America’s Commitment To Israel Must Not Waver

Washington, DC - U.S. Congressman Mike Pence, Chairman of the House Republican Conference, made the following statement as the nation of Israel began its annual Independence Day celebration:

"Sixty-two years ago the state of Israel declared its independence. Today, as Israelis celebrate their Independence Day, I congratulate our most cherished ally for prevailing against long odds.

"Israel lives under the threatening shadow of a neighbor that has vowed to ‘wipe Israel off the map.' But, despite trials and travails throughout its history, Israel remains a beacon of democracy in the Middle East.

"Israel's Independence Day should also serve as a reminder of America's commitment to preserve and protect Israel. The United States stands firm as Israel's closest friend.

"In recent days the White House has given a cold shoulder to Israel. This should not be. It is the responsibility of President Obama and the Congress to ensure that our commitment to Israel does not waver, and that we focus on imposing crippling sanctions against Iran to halt its growing threat against our friend." ###

For Additional Information Contact Matt Lloyd or Mary Vought at (202) 226-9000 or matt.lloyd@mail.house.gov

Ros-Lehtinen: Shouldn’t Human Rights Reports Focus on Human Rights Abusers?

(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on the release of the 2009 Annual Report of the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which reviews the status of human rights in nations of the Western Hemisphere. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“The most surprising aspect of this human rights report was not the mention of violations of human rights and civil liberties by the Cuban and Venezuelan regimes.

“Instead, what was startling was the OAS’s inexplicable and deeply alarming decision to present Colombia and Honduras – both free democracies with a strong commitment to human rights – as worse than the Cuban tyranny and the Chavez dictatorship.

“Shouldn’t human rights reports focus on real human rights abusers?

“By smearing Colombia and Honduras while minimizing the actions of real abusers in Cuba and Venezuela, the OAS is continuing its biased assault against true democracies in the region and moving further away from its mission and founding charter.

“When will the OAS wake up and stand up for the democratic principles upon which the organization was founded? When will it call a tyranny a tyranny and a democracy a democracy? When will it stand on the side of the people of the region, rather than with their oppressors?

“This report proves once again that it falls to the U.S. and other responsible nations to stand up for freedom and democracy in the Hemisphere. The OAS is derelict in its duties.” ######

House Foreign Affairs Committee U.S. House of Representatives Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Ranking Republican

For Immediate Release April 19, 2010 Contact: Brad Goehner, (202) 226-8467 Alex Cruz, (202) 225-8200