M A Y 2 0 1 5 • W W W . A I P A C . O R G / N E R

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On May 7, the Senate passed the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act of 2015 with a 98-1 bipartisan

majority.

Authored by Sens. Bob Corker (R-TN), Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), this

legislation provides Congress a procedure to assert its historic foreign policy role and review any

agreement to ensure it meets U.S. objectives.

Under the legislation’s provisions, if Congress adopts a joint resolution that disapproves of the

agreement, the president will not be able to provide Iran with statutory sanctions relief. The bill would

also require the president to notify Congress of any credible and accurate information related to a

breach of the agreement, and to provide Congress with a mechanism to reimpose sanctions.

“Today’s overwhelming, bipartisan vote sends a strong signal about the determination of Congress to

prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon,” said Corker. “This bill will allow Congress – on behalf

of the American people – to determine if any final deal is verifiable and enforceable before the

president can provide Iran any relief from congressional sanctions. I urge my colleagues in the House

to seize this opportunity to give the American people a voice over this consequential issue that could

affect generations to come.”

The bill requires the president to submit any comprehensive agreement to Congress within five days

of reaching a deal. According to the bill, Congress will be given the full text of the agreement and all

related materials, a verification assessment on Iranian compliance, and a certification that the

agreement meets U.S. non-proliferation objectives and does not threaten U.S. national security.

“On such a serious national security matter that must halt Iran’s nuclear weapons program, Congress

has a responsibility to fulfill its oversight obligations, to dispense with political divisions, and to unite

around a common purpose. Meaningful diplomacy coupled with congressional review and oversight is

the right path forward and today’s vote is a giant step forward toward achieving that objective,” said

Cardin.

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Congress is, then, given a 30-day period to review the agreement and to vote approval or

disapproval. During that timeframe, no additional sanction relief could be granted to Iran. If the deal is

submitted between July 10 and September 7, the review period rises to 60 days. Nor can sanctions

relief be granted in the 12-day period after a resolution of disapproval is adopted, during which the

president may veto the resolution, or in the 10-day period following a presidential veto, during which

Congress would have an opportunity to override the veto should it choose to do so.

“We’ve worked hard to create a great bipartisan balance. And we have an opportunity to do

something that is a landmark piece of legislation,” said Corker. “No bill, no review. No bill, no

oversight. The American people want [Congress] on their behalf to ensure that Iran is accountable.”

Once the congressional review process has concluded, the president would be required to provide an

assessment to Congress every 90 days on Iran’s compliance with the deal. If Iran is found to have

materially breached the agreement, the legislation provides for expedited consideration of legislation

reinstating any sanctions waived or suspended.

“There is bipartisan concurrence that we do not trust Iran, so we must demand a final agreement that

is verifiable, transparent, allows for intrusive inspections and that result in the snapping back of

sanctions if any violations occur,” said Cardin.

A version of the legislation will be taken up in the House of Representatives. Once passed in the

House, it will be sent to the president to sign into law.

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Tehran’s efforts to dominate the Middle East are proceeding in parallel with its ongoing nuclear

program. From Lebanon to Yemen, Iran deploys its military and employs terrorism to expand its

control over parts of the Middle East in an effort to rid the region of Western influence. Meanwhile,

Iran has stepped up executions at home, as well as the suppression of women and journalists. The

United States must work to ensure any benefit from sanctions relief pursuant to a final nuclear

agreement is not used by Iran to finance regional aggression and harsh repression of its own citizens.

Iran unleashes radical forces to dominate region

• Iran seeks to spread its influence across the region through its Islamic Revolutionary Guard’s Quds

force, Shiite militias, and rebel groups and terrorist organizations.

• The leader of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), Maj. Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari, recently

boasted, “The Islamic revolution is advancing with good speed, its example being the ever-increasing

export of the revolution. Today, not only do Palestine and Lebanon acknowledge the influential role of

the Islamic republic but so do the people of Iraq and Syria.”

