Washington d. C. Thank you all for joining us today for this profoundly timely event on the 75th anniversary of u. S. Israel alliance, i like to start with the prayer. Heavenly father, pray for our friends in israel and all americans that they stand with our israeli friends and the jewish people in this terrible time, we pray for your guidance and wisdom as we go through these discussions today and not only celebrate anniversary is required. The timing of this event because we have been talking about this for two years so we hoped to have it this may and i was upset what was rescheduled and felt like i failed but to be able to join together today and talk about these topics, talk about u. S. Israel Security Alliance and antisemitism two weeks after the horrific responsibility for heritage to host these discussions and i am excited to hear what everyone has to say and hopefully engage in the spirit looking at the next 25 years and what can come of this. One other quick thing i want to mention is october 23, 40th anniversary of the their and date that is powerful for me because the day after the 24th, my former boss got the call to come to washington and manage the crisis afterwards so working after his retirement on that topic was my introduction to the middle east and introduction to terrorism referred to bomber, a smiling death the trust pulled into the barracks the bombers were smiling and does chilling for us as we contemplate the horrible beds of october 7 the we with which they carried out the atrocity so clearly we have our work cut out for us and we are fortunate to have representation that it is my pleasure to introduce my friends, previously served as chief of the Israeli Ministry of foreign affairs, we have history together going back a few years. A distinguished career including both china and the United States so join me in welcoming commission regimen. [applause] thank you for having me today. Thank you senator ernest or being with us. We gather here today to look at the 75 years of client israel and states. When we have things happening, not a Single Person in this room imagine 75 years of Israel Jewish people experienced this deadly act since the holocaust. October 7, hamas initiated this. October 7 should have been a joyful day celebrating the jewish holiday but instead we were confronted with devastating reality of almost unprovoked attacks. 1400 people massacred. Over 4000 wounded and about 210. Amongst them american citizens killed, injured, objective. You are person impacted my own brother lives adjacent to the border was important in the house for my brother just outside the window hoping nobody would come. They managed to escape only to learn later on the front two houses down were gunned down and lost the family. Israel is war and maybe a long one. Israel didnt choose to start this war but we will react in the international law. Israel is working hard to evacuate harms way is doing and sure innocent civilians are, attacks against immunity is a work in unity of anyone especially uninvolved hamas is not allowing his provide aid or informational is alive and who is not like to take the opportunity to call everyone of you and call about the movies immediately. Make no mistake, like every other nation in the, israel has the right and duty to defend against brutality of terrorism individual analysis eliminated we will not and should not encouraging. Israels northern border hezbollah responsible for all from care. Destructive war, israel doesnt wish to have war but we are prepared to do what it takes to negate any threat that comes our way. President biden said dont. We have seen the medias portrayal, is critical the United States continues to support and stand shoulder to shoulder with israel as a test for 75 years. They after all creation played our two countries that freedom of Democracy Movement to oppose terrorism. The bidens visit expresses support for israel i said visits about his numbers and u. S. Military support was significant demonstration in the United States and israel joining in coordination support of the west is recent military support. Toward the goal. Strategic continue to stand against care coordination with longstanding allies. Congress exhibited a remarkable display of partisan support for israel lawmakers on both sides of the aisle came together to underscore the commitment to israels security right to defend itself. Promising life is legislative recognized situation overwhelming show of support the rising tide of antisemitism in the United States is concerning underscores the critical importance of clinical grade discrimination and hatred toward jewish communities not only threatened the wellbeing of wish for principals of current inclusivity notice take dans work. Raising awareness, the public and taking appropriate action to confront this issue you can work toward a Safer Society safety and security of the jewish communities across the country. Demonstration against israel we see no equals supporting, israeli folk with little time to properly mourn yet despite overwhelming sorrow we have resolute refusing care israel has demonstrated Remarkable Community and resilience and have come together. In the midst of conflict uncertainty the nation. Solidarity religious divide in all walks of life. The chronicle of our homeland. Our people and the Political Leadership to ensure the Nation Security and the defense is expanding over the prices for people to come to the unwavering determination exhibited by israel throughout this challenging. The nations resilience our ability and strong. Something we cannot do the United States. Toward the future and it remains substantial for the only regional between United States and israel strategic significance