After months of gridlock, last week both chambers of Congress passed, and the President signed, a vital national security supplemental package that addresses several pressing foreign policy matters. It is unquestionably reflective of the Alabama values displayed in our state legislature’s recent resolution in expressing “unequivocal support” for Israel. In case there was any doubt, this vote made our voices clear to the nation: Alabama stands with Israel.
A key component of the legislation provides $14.3 billion in military assistance to Israel to ensure the destruction of Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization responsible for raping, torturing, and murdering nearly 1,200 Israelis on October 7 and taking hundreds more hostage. Yet it took 200 days of war before Congress took tangible action in support of Jerusalem’s efforts to return her hostages and vanquish Hamas thanks to strange bedfellows who forgot that love is not what you say, it’s what you do.
The fringe-left claiming to love everyone but hating Israel pressured Democrats to micromanage the war with onerous conditions. The fringe-right claiming to love Israel but blocking or voting against aiding the Jewish state during her time of war stymied votes to approve the aid on several occasions, making it more difficult for Israel to defeat the terrorists.
Thankfully, our responsible leaders overcame their efforts and won the day. As the final votes show, the overwhelming majority of Congress in both the House and Senate supported the rational, moral, and conservative policy of defending the primacy of American national security interests and supporting allies, especially when they are engaged in direct conflict with a shared adversary.
Much of Alabama’s support for Israel stems from those of us who believe God’s promises to Abraham remain true. This Biblically based support for Israel serves as a foundation, not the culmination, of our understanding of the Middle East and the world at large.
As such, whether it is politically convenient to acknowledge the modern world’s preeminent fault line, the reality is that Iran, Russia, and China have partnered to aggressively and violently attack the values that underpin Western society. This axis of authoritarianism shares weapons, tactics, and a complete and utter disregard for life.
The unalienable rights that so many take for granted must be defended, but American servicemen and women need not be called upon to fight on every battlefield. Undermining our allies’ advances serves no one, including and especially tomorrow’s American warfighters. And now that the Squad and their accidental allies on the fringe-right lost this fight, they are complaining, loudly. They should be ignored.
A vote in favor of the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act was a vote in support of America’s safety at home and interests abroad. Conversely, every vote against this bill was celebrated in Tehran, Moscow and Beijing. This begs the question: Exactly who is being served by efforts to undermine America’s longstanding alliances, including the sacrosanct U.S.-Israel relationship?
As for me and my house, which is 250,000 strong in Alabama, we will serve the Lord; we will stand with Israel.
Ari Morgenstern, a Baldwin County resident, is the Senior Director of Policy and Communications for Christians United for Israel.
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