7th District Lawmaker Co-chairs House Republican Israel Caucus

WASHINGTON, DC –Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) issued the following statement today in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint meeting of Congress:  

“The Prime Minister delivered an excellent address to a joint meeting of Congress and I was honored to participate. The Prime Minister reaffirmed a strong Israeli-American friendship and how our two nations mutually share the advancement of peace, democratic values for our citizens and opposition to a nuclear Iran.

“I appreciated the fact that the Prime Minister expressed Israel’s eagerness to return to the negotiating table to discuss a peaceful coexistence between Israel and the Palestinian people.  I agree with Prime Minister Netanyahu that any such agreement must include the recognition and existence of Israel as a Jewish state and undisputedly safe, defensible borders for Israel.”

"I join the Prime Minister’s rejection of President Obama’s recent suggestion that Israel return to its 1967 borders as a condition of a self-governing Palestinian state.  Forcing Israel to concede its borders to the 1967 lines is misguided and would have a negative consequence on the security of Israeli people.”

Lance, who serves as the co-chairman of the House Republican Israel Caucus, is a staunch supporter of Israel and a strong advocate for Israel's right to self-defense and to exist as a democratic, Jewish state.  Congressman Lance fully supports Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and has also advocated for Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel and supports relocating the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.  

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