By U.S. Sen. Angus King
(I-Maine)
This February, I had the opportunity to join my colleague Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and Central and South Asian Affairs, and fellow member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on a trip to the Middle East. During our time overseas, we traveled to Israel, the West Bank, and Lebanon where we met with embassy staff, foreign dignitaries, military leaders, and others working to provide the region with humanitarian assistance.
This was my second trip to the Middle East as a United States Senator and, as with my prior experience traveling to Jordan and Turkey, I found it highly informative. The lessons I learned from the individuals on the ground, experiencing the changes and challenges of the region every day, will undoubtedly help me in my work on the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
First, it was extraordinarily valuable to meet with dozens of Americans who are serving our nation at U.S. embassies and consulates in the region. They provided unparalleled advice on some extremely difficult and complex issues, including the U.S. commitment to Israel’s security and preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon capability, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and our relationships with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Lebanon. These assignments can be challenging – and at times dangerous – and it was an honor to discuss these issues with the men and women serving on the frontlines of American diplomacy.
During our visit to Israel and the West Bank, I was encouraged by the results that Secretary of State Kerry and his team are achieving to develop a framework for peace negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. Resolving this seemingly intractable challenge would do much to relieve tension in the Middle East. Indeed, Secretary Kerry’s tenacity could be a game-changer, and after meeting with all of the key leaders and their top negotiators on both sides, I am more hopeful than ever that a two-state solution is possible.
The U.S. can help facilitate these negotiations, but it is ultimately up to the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority to resolve the most difficult questions and choose a peaceful resolution to decades of conflict. During my visit to an Israeli missile defense battery, I was reminded that the threat of rocket attacks from Gaza is a constant concern for Israelis and that it is vital that both parties place a priority on security cooperation as they seek to establish a path to peace.
The ongoing nuclear negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany was another focus of our visit to Israel. Following several days of meetings with regional leaders and security experts, I am convinced that we must ensure Iran never develops a nuclear weapon capability, and that we should use these negotiations to test whether the Iranian leadership is willing to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions in exchange for rejoining the international community.
In Lebanon I was struck by the perseverance of the Lebanese people who face increasing threats from terrorism, sectarian tensions, a growing refugee crisis, and other spillover effects from the war in Syria. I was pleased to be one of the first American officials to meet with the leaders of Lebanon’s newly formed coalition government who universally expressed their gratitude for U.S. humanitarian and security assistance.
Finally, while at the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Sen. Kaine and I paid our respects to the hundreds of American military personnel and diplomats who have given their lives in Lebanon over the years. It was a humbling experience and a solemn reminder of the heavy price our nation has paid to engage in the world and a testament to those Americans who put their lives on the line to serve our country.
