Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz continued to show her support for strengthening the relationship between the United States and Israel during a Foreign Affairs Committee markup last week on the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2012,  H.R. 2583.

As the highest ranking Jewish lawmaker in Pennsylvania and as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Schwartz has continuously pursued policies designed to strengthen Congress’ bipartisan support for the State of Israel. She is a member of the Democratic Israel Working Group and the U.S.-Israel Security Caucus.

During the committee markup, Schwartz offered an amendment requiring the State Department to increase focus on and report to Congress on their efforts to counter multilateral efforts to isolate Israel. The amendment passed through Committee and will be included in the final bill.

“While Israel has recently made very positive strides in gaining support in the international community, many persist in their efforts to delegitimize Israel. This amendment makes those efforts to counter such action a priority,” Schwartz said.

“It is important that we continue to ensure and promote Israel’s participation in the world diplomatic community. It is also critical that we work to counter the persistent efforts by some to isolate and disparage Israel. While the United Nations has played a critical role in the creation of Israel, U.N. history has been marked by continued antagonism toward the Jewish state.

“Maintaining a focus on this issue is increasingly important in the coming months, particularly should the Palestinian’s mistakenly move forward with unilateral efforts toward statehood. It is important that we continue to fight efforts to isolate Israel.”

Schwartz also offered an amendment emphasizing the need for Egypt to enact both legal and political reforms that protect the religious and democratic freedoms of all its citizens and requiring the Secretary of State to report back on Egypt’s progress. The amendment, which also passed the committee, requires the Secretary of State to report back on Egypt’s progress. 

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