“I am gratified to have had the opportunity to meet with President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu to discuss how the U.S.-Israel relationship can become even closer and how our two nations can work together to effectively counter threats to our security and to global peace and stability,” Ros-Lehtinen said. 

Ros-Lehtinen also reaffirmed the commitment of the U.S. Congress to the alliance between the U.S. and Israel, which she described as “vital.” 

Ros-Lehtinen is a strong advocate for increased aid to Israel.  She recently voted for over $2.2 billion in Foreign Military Financing for Israel in the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriation bill.  She was also the author of an amendment to that bill which would have stripped funding to organizations supporting radical extremists and rogue nuclear programs, and re-routed that funding to support security assistance in Israel and democracy in Iran.  Ros-Lehtinen is also the author of legislative language on missile defense for Israel and bills to address Iran and Syria’s proliferation activities and state-sponsorship of global Islamist terrorists.

“Israel – like the U.S. – understands all too well the threat posed by violent Islamist extremists, and we must support Israel in its struggle against these radicals, which is also our struggle,” Ros-Lehtinen said.

Ros-Lehtinen also expressed her condolences to the victims of the recent fatal shooting at a gay community center in Tel Aviv.  “The strong rejection by the Israeli people and government of such violence and hate demonstrates once again why Israel’s democracy and free society is a model for the region and the world,” said Ros-Lehtinen. 

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