The important role that congress can play:
Congress has been the bedrock of support for the U.S Israel Relationship. By supporting aid to Israel, congress can help ensure that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge while providing Israel with the backing it needs to peruse peace. Congress can continue to provide an element of solidity and consistency in the U.S Israel relationship by helping guarantee that the relationship transcends occasional disagreements that might arise. Also, Congress can help thwart efforts around the globe to delegitimize Israel. Lobbying organizations such as AIPAC ensure that congress continues to support Israel.
The Importance of the Aid that is allocated by congress each year:
Israel spends about eight percent of its GDP on defense-significantly more then the U.S spends.
Israel's military must be flexible enough to fight three completely different kinds of threats:
-Deterring powerful militaries
-Fighting terrorism in civilian areas
-Portable missile bombardment
Such a high level of military reediness is expensive and U.S security assistance is critical in helping Israel meet these threats
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Hot Topics for lobbyists right now
· upping sanctions on Iran to prevent their nuclear power program
· Back foreign assistance in Israel
· Opposing palestinian statehood in the United Nations