• An Iranian parliamentarian close to Supreme Leader Khamenei recently declared that, “Three Arab

capitals (Beirut, Damascus, and Baghdad) have already fallen into Iran’s hands and belong to the

Iranian Islamic Revolution.”

• Iraq: Iran has exploited the threat from the Islamic State (IS) to reinvigorate Iraqi Shiite militias that

killed hundreds of Americans during the Iraq war. These militias are controlled by IRGC Quds Force

Commander Qasem Soleimani, who has visited Iraq numerous times and personally commanded the

recent assault on the IS-controlled town of Tikrit. These militias are more powerful than the Iraqi Army

and engage in vengeful reprisals against Sunni communities.

• Syria: Iran expends tremendous financial and military resources to prop up Assad in Syria, where

the death toll has climbed to over 220,000. Iran commanded Lebanese Hezbollah to fight in Syria,

which has worsened sectarian conflict there and created conditions that have enabled extremist

groups such as IS and al-Qaeda to thrive.

• Yemen: In January 2015, Iranian-trained and armed Shi’a Houthi rebels in Yemen seized the capital

and forced President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a vital U.S. counterterror partner, from power.

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Mimicking slogans from the Iranian revolution, the Houthi motto is “Death to America, death to Israel,

curse the Jews, victory for Islam.”

• Lebanon: Iran provides hundreds of millions of dollars a year in funding and weaponry to

Hezbollah, including advanced missiles. In response to the announced nuclear framework, Hezbollah

leader Hassan Nasrallah said, “Iran will become richer and wealthier and will also become more

influential. This will also reinforce the position of its allies.”

Iran continues to support terrorism around the world

• On March 22, CIA Director John Brennan stated on Fox News Sunday that, “The nuclear program is

one issue that we're hoping to be able to halt, but also we see that Iran is still a state sponsor of

terrorism. So what we have to do – whether there's a deal or not – is to continue to keep pressure on

Iran and to make sure that it is not able to continue to destabilize a number of countries in the region.”

• Israeli officials have reported a large increase in Iranian weaponry being shipped to Hezbollah in

Lebanon and on the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, and to Hamas in Gaza. These shipments

provide more sophisticated rockets and weaponry to both groups to prepare them for the next armed

conflict with Israel.

• Iran is a primary sponsor of Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza. Iran praised the group for

instigating the 2014 Gaza conflict and has pledged to similarly arm its proxies in the West Bank.

• As the leading state-sponsor of terror, Iran continues to plan major terrorist attacks around the

world. An Iranian operative was expelled from Uruguay in 2015 after an explosive was found at the

Israeli Embassy in Montevideo. In a similar 2014 incident, a Hezbollah operative was arrested for

possessing significant explosives. An attack on Israeli tourists in Bangkok, Thailand was thwarted in

2014, and in 2013 Nigerian officials arrested members of a Hezbollah cell that had been planning

attacks on the USAID office and other western targets.

• Previous Iranian attacks have targeted the United States and Europe. In 2011, Iran plotted to

assassinate Saudi Ambassador Adel al-Jubeir in Washington, D.C. The following year, Hezbollah

killed five Israeli tourists and one Bulgarian in a bus bombing at the Burgas Airport in Bulgaria.

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Iran expands human rights abuses under Rouhani

• According to a new U.N. report, Iran’s use of the death penalty and repression of critics has

worsened under President Hassan Rouhani. Released on March 12 by U.N. Special Rapporteur on

Human Rights in Iran Ahmed Shaheed, the report found that Iran executed 753 people in 2014,

including 13 juveniles. Additionally, 252 people were executed in the first 10 weeks of 2015. Many of

these executions were for drug-related offenses and other non-violent crimes.

• Iran currently ranks 173 out of 180 countries in press freedom and is holding a minimum of 30

journalists in jail, according to the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index.

Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, an American citizen, has been imprisoned for ten months

without access to an attorney; only in May – and reportedly despite little credible evidence –Tehran

finally charged him with passing sensitive economic and industrial information about Iran and allowed

him to see a lawyer—once.

