- Dec 29, 2008
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Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) expressed support in a possible Senate move to ratify a narrow U.S.-Israel mutual defense treaty in 2020 on Wednesday. He spoke at the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) gala event in Washington.
"I think it will be the biggest advancement in a long time regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship, and I think it will be the biggest deterrent to a big war in a very long time," Graham said.
"My hope is that we can draft a mutual defense agreement that is consistent with Israel's ability to defend herself, consistent with the United States' strategic interest, which is to make sure that our number one ally in the region doesn't go by the wayside," the Senator added. "If we can pull this off, I think it would be one of the most important things we've ever done to solidify this relationship. I think it will have a calming effect on a region that needs some calm."
Israel's Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said that Israel's top officials would welcome such a treaty.
"That's something that I strongly support," the ambassador said. "It's something that has the support of Prime Minister Netanyahu, of Israel's sitting chief of staff Aviv Kochavi, [and] of our current national security advisor. And I have spoken to all three of those people directly about it, and they are all positively inclined."
"The treaty would do three things," Dermer clarified. "First, it would give powerful expression to the alliance between America and Israel. The second thing it would provide a layer of deterrence against the most extreme threats that Israel faces, thereby enhancing both security and stability. And third, it would give a platform to upgrade the alliance between our two countries dramatically."
"I strongly believe that the mutual defense treaty is part of the effort to strengthen the alliance," he added.
Lindsey Graham, Ron Dermer support U.S.-Israel defense treaty
There are already resolutions passed by both houses of Congress pledging political, financial and logistical support to Israel if Israel goes to war against Iran, so this would be just a step further than the relationship the US and Israel already have, not something entirely new.
"I think it will be the biggest advancement in a long time regarding the U.S.-Israel relationship, and I think it will be the biggest deterrent to a big war in a very long time," Graham said.
"My hope is that we can draft a mutual defense agreement that is consistent with Israel's ability to defend herself, consistent with the United States' strategic interest, which is to make sure that our number one ally in the region doesn't go by the wayside," the Senator added. "If we can pull this off, I think it would be one of the most important things we've ever done to solidify this relationship. I think it will have a calming effect on a region that needs some calm."
Israel's Ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer, said that Israel's top officials would welcome such a treaty.
"That's something that I strongly support," the ambassador said. "It's something that has the support of Prime Minister Netanyahu, of Israel's sitting chief of staff Aviv Kochavi, [and] of our current national security advisor. And I have spoken to all three of those people directly about it, and they are all positively inclined."
"The treaty would do three things," Dermer clarified. "First, it would give powerful expression to the alliance between America and Israel. The second thing it would provide a layer of deterrence against the most extreme threats that Israel faces, thereby enhancing both security and stability. And third, it would give a platform to upgrade the alliance between our two countries dramatically."
"I strongly believe that the mutual defense treaty is part of the effort to strengthen the alliance," he added.
Lindsey Graham, Ron Dermer support U.S.-Israel defense treaty
There are already resolutions passed by both houses of Congress pledging political, financial and logistical support to Israel if Israel goes to war against Iran, so this would be just a step further than the relationship the US and Israel already have, not something entirely new.
