With the 115th Congress convening on Tuesday, two Florida Republicans spent the first day of the new session focusing on Israel.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., teamed up with former presidential primary rival U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., to bring out the “Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act" which would move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. President-elect Donald Trump has expressed his support for moving the embassy to Jerusalem.
“Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish state of Israel, and that's where America's embassy belongs,” Rubio said on Tuesday. “It's time for Congress and the president-elect to eliminate the loophole that has allowed presidents in both parties to ignore U.S. law and delay our embassy's rightful relocation to Jerusalem for over two decades.”
“Jerusalem is the eternal and undivided capital of Israel,” said Cruz. “Unfortunately, the Obama administration's vendetta against the Jewish state has been so vicious that to even utter this simple truth - let alone the reality that Jerusalem is the appropriate venue for the American embassy in Israel - is shocking in some circles. But it is finally time to cut through the double-speak and broken promises and do what Congress said we should do in 1995: formally move our embassy to the capital of our great ally Israel. I am pleased to co-sponsor this legislation with Senator Heller and Senator Rubio, and I look forward to working with the Trump administration to make this happen.”
Despite Congress passing a similar bill in 1995, the embassy still has not been moved. The current bill would take some funds from the State Department until the embassy moves.
On the other side of Capitol Hill, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the congressional leadership as senior deputy majority whip, brought back his resolution “disapproving of President Obama and his administration’s refusal to veto the anti-Israel resolution adopted by the United Nations Security Council.”
Last month, the U.S. voted to abstain on a measure condemning Israel for launching settlements in disputed territory also claimed by the Palestinians. The UN resolution labels Israeli settlement efforts as “illegal.” Ross brought out his resolution last week and, with a new Congress in session, promptly introduced again on Tuesday.
"The United States has historically opposed and vetoed U.N. resolutions that are one-sided and anti-Israel,” Ross said on Tuesday. “However, when the U.N. Security Council adopted an anti-Israel resolution that threatens peace in the Middle East, the U.S. sat idly by and turned its back on Israel. Instead of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our closest ally and vetoing this dangerous resolution, the U.S., under the direction of President Obama, broke its strong and well-established commitment to Israel.
"Israel does not need another lecture and verbal assault from an administration that shows no evidence of comprehending the reality Israelis live in every day,” Ross added. “I will continue to hold President Obama and the U.N. accountable for their anti-Israel actions. As Republicans and Democrats alike have expressed their contempt for this gross deviation from our foreign policy, I look forward to working with President-elect Trump in correcting President Obama's anti-Israel tactics, forming a stronger-than-ever friendship with Israel, and promoting peace overseas."
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