• U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Katrina Lantos Swett said that since

2013 “…the Iranian government has imprisoned more than 350 people, including 150 Sunni Muslims,

100 Baha’is, 90 Christians, and at least a dozen Sufi Muslims, for their beliefs. The number of

Christians imprisoned has nearly doubled over the past year.”

• The abysmal state of women’s rights in Iran was highlighted in a Feb. 20 report by U.N. Secretary-

General Ban Ki-moon. Two-thirds of Iranian women face domestic violence, and child marriage

remains legal for children as young as nine. The World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index

ranks Iran 137 out of 142 countries; Iranian men currently earn close to five times more than women.

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Amid unprecedented Mideast chaos and instability, Israel and the United States are working together

to address the threat of expanded and more sophisticated rocket and missile arsenals. The David’s

Sling missile defense system represents the latest joint U.S.-Israel effort to counter missiles launched

by Iran, Syria, Hamas and Hezbollah. The United States and Israel should continue to fund joint

development of the system, which will be incorporated into Israel’s broader defense strategy.

The David’s Sling missile defense system will help defend millions of Israelis

from rocket and missile threats from multiple fronts.

• David’s Sling – a short to medium-range ballistic missile defense system – will be incorporated into

Israel’s broader defense strategy, which includes deterrence, counter-attack, active missile defense,

and civil defense measures.

• David’s Sling is designed to provide the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the U.S. military with

effective and affordable protection against long-range artillery rockets, short to medium-range ballistic

missiles, aircraft and low-flying cruise missiles. The system will close the current operational

coverage gap between Israel's short-range Iron Dome and higher-altitude Arrow ballistic missile

interceptor.

• The U.S. has provided $850 million in research and development funding for David’s Sling since

2006 and signed a project agreement with Israel to co-develop the system in 2008.

• As Israel’s enemies develop more sophisticated and longer-range missiles, U.S.-Israel missile

defense cooperation reinforces the unshakable bonds between these two allies.

• On April 1, David's Sling passed a series of advanced tests, conducted jointly by the U.S. Missile

Defense Agency and the Israeli Ministry of Defense. During the tests, the system successfully

intercepted its target, putting it on track for deployment in early 2016.

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The security situation on Israel’s northern border continues to deteriorate,

increasing the importance of the David’s Sling system.

• With the support of Iran and Syria, Hezbollah has amassed an arsenal of more than 100,000

missiles and rockets, threatening all major Israeli population centers.

• Should the Hezbollah terrorist organization in Lebanon attack the Jewish state, the David's Sling

system will be critical in protecting Israeli citizens and property.

• During the 2006 Second Lebanon War, Hezbollah fired more than 4,000 rockets and missiles at

Israel over a five week period. The IDF is currently preparing for the possibility that Hezbollah will fire

between 1,000 to 1,500 rockets per day at Israel if conflict again breaks out.

• In 2010, former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that Hezbollah has “more missiles

than most governments in the world.”

• Iran and Syria routinely transfer sophisticated weapons to Hezbollah, including hundreds of M-600

Syrian guided rockets. With a range of 185 miles and accuracy measured in feet, these rockets

represent a significant strategic improvement of Hezbollah’s capabilities.

The United States must continue working with Israel to ensure its qualitative

military edge and ability to defend against growing threats.

• Through the annual defense appropriations bill, the U.S. provides funding to jointly developed

missile defense programs with Israel. These funds help Israel defend against rockets and missile

threats posed by hostile adversaries.

• The U.S. should continue to provide funding for the David’s Sling anti-missile system. To ensure on-

time deployment of this program, $286 million is needed in fiscal year 2016.

• Congress should continue vital funding for other U.S.-Israel missile and rocket defense programs,

including Iron Dome, Arrow Improvement System Program, and Arrow-3. The rapid development and

deployment of Israel’s multi-tiered rocket and missile defense system will continue to play an

important role in mitigating Israel’s growing missile threats and serve as an important demonstration

of technology that can help protect U.S. forces.