stitcheds geopolitical landscape fostering bipartisan consensus on shared value and it will be pivotal. We do thank you for ongoing support and support Going Forward. Seventyfive years celebration is changed. Seventyfive years together is a clear message to get. [applause] thank you very much please send all greetings are phones in jerusalem. I like to begin our first panels Israel Security doing incredible work in the Senate Armed Services committee, a distinguished member and is back from the first u. S. Election official on the ground,. [applause] also welcome the director of the national defense, moderating our discussion and i will serve as your second panel. [applause] u. S. Provided israel with 155 security domain and a lot of to address which it has been. The most preeminent capability and its been tested many times and you all know its been tested again. The attack on october 7 with the most deadly israels history and most of the attack against u. S. Americans since 9 11 so in this we are not merely observers, we are because of the city the first question i ask, because israel who recipient Additional Resources following israels second declaration of war. How porn has our investment been . Thank you for this incredibly victorious time and its very important and support israel now more so than ever. I will take off a couple of weeks when i was on the ground and israel i had already embarked on congressional delegation trip to the middle east and started in the uae and the bicameral delegation in saudi arabia and go into israel joining in conversation at the regional conference. We were just leaving saudi arabia we heard about israel. Maybe like many of you when i woke up that morning to find out about a rocket attack, he said we cant go into israel. Israel is being attacked by hamas and by thought was, we could wait a few hours, we should be able to go in not understanding the severity of attacks, this is not normal because israel is attacked all the time from gaza, this was a daily occurrence of the rockets into israel. This was an all out onslaught against israel and as we got back door, it became more and more clear by we need to continue supporting israel. We were able to push into israel on the tenth of october much to the chagrin of our state department traveling into israel but the folks on the ground were so thankful we were there and able to stand sidebyside with the Prime Minister and stand with the people of israel and against these horrific attacks but a mosque so as we look at this, the simple answer is more important than ever but not only do we need to do on the defense of israel, i would say its much harder against iran as well because a lot of this comes directly out of a red. Thank you very much, sonia, i know your visit meant a great deal to our partners and allies cannot stay our attention. Israel is in the final stages of a long anticipated Ground Invasion to destroy hamas and the. The administration asking for delays, what should we be doing to support our partners and allies. I think right now when all israelis and americans need to hear an unequivocal message of support for israels right to selfdefense, its become something of a talking. , what does it need . Israel has the right with help of fear of thousands of, terrorist across the border on a random saturday, supposed to be a holiday. Whats clear to me as we gather information on that terrible day, we are still getting updates as they justify more bodies, stark contrast between good and evil here, there are no shades of gray. Theres good and theres evil s. I think what we need to do is United States is put on jersey, i think we should put on white jersey in this case and get in the fight. Obviously the hostage situation is profoundly difficult in a uniquely horrific way. We have israeli and american citizens and citizens from other countries as well, they didnt ask for the cap floods, they just took them back to gaza and i know it is weighing on everyones heart heavily at the same time, israel cannot live with this threat and unless it is eradicated now, we will wind up in a situation where it could happen again and that is ultimately intolerable saw when the senators experience last discussions that go on, many elements of the u. S. Government would be involved, it would be a complex operation but i think the message needs to be simple but the u. S. And israel stand together the matter could not agree more especially on the stark contrast between good and evil knowing what was perpetrated. It could not be more part. Senator, you mentioned iran and we know from secretary austin testimony in march from january 21, iran into surrogates and proxies launched 83 attacks against u. S. Forces to which we only responded four times and in the last seven days we been attacked an additional eight times by iranian proxies in syria and iraq. What should we be doing and calling for to address this . I would say having been a soldier serving in that region, rules of engagement anytime we went into iraq if you are fired upon, iraq. Why are we not doing that as United States of america . Anytime we have a terrorist group born coming after our men and women, american citizens, we need to retaliate, go back and go back hard. We need to make sure these other countries, terrorist proxy groups know and understand that but what we have seen is an administration of appeasement. They will do what i can to get on the bad side of authoritarian regime to get on the bad side of terrorists heaven. In addition to everything they can to get the agreement with karen going against. A promise continuing down the path of appeasement, 6 billion of assets which i think hamas and attacks on israel seen this administration not