Crapo Statement on Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Remarks to Congress

Washington, D.C.--U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) released the following statement after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress:

“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress today reinforced our continued need to support Israel’s right to defend itself against existential threats by Iranian-backed terrorists.  Israel is a critical ally of the United States in an otherwise volatile region.  We must continue to back efforts to bring every remaining hostage--especially American citizens--home and free from the barbaric captivity of Hamas and its allies.  It is more important than ever that the United States support our allies and diplomatic partners.” 

Senator Crapo has been a steadfast, staunch supporter of Israel.  Since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists, Senator Crapo has:

• Joined in introducing the Israel Security Assistance Support Act that would force the Biden Administration to send critical weapons to Israel;
• Signed a Senate Resolution that condemns any action by the Biden Administration to withhold or restrict weapons for Israel;
• Co-sponsored a bill to ban U.S. funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) permanently;
• Joined colleagues in sending a letter to the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) urging her to bring forward a resolution to designate Iranian-backed Hamas as a terrorist organization;
• Supported a unanimously-passed Senate Resolution calling for the strengthening of economic ties between the U.S. and Israel;
• Sent a letter to President Biden calling on him to enforce current law and act against Iran’s illicit oil trade through sanctions;
• Co-sponsored the Revoke Iranian Funding Act to freeze $6 billion of Iranian funds and prevent the Iranian regime from accessing and using the funds held in Qatar to finance terrorist attacks against Israel or any other nation;
• Co-sponsored a resolution reiterating Israel’s right to self-defense and condemning statements from U.S. lawmakers which interfere in Israel’s sovereign electoral process;
• Co-sponsored resolutions condemning the rise of antisemitism that has taken place on college campuses across the nation; and
• Co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation to counter antisemitism and prohibit students who have participated in the unlawful, pro-Hamas encampments and riots from receiving federal financial assistance.