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Israel has delivered major humanitarian assistance to Nepal in the wake of a destructive earthquake

that claimed over 7,000 lives in the Himalayan country.

Along with the United States and other nations, Israel has sent emergency supplies, medical and

rescue teams and aid workers to Nepal following the magnitude-7.8 earthquake on April 25.

Immediately following the natural disaster, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) sent two Boeing 747s to

Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu. One plane carried 95 tons of cargo and the other transported 260 aid

personnel including 122 doctors, nurses and paramedics and 100 IDF members for search-and-

rescue operations.

“You are being sent on an important mission,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on

April 27 before the aircraft took off. “This is the real face of Israel — a state that comes to assist those

far away at moments like these. Good luck, we are counting on you.”

According to the United Nations (U.N.) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israel’s

field hospital delegation is the largest by far in terms of medical personnel. The three Israeli search-

and-rescue delegations — IDF, Joint Disaster Response Team and IsraAID — also rank among the

largest according to the published data.

Additionally, CNN recently reported that Israel’s aid team to the South Asia nation is the largest in

terms of manpower. Israel’s search-and-rescue delegation has discovered numerous people who

were trapped in the rubble.

“Our thoughts and hearts go out to the people of Nepal dealing with this awful disaster, and with our

loved ones who are in distress,” said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin. “The state of Israel is reaching

out to help the search and rescue of the many victims.”

With more than 14,000 people injured from the natural disaster, the IDF team established and opened

a full field hospital to help victims. According to the IDF, the hospital is able to treat around 200

patients per day. It includes 40 doctors and nurses, two operating rooms, four intensive-care rooms,

60 hospital beds, x-ray and ultrasound machines and neonatal and adult care specialists. In order to

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treat more people, both operating rooms work concurrently.

On its first day alone, Israel’s field hospital treated nearly 100 victims and delivered one baby.

Both Nepali Prime Minister Sushil Koraila and the Nepali Army chief of staff visited the Israeli clinic.

“I would like to emphasize that we are highly motivated and ready for our task here; we are proud to

represent the state and we hope to save lives and achieve results,” said IDF relief mission leader Col.

Yoram Laredo to Netanyahu when the delegation landed in Kathmandu.

Approximately 2,000 Israelis were located in Nepal when the earthquake hit. Israel led efforts to help

reach them. All of the Israelis in Nepal are now accounted for, including 22-year-old Israeli hiker Or

Asraf, whose body was found on May 3 in the remote Langtang area of Nepal.

"We did our utmost to find Or but we hoped for a different outcome. This is the State of Israel's

obligation to Or, a heroic soldier who fought for the security of Israel's citizens. I share in your family's

deep sorrow," Netanyahu said to Asraf’s family.

Israel also recently announced plans to adopt a Nepalese village and lead reconstruction efforts.

Since the earthquake destroyed nearly 300,000 homes overall, the Israel team will help remove

rubble, build new houses and provide access to clean drinking water.

"We are seeing the nation of Israel at its best: taking care of [others] and willing to help,” said Israeli

Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. Nepal’s Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey personally

thanked Liberman for the humanitarian aid that Israel has sent following the earthquake.

For more than half a century, Israel and Nepal have enjoyed friendly diplomatic relations. Nepal has

voted in support of Israel numerous times at the U.N. and opened an embassy in Tel Aviv in 2007.

Israel’s embassy in Kathmandu has been operating since 1961.

Israel has provided humanitarian aid in dozens of natural disasters including the typhoon in the

Philippines, the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy in the United States, and many

others around the world.

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Senate and House Panels Approve Anti-BDS Amendment in Trade Bill

The Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees unanimously adopted an amendment

that targets anti-Israel trade and commercial practices in Trade Promotion Authority bill.

Authored by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Rob Portman (R-OH) in the Senate and Reps. Peter

Roskam (R-IL) and Juan Vargas (D-CA) in the House, the approved amendment addresses attempts

by foreign governments to boycott, divest and sanction (BDS) Israel. Based on the U.S.-Israel Trade

Enhancement Act, the measure aims to prevent anti-Israel activities by leveraging the ongoing free

trade negotiations between the United States and the European Union.

