By MICHAEL WILNER, SHARON UDASIN, JPOST
The US House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday that declares Israel a “major strategic partner” of the United States, reinforcing the broad relationship between the two nations and laying the groundwork for more expansive strategic cooperation.
The bill would expand the delivery of forward-deployed US weapons to Israel, as well as other military technologies, and would commit Congress to further funding of the Iron Dome short-range missile defense system.
Controversially, the bill would also invite Israel into a visa waiver agreement with the US, which has been opposed by members of the intelligence community and the Democratic caucus for multiple years.
The bill passed 410-1 in the House. The Senate has taken up a similar measure, which is still in the committee process.
Just a day after its annual policy conference in Washington, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee declared the bill’s passage a victory, and characterized the measure as “dramatically strengthening the US-Israel relationship.”
“This designation lays the foundation for expanded US-Israel cooperation in a wide variety of spheres, including defense, intelligence, homeland security, energy, agriculture and trade,” AIPAC said in a statement, applauding the bill as “critical” and calling on the Senate to act with similar haste.
The second half of the bill, which focuses on US-Israel energy relationships, was authored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) and aims to strengthen collaboration between the two countries on energy projects.
The United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Enhancement Bill first passed through the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee on December 11, and a Senate companion bill passed through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on December 20. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), chairwoman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was responsible for the Senate companion bill, alongside Se.s Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
This portion of the bill officially determines that “United States-Israel energy cooperation, and the development of natural resources by Israel, are strategic interests of the United States,” recognizing Israel specifically as a partner in water technology, safety and security arenas. Encouraging the US National Science Foundation to collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation, the text also encourages more robust academic cooperation in a variety of energy-related fields.
Advocating “open dialogue and continued mechanisms for regular engagement,” the bill calls for continued energy partnerships among government and academic institutions as well as the private sector from both sides. Some particular topics of interest include identifying priorities for developing Israeli natural resources, discussing best practices to secure cyber energy infrastructure, leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional stability and improving energy efficiency, the bill says.
The bill also acknowledges the important role of the US-Israel Binational research and Development Foundation (BIRD) and the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation, and commits continued multiyear funding “to ensure the continuity of the programs of the foundations.”
“I am pleased this important measure was included in the legislative package and encouraged to see it received such overwhelming support,” Upton said, following the bill’s passage. “With a simple amendment to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, this legislation will help bolster the partnership between Israel and the US on energy production and help enhance energy security.”
With American assistance, Israel will be able to continue making advancements in developing its natural resources, Upton stressed. He also committed to working on future “commonsense energy solutions” with colleagues from both sides of the aisle, as occurred while drafting this legislation.
“Today the House passed an important bill that will expand the partnership between the U.S. and Israel,” Waxman agreed. “Israel is a close ally, and it is in our national interest to help the Israelis development their natural resources in a responsible way that protects the environment.”
Can’t Obama with the help of democrats, Jews and J street override/ignore the will of the House? Obama being the commander in chief can veto any supply/resupply to the Jewish state in case of prolonged war.
bernard ross Said:
Yes now they are, the concise you are the more likely to be read. And it doesn’t to be lascivious and salacious also
honeybee Said:
To what specifically are you referring? My responses to you on this page are single sentences. Is there a different specific post to someone else to which you are referring?
bernard ross Said:
You talka to muches. Simplify, simplify. simplify H D Thereau
honeybee Said:
could you be more specific?
@ bernard ross:
I want you to learn a lesson from the Belle of Amherst on the economical use of words.
@ honeybee:
Thank you having problem with my computer and way trying to quote from memory. I love Dickenson
honeybee Said:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
Your version is a bit different.
I like your version.
honeybee Said:
a futile mission, I get a headache just trying to read the sentence 🙂
@ bernard ross:
Read again I am attempting to educate you
honeybee Said:
a bird?
bernard ross Said:
Hope is that feathered thing that perches in the soul and sings the song without words whose tune is know by all. Emily Dickenson
honeybee Said:
some specific things in bill that are of value
honeybee Said:
410-1 cannot be just republicans, only dissenter was a rand paul associate.
bernard ross Said:
] Just Republican sticking it to Obama [Yamit82 style] full of sound and fury signifying nothing.
yamit82 Said:
it appears to leave at least some of it up to presidential discretion, in which case my suggestion might be meaningless. However, it does demonstrate a large gap between Pres and reps; those reps tending to be considered as more reflective of the people.
The lone dissenting voice was Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), a libertarian aligned with Senator Rand Paul.
@ bernard ross:
I would like to see if this bill in final version does not give the president a waiver like with the Jerusalem embassy law. Obama can challenge the law based on separation of powers and this law seems to breach the authority of the congress. When challenged in the courts they always side with the president re: to foreign policy and affairs. Non binding resolutions are another matter.
an amazingly lopsided vote! I think this is an important event that demonstrates the massive gap between the most direct representatives of the american people and the current executive branch under Obama. It will be difficult for Obama to demonize Israel in the light of this declaration. He clearly would be bucking the “people” AND the legal directive to cooperate with Israel. In fact, I believe if this passes that Obama would have a legal difficulty if he did not veto euro and UN sanctions as they would be a direct contravention of US law as enumerated in this bill. The administration would be obligated to facilitate US Israel cooperation which would be clearly endangered by EU and UN sanctions. Therefore, a veto would be exercised as protecting a direct american interest as opposed to a matter of “principles”.
Furthermore, he might be legally obligated to employ his office to lobby with the EU and UN against their initiating sanctions as a clearly stated legal US interest. If I were Israel, and Jewish institutions, I would be looking into how US lawyers and politicians could legally obstruct Obama’s
anti israel agenda at every step of the way using this law.
the phoenix Said:
It called “slant drill” or “horizontal drill”
An interesting comment by phoenix about Israel’s gas and oil.
The US has a history of using the oil resources of other countries, including enriching those countries that would gladly destroy America (9/11), while not disclosing and/or holding its own oil in reserve.
Obama, pretending to make it difficult to accept Canada’s oil, will ultimately, grudgingly accept it rather than deplete US’s enormous reserves.
In the past i would never have considered such thoughts. But today . . . . . . ?
…is this yet another sneaky way to have the Americans be in the background ready to jump in to steal Israel’s newly found gas and oil…all while painting it to be ‘a joint effort’, …. Yeah right!
We are from the government, and we are here to help you…
Wink wink, nod nod
🙁