2 cosponsors
The Friends of Israel Initiative (FOII) was launched shortly after the Mavi Marmara attack to counter attempts to delegitimize Israel. FOII was reportedly established with the help of Dore Gold, a former Israeli diplomat and government advisor, and current president of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, a right-wing Israeli think tank. The group’s goals are to combat the delegitimization of Israel, show solidarity with its democratic institutions, support its right to self-defense, oppose a nuclear-armed Iran, ensure Israel is accepted as a Western country, and reaffirm the value of the religious, moral, and cultural Judeo-Christian heritage as the main source of the liberal and democratic Western societies. As an indicator of the group’s ideology, Friends of Israel founder, chairman, and fmr. Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar repeatedly cited President Obama’s lack of Western values as the main reason for the ‘growing attacks against Israel, and the general campaign of delegitimization’ against it.
Ros-Lehtinen introduced this resolution on the day the Friends of Israel announced its launch in the U.S. The following day, also as part of this international launch campaign, the group held a breakfast for lawmakers at the U.S. Capitol hosted by Ros-Lehtinen and Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ). Members of the Friends of Israel board were presented with leather-bound copies of this resolution.
See also: H. Res. 1241 of 4/13/10, H.R. 5351 of 5/20/10, S. Res. 548 of 6/9/10, H.R. 5501 6/10/10, H. Res. 1440 of 6/14/10, H. Res. 1553 of 7/22/10, and H. Res. 1599 of 7/30/10.