Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus, issued the following statement in support of Israel: 

“I join President Trump in making it absolutely clear that the United States stands with Israel—today and every day.

“I believe that there is no higher priority than protecting Americans in the region including our service members and a significant number of my constituents who are in Israel today.

“The Iranian government has a long, shocking, and hate-filled record of crimes against humanity and genocide against Israel and Jews everywhere.  Iranian threats of death to Israel and death to America are real and should never be ignored or trivialized—they mean it.

“Iran wants to completely destroy Israel—wipe it off the face of the earth— and attacks Israel directly with missiles and drones and through a global network of terrorist proxies.

“Iran cannot be permitted to obtain a nuclear weapon.  If Iran succeeds in procuring weapons of mass destruction, there is a high probability that they will use them.

“Israel did not initiate this conflict—it has responded to the Iran’s existential threats and unrelenting war and aggression. 

“I have and will always strongly support Israel, defend Americans in harm’s way, and prevent Iran from acquiring the capacity to produce nuclear weapons. A nuclear-armed Iran would be a mortal danger not only to Israel and America but every country in the Middle East.”

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