Forging Peace in the Middle East
The deadly specter of terrorism, the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and the Iranian president’s call for the destruction of the State of Israel have darkened the prospects for peace in the Middle East. The fate of the region and, in many ways, the stability of the world hang in the balance.
A Record of Leadership
Several journeys to the Middle East have deepened Andrew’s knowledge of the region and shaped his views. Andrew’s most recent trips, in 2009, took him to Israel, Egypt, Jordan and parts of the Palestinian territory. He joined a bipartisan group of American lawmakers in meeting with a wide range of elected officials, democracy advocates, academic and business leaders, and other citizens.
As a state legislator, Andrew cosponsored resolutions affirming America’s support for Israel, for greater democracy in the Middle East, and for “a just, lasting, and secure peace” for all the peoples of the region. In 2009, the Mizel Museum made him its Tikkun Olam (“Repairing the World”) Ambassador. “As speaker,” the award noted, Andrew “built bridges of understanding in an atmosphere of strong political differences, performing admirably and providing vision and leadership at a critical time.”
A Plan of Action
The State of Israel plays a vital role as the homeland of the Jewish people and as America’s most reliable and democratic partner in the Middle East. Yet Israel’s very survival now faces greater threats than ever before, from Iran as well as from the terrorist organizations Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Andrew firmly supports Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself, and will advocate for continued U.S. aid to advance those goals. A strong alliance between the United States and Israel is critical to the security of both nations.
Andrew also supports the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own homeland and to enjoy a higher quality of life. He favors the decision to bypass Hamas and provide direct aid to the Palestinian people.
Andrew will actively pursue a two-state solution, in which Israel would live side by side with a democratic Palestinian State. The U.S. and its allies should engage Palestinian leaders and Arab states that renounce violence and accept Israel’s right to exist.
Iran’s ability to deploy nuclear weapons would pose an existential threat to Israel and a clear danger to the rest of the world. The U.S. should seek to remove that risk, by sanctions if possible, and promote a democratic Iran.
In the end, lasting peace in the Middle East can come only from the residents of the region themselves. Andrew strongly supports programs that foster mutual respect and friendship among people of different religions and cultures. He has seen such efforts take root among younger generations, upon whose shoulders rest our hopes for a more tranquil world.
