Sen. Cruz, Rep. Gallagher Introduce Bill to Lock In US Recognition of Israeli Sovereignty Over the Golan Heights

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) this week introduced the Israeli Sovereignty Reassurance Act of 2021 (ISRA), legislation to prohibit the State Department from reversing the U.S. recognition of Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Sen. Cruz led the fight for President Trump to formally recognize Israel's sovereignty over the territory in 2019, but President Biden's administration has signaled a willingness to reverse the decision, putting the security of the region in jeopardy. ISRA ensures no funds go to "prepare, propose, draft, review, or promulgate any regulation, guidance, or executive order or to otherwise implement, administer, or enforce any policy" reversing the recognition. The legislation was introduced against the backdrop of Iran-backed Palestinian terrorists escalating their attacks on Israel. Senate cosponsors include Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said:

"The United States must make it clear that it stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Israel, and the Biden administration must stop equivocating between our Israeli allies and the Iran-backed Palestinian terrorists who are attacking them. Israel has not just the right but the obligation to defend its citizens, and while Israel's leaders may decide that restraint and de-escalation are in their national security interests, the U.S. has no place pressuring them to do so. Similarly, the U.S. should not be in the business of dictating to Israel what it should do with its territories, including the Golan Heights. This bill is an unfortunately necessary measure to protect the security of Israel and ultimately the United States, and a timely reminder of those basic facts."

Rep. Gallagher added:

"The Golan Heights provide Israel with defensible borders and serve as a key buffer between Israel and the chaos in Syria. At a time when Israel - our most important ally in the Middle East - is literally under attack, we should do everything in our power to ensure they can defend themselves. Ensuring we continue to recognize their sovereignty over the Golan Heights is the most basic way we can do so."

Read the full text of their bill here.

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