NEWS

House Foreign Affairs Committee

U.S. House of Representatives

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican

CONTACT: Sam Stratman, (202) 226-7875, May 31, 2007

Lee Cohen, (202 226-1139

For IMMEDIATE Release

Ros-Lehtinen Wraps up Official Visit to Israel

Visit focuses on security and economic ties between allies

(JERUSALEM) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) today wrapped up a three-day visit to Israel that included discussions with senior government officials regarding security and economic issues.

Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), also a member of the committee, for meetings with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Eli Yishai, Minister of Industry, Trade and Labor.

During their meeting with Foreign Minister Livni, Ros-Lehtinen said the discussion focused on efforts to enforce economic sanctions against Iran for violating UN Security Council resolutions concerning its nuclear program. Livni thanked Ros-Lehtinen for her legislative efforts to ensure Israel's inclusion in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The delegation also conferred about Gaza security and the smuggling of weapons, cash, and terrorists through tunnels from Egypt into Gaza, and the continuing support provided by Iran and Syria for Islamic militants operating in the Palestinian territory.

Netanyahu, who also serves as leader of the opposition in the Knesset, discussed the political and diplomatic fallout from the Summer 2006 war in Lebanon. He spoke of the failure to implement UN Security Council Resolution 1701 which calls for an arms embargo on Hezbollah, and suggested that weakness by Israel would encourage war, while peace is only possible if Israel remains strong and united. Netanyahu also discussed the regional threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program and decried military aid by Iran and Syria to Hezbollah-supported terrorists operating in Gaza and Egypt’s role in “enabling” the assistance.

Ros-Lehtinen and Wexler also conferred with Peres about economic development issues in Israel. The two also joined Florida Governor Charlie Crist and a delegation of Florida elected officials for a meeting with Minister Yishai and a discussion about a memorandum of understanding to be signed between the State of Israel and Florida paving the way for an expansion of commercial ties.

Ros-Lehtinen also conferred with Gideon Frank of the Israeli Atomic Energy Agency on Iran’s nuclear program and appropriate strategies to counter threats to the U.S. and Israel by a nuclear Iran.

During a visit to Jerusalem’s Old City, Ros-Lehtinen prayed at the Western Wall.

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