B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulating him on his party’s success in Israel's national elections on behalf of all of the organization’s members and supporters. B’nai B’rith also extended its sincere hopes for the security of the State of Israel and overall welfare of the nation as Netanyahu shifts his attention to assembling a governing coalition.

In the letter, B’nai B’rith International President Allan J. Jacobs and Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin write: “Israel's vibrant democracy—very much in evidence during the recent campaign—is unique to the Middle East and therefore a source of great pride to the Jewish community. We hope that the spirited election campaign just concluded will give way to a renewed sense of national purpose, as Israelis confront the considerable international and domestic challenges facing their country.”

Mariaschin and Jacobs went on to pledge B’nai B’rith’s eternal support, “not only for the well-being of the Jewish state, but for the ongoing strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

They closed by wishing Netanyahu and the government “much success in your effort to lead Israel to a future that is at once secure, prosperous and peaceful.”

Click here to read the full letter.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

B’nai B’rith International congratulates the Israeli people on another successful election in which all citizens were able to exercise their inalienable right to choose their representatives in the government. We join with Israeli citizens in celebrating the election as the ultimate expression of the only true democracy in the Middle East.

Now, the process of forging a governing coalition will begin. The result of this process must be a government that will be able to face the many challenges, both domestic and foreign, that it will surely confront.

These elections are always hard-fought and B’nai B’rith congratulates both prime minister-hopefuls, incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Member of Knesset Isaac Herzog, on campaigning to serve the people of the State of Israel.

B’nai B’rith looks forward to continuing our close relationship with whomever will lead the next Israeli government. 

Regardless of the outcome of this election the continued strength of the U.S.-Israel relationship remains of vital importance. This relationship has endured for many decades because of the fundamental democratic values the two countries share.

B’nai B’rith International has issued the following statement:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a compelling case before the United States Congress today to ensure Iran cannot be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. We welcome his contributions to the discussion about this issue and the current P5+1 (United States, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom) negotiations.

In his address Netanyahu talked about the Israel-U.S. partnership: “We must all stand together to stop Iran’s march of conquest, subjugation and terror.”

As he has for many years, Netanyahu once again used his voice to speak out against the Iranian threat.

The prime minister told Congress: “Iran’s regime is as radical as ever,” and noted “the greatest dangers facing our world is the marriage of militant Islam with nuclear weapons.” We can’t let that happen, he told the joint-congressional meeting.

Most recently, B’nai B’rith noted that even during the long months of negotiations, Iran has continued to sponsor international terror organizations, enrich uranium, defy the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), pursue plans to build intercontinental ballistic missiles and hide the military dimensions of its nuclear program. Iran’s actions during negotiations seemingly offer a clear blueprint for how it would act once a deal is in place.  

Iran is the world’s largest state sponsor of global terrorism. We concur with Netanyahu’s deep concern over Iran’s global aggression, even as the P5+1 negotiations have been underway.

A nuclear-ready Iran has consequences that would resonate far beyond Israel and the United States. It is incumbent on the negotiators to consider this and not enter into a bad deal, one that that puts Iran a giant leap closer to nuclear weapons capability.

Netanyahu clearly noted that the alternative to a bad deal is a better deal. B’nai B’rith agrees that restrictions on Iran’s ability to produce nuclear weapons must be securely in place and that the points he raised to strengthen a deal be seriously considered by the negotiators while there is still time to effectuate the change.