enforce sanctions already in place. Iranian oil exports are at a fiveyear high sale of only goes to fund, polysemy islamic jihadists, has a Senior Administration do everything they can make life easier for canadian people that essentially what they have done is make the mission of a mosque others much easier to think that both death to america and death to israel so happy get our efforts in Congress Democratic partners as well not just all democrats wish to do everything for a man, thats not true. We do have good partners at the do support is relevant i will call more and more on partners to push back against the administration and appeasement of heaven. Grateful for your leadership on this, its most welcome and incredibly gratifying. It is difficult to understand and appreciate why we are not responding to unparalleled revocation. Our time of the white house one of our efforts was successfully concluded in 20202 bring israel within the responsibility for circumstances like this. In your view, how has not helped the u. S. And israel prepare for what may be the regional escalation . I may be taking my life into my hands by lecturing you remember i was when i learned israel pleasant yukon, not centcom. It seems so discordant to me and there were a lot of reasons, they wanted to observe nato and the real reason came out, it was basically the military club and they were unwilling to allow israelis and it doesnt make any sense. The positive things will during the trump administration, the court reaching new lease agreements for 25 years between israel and arab neighbors in maybe we can rectify this and as we go in the next 25 years of the relationship, israel is seen as part of it region where it is located. It might seem symbolic but i think it is critical because arrangement and having is written yukon is one thing that allows others is survival not even the right place and i think writing the lungs, recognizing israeli territory moving the visa powerful messages have United States to help others clarity now happened as we look at Regional Response to the seven, everyone is disappointed we are not getting one support the arab world would be nice but its not terribly nice but with a really need is arabs not to attack israel be removed they are pretty much doing that. Reality check by this move can hopefully, Going Forward lay the foundation for real Regional Security architecture that would include israel and it would be central as the power projection for the United States so thats why that was important and can be a linchpin of what we do Going Forward connecting we have seen positive comments from Israeli Security establishment and the United States and is long overdue. It has made a tremendous impact on formation which is incredibly vital. There is i think fear and trepidation regional escalation and conflict in this part of the world that has been systemic. We have seen not that long ago the Biden Administrations disastrous withdrawal from afghanistan. 83 billion of equipment reported control over the same group we took it from which as to that hesitancy and we know under then Vice President biden and general often, in 2011 set the stage for isis and training control over iraq. You see and no reluctance well, what is the best way of making those that are concerned about the conflict understand need for the United States to be involved but also the importance of israel in the region and support under these trying times . It is extremely important and stability in the region they truly are there you sure we dont continue to see the growth of the organization under iran, they are the ones that provide stabilization and continuation of safety in that region, they are pushing back against iran so it is incredibly important we continue to support israel also dropped the Abraham Accords and not only do we continue to focus on these efforts with israel but also tie in all other Abraham Accords that sign onto the agreement and pull in saudi arabia because in arab nations, saudi arabia is there so we need to make sure we continue on the peace agreement. I have heard people say dead and gone, never coming back, that is not true. The delegations. After we had our discussion, we left feeling first about the direction the kingdom wanted to go. They realized if they want prosperity for their people, if they want greater Educational Opportunity for their people, israel be part of the equation. Peace needs to be part of the equation. The one thing iran pierces peace in the region because of these countries coming together provide a four seconds i will pivot back, victoria laid out dutifully by the nations need to come together and how we work together. Part of that is Security Cooperation in the region and because of the Abraham Accords working with the kingdom as well, we have been able to put in place through congress my efforts on the defendant act and we are working on the maritime act now and it allowed us to pull together intelligent from all of these nations to provide an integrated air and Missile Defense systems so this is Early Morning to those nations now tied together in the air Missile Defense and it allowed us to push against the rockets, any missiles from iran or proxies. Collaborating with all of these countries incredibly important body peace and stability in the region allows us to have peace and stability in the United States of america. Any time these actions happen, make no doubt about it, it is going to impact the United States of america. We cant turn a blind eye. Ill give one example, we cannot turn a blind eye and we must be prepared and make sure friends and allies are also prepared to make theres no question cant thank you enough for both pieces of legislation under the