[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Message From Senator Durbin

[Brussel Morton K.]

I guess my letter got put into the wrong bin… --mkb

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Correspondence_Reply at durbin.senate.gov
> Date: January 21, 2009 10:23:55 AM CST
> To: mkb3 at mac.com
> Subject: Message From Senator Durbin
>
>
>
>
>
> January 21, 2009
>
>
>
> Mr. M. K. Brussel
> 2003 S George Huff Dr
> Urbana, IL 61801
>
>
> Dear Mr. Brussel:
>
> Thank you for contacting me about U.S. support for Israel. I  
> appreciate hearing from you and share your concern for Israel's  
> security and the safety of its citizens.
>
> Israel has endured many years of suffering as ordinary citizens,  
> many of them children, have lost their lives to hatred and terrorist  
> violence. No cause or grievance can justify the deliberate killing  
> of innocent civilians.
>
> Israel has a right to defend itself from rocket attacks by Hamas and  
> other terrorist threats. I was an original cosponsor of S. Res. 10,  
> which passed the Senate by unanimous consent on January 8, 2009.  
> This resolution recognizes the right of Israel to defend itself  
> against attacks from Gaza and reaffirms the United States' support  
> for Israel in its battle with Hamas. It also recognizes the  
> importance of United States support for and involvement in the  
> Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
>
> Israel remains the most important U.S. ally in the Middle East and  
> the only multi-party democratic state in the region. I am proud to  
> have been a strong supporter of Israel throughout my service in  
> Congress. The strong and stable friendship between our two  
> countries, built on a solid foundation of shared values, mutual  
> assistance, and trust, is in the fundamental interest of the United  
> States as well as Israel.
>
> Since World War II, the United States has given Israel more  
> assistance than any other country, and Israel was the largest annual  
> recipient of U.S. foreign assistance from 1976 through 2004. Since  
> 1985, the United States has provided nearly $3 billion a year to  
> Israel.On August 13, 2007, representatives of the American and  
> Israeli governments signed a 10-year, $30 billion aid package. The  
> agreement calls for annual increases in military assistance to  
> Israel, reaching $3.1 billion a year by Fiscal Year 2018.
>
> The Israeli people deserve safety and security. Palestinians should  
> have a safe and sovereign homeland and a voice in deciding their own  
> destiny. But these goals for Palestinians cannot be achieved at the  
> expense of Israel's sovereignty or the safety of its citizens. The  
> establishment of a Palestinian state must come through peaceful  
> negotiations, not violence.
>
> I am pleased that President Obama has repeatedly stated that  
> resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be a top priority  
> for his administration and I continue to hope that the Israeli and  
> Palestinian governments can reach a mutual agreement that will bring  
> peace and stability to the region. In the long run there is no  
> alternative.
>
> I am monitoring this situation closely and will continue to stand  
> firm in my support for Israel. Thank you again for your message.  
> Please feel free to stay in touch.
>
> Sincerely,
>
>
> Richard J. Durbin
> United States Senator
>
> RJD/ds
>
>

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