I write to respond to a blatant distortion of Senator Patty Murray’s support for the State of Israel published in an ad paid for by the Republican Jewish Coalition (Oct. 15).
I have been an activist supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship for 25 years. I have worked closely with Senator Murray during the 18 years she has served our state as its senator. We have talked on dozens of occasions, both locally and in her office in Washington, D.C. Her public record is one of unambiguous support for the safety and security of the land of Israel and its citizens.
When Senator Murray first entered office, her knowledge of Israel and the Middle East was limited. She, on her own initiative, sought out the Jewish community and our supporters to find out as much as she could to address our concerns. She has educated herself well and now educates her colleagues on the complex and dynamic Middle East. She has traveled to Israel and met with key leaders of Likud, Kadima and Labor. She has co-sponsored numerous Congressional bills sanctioning Iran, criticizing Palestinian intransigence, holding Arab leaders accountable for their actions and supporting Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state within its own securable borders.
Let there be no misunderstanding on the issue. Democrat and Republican pro-Israel activists who have worked closely with Senator Murray understand that she is an outstanding champion of the U.S.-Israel relationship. The attempt to make it appear otherwise by the Republican Jewish Coalition is disingenuous.