said. “Aid can only be used for ‘internal security, for legitimate self-defense.’ This amendment goes far beyond current law in ways that jeopardize Israel’s security.”
