NEW YORK (JTA) – Only nine months into Hillary Clinton’s tenure in the U.S. Senate, our nation and state were attacked by terrorists.
In the months and years since Sept. 11, 2001, Senator Clinton’s strength, vision and leadership have been invaluable in the efforts to rebuild New York and to ensure that our nation is never attacked by terrorists again. The fear, confusion, anger and challenges after this tragic attack brought into focus for many Americans the inextricable link between the United States and Israel, a principle Hillary Clinton has long understood.
A stable Middle East requires peace and security between Israel and her neighbors. From day one, our next president must have the strongest possible commitment to peace in the region and to our partnership with Israel in the fight against terrorism and radicalism. I believe Senator Clinton is best positioned to meet these challenges.
She supported Israel’s right to build a security fence, understanding Israel’s responsibility to protect its citizens from terrorists. She has worked to stop the flow of weapons and funds through Iran and Syria to terror organizations such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and understands the existential threat to Israel if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon or becomes the dominant power in the Middle East. And as the chair of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives, I know Hillary Clinton will support robust aid packages to Israel necessary for preserving its military superiority in the region.
Senator Clinton also understands that to preserve long-term peace for the Jewish state, we must combat the blatant anti-Semitism and hatred taught to generations of schoolchildren in parts of the Middle East.
She first spoke out in 1999 about textbooks that reject Israel’s right to exist and call Israel’s founding “a catastrophe that is unprecedented in history.” This propaganda indoctrinates hate for Israel and Jews, and Senator Clinton recently joined with Palestinian Media Watch to expose continuing anti-Israel and anti-Semitic biases in Palestinian schoolbooks.
Senator Clinton also knows that our reliance on foreign oil is raising prices for families, contributing to the climate crisis and making us more vulnerable to unstable regimes. The Jewish community has long been a leading voice in advocating for energy independence, and Senator Clinton has made it a priority of her administration to address America’s energy and environmental challenges. She has said that we need to cut our import of foreign oil, sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move our country to a new green, efficient economy that will create millions of new jobs.
Senator Clinton’s commitment to Israel and issues of concern to our community is borne out not only in her words but also in her deeds. As a Jewish American, I support Hillary Clinton for president because she will restore America’s standing in the world, protect and strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship, and bring the sound judgment and experience we need to the Oval Office.
U.S. Rep. Nita Lowey represents the 18th Congressional District of New York and chairs the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee.