“Other countries have attempted to weaken one of our strongest allies and embolden Israel’s

enemies and have done so by this campaign that says somehow we should isolate Israel,” said

Portman. “Fortunately these kinds of campaigns and boycotts have been beaten back before.”

The new amendment was passed as Israel and the U.S. celebrated the 30th anniversary of the U.S.-

Israel Free Trade Agreement — the United States’ first free trade agreement. The measure continues

Congress’ tradition of standing with Israel and contesting economic strikes against the Jewish state.

“Israel is one of America’s closest allies and the only stable democracy in the Middle East…We

cannot allow our potential trading partners in the EU to fall prey to efforts that threaten Israel’s

existence,” said Cardin. “Economic tools and trade agreements have been used throughout world

history to move governments and change policy, but when these actions seek to de-legitimize a

country’s right to exist, we need to draw a line."

Through the passing of this legislation, Roskam hails the bipartisan support for Israel.

"This is nothing short of a historic win for the U.S.-Israel relationship and a hammer blow to the BDS

movement--a campaign solely dedicated to the delegitimization and isolation of our ally Israel,” said

Roskam. “. . . I am grateful for the hard work of Senator Portman, Senator Cardin, and Congressman

Vargas in moving this important legislation one step closer to the President's desk. Once again,

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Democrats and Republicans have come together in strong support of a prosperous Israel and in

unified opposition to those who seek its destruction."

House Committee Approves U.S.-Israel Missile Defense Funding

On April 30, the House Armed Services Committee approved the National Defense Authorization Act

(NDAA) that includes significant U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense funding for the next fiscal

year.

The bill authorizes $474 million toward defense initiatives including Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow-3

and research and development (R&D) funding for U.S.-Israel cooperative missile and rocket defense

programs.

Providing procurement funds of $41.4 million for the Iron Dome rocket defense system and $165

million for the David's Sling and Arrow-3 missile defense programs, the bill also includes $267.6

million in research and development (R&D) funding for U.S.-Israel cooperative missile and rocket

defense programs.

The committee also approved a bipartisan amendment, authored by Reps. Doug Lamborn (R-CO)

and Gwen Graham (D-FL), which authorizes funding to develop an anti-tunneling system that protects

the U.S. and Israel from terrorist attacks.

State Department Designates Three Hezbollah Operatives as Terrorists

On April 28, the State Department deemed Hezbollah operatives Meliad Farah, Hassan el-Hajj

Hassan and Hussein Atris as specially designated global terrorists.

Two of the terrorists, Farah and Hassan, were identified as top suspects in the July 2012 bus

bombing at the Burgas International Airport parking lot in Bulgaria.

The bombing, perpetuated by designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Hezbollah, killed five

Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian citizen. The other, Atris, was linked to a terror warning for a

prospective attack in Bangkok, Thailand.

Under Executive Order 13324, which pursues terrorists and supporters of terrorism, the three

operatives are prohibited from receiving material goods from U.S. citizens and prevented from

possessing assets in the United States.

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“The consequences of these designations include a prohibition against U.S. persons engaging in

transactions with Farah, Hassan, and Atris; and the freezing of all property and interests of Farah,

Hassan, and Atris that are in the United States, or come within the United States or the possession or

control of U.S. persons,” said the State Department in a press release.

Bipartisan Senate Delegation Celebrates U.S. - Israel Energy Agreement

On April 16, the Obama administration announced that it was working with Israel to extend an historic

U.S.-Israel energy agreement that guarantees an oil supply to the Jewish state during emergencies.

The announcement followed a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging him to

expeditiously reauthorize the oil pact.

In response to the senators’ letter, the State Department confirmed that it “and the Israeli government

have agreed in principle to renew the oil supply agreement.” The accord is now being finalized and

the administration expects it to be concluded in the “very near future.”

