Moulton Statement on Israeli Election Results

'I have said often that America should approach its relationships with other countries using the motto of my unit in the Marines: ‘No better friend, no worse enemy.’

In the United States, Israel has no better friend, and there will be no greater enemy to those threatening Israel than the United States.

Good friends tell each other hard truths. As he works to form a governing coalition, Benjamin Netanyahu should know: America’s goal, despite our leader’s blustering, is a just and lasting peace in Israel.

Nearly everyone agrees that today there is only one viable way to reach a lasting peace: a two-state solution that is negotiated in good faith. Netanyahu should work with his Palestinian counterparts to create an agreement that guarantees Israel’s right to exist, allows Palestinians to self-govern, and provides Muslims access holy sites in Jerusalem. America can help broker this discussion, but ultimately the agreement must be between the Israeli and Palestinian people.

Our President, Vice President, and Secretary of State claim to be good friends of Israel. Good friends of Israel would condemn Prime Minister Netanyahu’s recent actions and rhetoric concerning the West Bank and Golan Heights that undermine the peace process, not inflame tensions with short-sighted and politically-motivated decisions like relocating our embassy. Good friends of Israel would denounce these actions for exactly what they are - dangerous and destabilizing efforts to consolidate power for the price of peace.

As a good friend of the Israeli people, I do.”

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