BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released the following statement on the terrorist attacks against Israel:
“The thoughts and prayers of the American people are with our friend and partner Israel in the aftermath of an unprovoked attack at the hands of Palestinian terror groups. These attacks are a stark reminder that Israel faces enduring threats posed by Hamas, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and Hezbollah, and are one reason why Israel continues to deserve the United States’ unwavering support.
“Israel has every right to respond to these attacks, and has the unequivocal support of the United States as it takes actions to prevent further violence. Any premature calls to curb Israel’s response before the threat is diminished are misguided and dangerous. We stand ready to provide support for our partner in its time of need.
“These attacks also underscore the dangers of a continued weak-kneed U.S. approach to Iran. Hamas, the PIJ, and Hezbollah rely on their Iranian patron to threaten Israel. This is the sort of outcome that is encouraged by the facilitation of the flow of cash to Iran as was recently done with $6 billion that was released by the Biden Administration. These attacks reinforce the need for a more aggressive U.S.-Iran policy that more effectively deprives the regime and its proxies of resources. Sanctions and sanctions enforcement – particularly Chinese purchases of Iranian oil – need vast improvement. The Biden Administration can and should do more.
“Finally, the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) response to these attacks has been notably muted. The PA should strongly condemn these attacks, urge calm, and demonstrate the leadership to prevent violence from spilling over into the West Bank. Otherwise, this will represent yet another missed opportunity for the PA to demonstrate leadership and discourage, rather than incentivize, violence.
“We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Israeli partners and offer condolences for the innocent lives lost.”
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