East Idaho Times

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo of Idaho, along with Senator Tim Scott and 24 other Senate Republicans, introduced a resolution reaffirming Israel's right to self-defense and condemning recent statements from U.S. lawmakers that interfere in Israel's electoral process. Crapo emphasized his support for Israel, stating, "I remain a strong advocate for Israel’s right to defend itself from existential threats by hostile parties."

The resolution aims to uphold the United States' longstanding policy of supporting Israel's inherent right to self-defense, a principle enshrined in various bipartisan pieces of legislation. This includes the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act of 2012 and the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014. The Senate recently reiterated this policy with the passage of S. Res. 417 following terrorist attacks by Hamas, an Iranian-backed group, against Israel in October 2023.

The resolution comes in response to a speech by the Senate's top Democrat on March 14, 2024, where he called for elections in Israel, claiming the current government no longer meets the country's needs. In light of this, Crapo stressed the importance of not interfering with Israel's sovereign electoral process and supporting their democracy.

The resolution is co-sponsored by a number of Republican Senators, including Tom Cotton, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, and others. The full text of the resolution can be accessed for further details on the matter.