“It’s important that we maintain our close relationship with Israel. As our strongest ally in the Middle

East, our commitment to Israel’s energy security is paramount. That is why I am glad to see the

administration renewing this historic agreement,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Chair of the

Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

“I am pleased that the State Department has renewed this longstanding agreement between our two

countries, reaffirming America’s deep commitment to the energy security of our close friend and ally

Israel,” added Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).

Other senators joining the letter were John Barrasso (R-WY), Jim Risch (R-ID), Heidi Heitkamp (D-

ND) and Joe Manchin (D-WV). The group of senators welcomed the administration’s announcement

regarding the three-decades-long pact. The agreement was originally signed in 1975 by the Ford

administration, formalized four years later and then renewed by the Clinton and Bush administrations.

The pending reauthorization would mark an important continuation of this accord.

“Renewing this decades-long commitment to providing a secure oil supply for our most steadfast ally,

Israel, is a critical part of maintaining our longstanding national security interests in the region and

cements America’s commitment to one of its strongest partners,” said Heitkamp.

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“It is only right that this historic agreement should be renewed in order to provide certainty to Israel,

one of our closest allies, that they can rely on the United States to come to their aid when it comes to

secure and stable energy sources,” Risch said.

“Israel has been our strongest ally in the Middle East since its inception in 1948, and their national

security interests remain America's national security interests,” Manchin added. “It is very

encouraging that the State Department has renewed our historic energy security agreement with

Israel.”

Biden Vows U.S. Support for Israel

On April 23, Vice President Joe Biden asserted the United States’ unwavering commitment to the

Jewish state at an Israeli Embassy event to commemorate Israel’s 67th Independence Day.

“The American people are committed. The American people understand,” Biden said. “We will never

stop working to ensure that Jews from around the world always have somewhere to go, we will never

stop working to make sure Israel has a qualitative edge.”

Bolstering the Jewish state’s military advantage in the region, Biden highlighted that Israel will receive

F-35 joint strike fighter jets by 2016.

“Next year, we will deliver to Israel the F-35 joint strike fighter, our finest, making Israel the only

country in the Middle East with a fifth generation aircraft,” Biden said.

Hosted by Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, the event emphasized the robust

relationship between the two countries.

“America and Israel share a common heritage and a common destiny … America and Israel are

family,” said Dermer.

Mirroring Dermer’s remarks, Biden discussed the importance of Israel’s role in the world and the U.S.

commitment to defend its closest ally in the Middle East.

“The truth of the matter is, we need you, the world needs you, imagine what it would say about

humanity and the future of the 21st century were Israel not sustained and vibrant and free,” he said.

“…If you were attacked and overwhelmed, we would fight for you."

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Dr. Joshua Walker is the vice president of global programs at APCO Worldwide and Japan lead for

the German Marshall Fund of the United States’ Asia Program in Washington, D.C. where he

specializes in business diplomacy, international affairs and public-private partnerships.

Before joining APCO, Dr. Walker served as an international affairs fellow with the Council on Foreign

Relations, where he was senior adviser to numerous officials in U.S. federal departments and

agencies. He served at the U.S. Department of State in Secretary Kerry’s office of the chief

economist and previously served in Secretary Clinton’s Global Partnership Initiative as the senior

adviser on the Middle East and North Africa. He has also previously worked for the U.S. Embassy

Ankara, Turkey Desk at the State Department and the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon. Raised in

Japan, Dr. Walker is a native English speaker and speaks both Japanese and Turkish fluently.

Q: Japanese Prime Minister Abe traveled to the United States this past week. What impact do

you believe his visit had? What key issues were raised during this visit?

WALKER: Prime Minister Abe’s visit to the United States was among one of the most highly

anticipated events given that 2015 is the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. For Abe, this

past weighs heavily both personally and politically, as he is Japan’s youngest post-war prime minister

and the first to be born after World War II. Abe is also the grandson of a prime minister who

sacrificed his premiership for the sake of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty, which was deeply unpopular

at the time, something he referenced in his historic speech to a joint session of Congress. The

symbolism of Abe’s stops in Boston, Washington, and the West Coast over a full week indicates both

the importance but also the scope of the U.S.-Japan relationship. Addressing a joint session of

Congress for the first time ever for a Japanese Prime Minister, the single most important issue to Abe

is finalizing negotiations over the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade zone that his

administration has enthusiastically joined and with whom an agreement seems to be within reach.

