U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said while addressing Israel’s parliament on Feb. 16 that U.S. support for Israel and its regional stability remains “ironclad.”
Knesset Speaker Mickey Levy, who greeted Pelosi, highlighted Israel’s concern about Iran, saying that Iran “must not be allowed to develop nuclear capabilities.”
Levy also pointed out that he’s grateful for the United States approving legislation in September 2021 that would provide additional funding for the country’s Iron Dome missile-defense system. Pelosi noted that she hopes that the Senate will “very soon” approve the additional funding that was approved in the House this past fall.
“In the coming days, our delegation will continue our discussions on how the United States and Israel will remain laser-focused on advancing security, economy, and governance in meetings with Israeli and Palestinian civic organizations,” she said.
Pelosi landed in Israel on Feb. 16 as part of a congressional delegation that includes Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Bill Keating (D-Mass.), Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and Andy Kim (D-N.J.).
The face-to-face diplomacy comes at a tense time in the allies’ relationship, as talks about a deal to rein in Iran’s nuclear capabilities drag on in Vienna. Israel has said that it won’t be bound by any international agreement concerning Iran’s nuclear program and that it’s prepared to take military action if needed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.