Other key issues raised were about the future of the U.S.-Japan alliance and adapting it towards an

“Alliance of Hope.” The practical policy implications of this rhetoric are still yet to be seen but were

hinted at in prior meetings between the two nations Secretaries of Defense and State, the so-called

two plus two, including basing issues and cooperation on a variety of international issues such as

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Russia’s actions and regional affairs including China and North Korea.

Q: How would you rate the visit and were there any surprises for you?

WALKER: As I wrote before the trip, so much of this trip was about the atmosphere and optics,

therefore purely from the reception that the Prime Minister received in Washington, it is being

considered a huge success. Abe’s speech to a joint Congress that was delivered in English for the

first time in his premiership was heartfelt, personal, and forward facing leading to what many

observers are calling a “slam dunk” of a speech. Particularly in comparison to other foreign leaders

that have spoken to a joint session that have divided an already polarized domestic American political

landscape, the Prime Minister struck just the right tone and emphasized all the right themes for an

American audience. The biggest surprise was how much fun President Obama and Prime Minister

Abe seemed to have together visiting the Lincoln Memorial for an impromptu site-seeing trip that was

not pre-announced to a White House lawn welcoming to a formal state dinner that went late into the

evening. Perhaps one other small pleasant surprise was how Prime Minister Abe personally chose to

visit the U.S. National Holocaust Museum where he offered a few reflections from his time in Israel at

the Yad Vashem.

Q: What are the key themes in the "trilateralism" between the U.S., Japan and Israel?

WALKER: Given the strength of traditional bilateral relations between the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-Israel,

the more recent Japan-Israel relations need to be enhanced through stronger trilateral cooperation

involving the United States. While geographic distance separates Japan and Israel, there are many

similarities to build upon, beginning with their strong relationship with the United States, that can

serve as an important catalyst for further cooperation in areas such as education, innovation, and

technology exchanges. Geo-politically, Israel and Japan face hostile immediate neighbors, but

economically, both are respected for the levels of development and progress they have achieved that

has led to world-leading companies and standards of doing business with which Americans are most

comfortable.

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Q: How does Japanese Prime Minister Abe view the issue of terrorism, in light of the recent

Islamic State murder of Japanese citizens?

WALKER: More than any leader in Japanese history, Prime Minister Abe has used strong words to

express his views on terrorism, particularly in light of the execution of two Japanese citizens at the

hands of the Islamic State. Given that Abe was visiting Jerusalem when Daesh released its hostage

videos and Israel’s own experience with terrorism; there are many ways to enhance further

cooperation as Japan continues to deal with the realities of the Middle East that still seem foreign to

Tokyo. However, within the scope of Japanese politics, the Abe administration has demonstrated a

renewed effort to work with regional allies such as Jordan and Turkey to secure its own national

interests, which ultimately failed in this case. As I have written elsewhere, Japan’s generally pacificist

disposition was rocked to its core by recent events which has significant implications for Abe and his

foreign policy aspirations.

Q: There is virtually no anti-Semitism or anti-Zionism in Japan. Why is that?

WALKER: There is a deep-seated level of respect for the Jewish people in Japan that links the

narrative of an ancient people to a land that has been able to resiliently innovate. Partly because of its

geographic distance and unique historical experience, Japan rarely takes sides in international

disputes, and therefore much of the history of anti-Semitism that came from Europe during World War

II has never found fertile ground.

Q: What is your perspective on the historical relationship between Israel and Japan? What do

the recent visits of Prime Ministers Netanyahu and Abe, to Japan and Israel respectively, say

about the strengthening of the relationship?

WALKER: There has been very little in terms of historic relations between Israel and Japan under the

modern period, but the opportunities for two like-minded democratic allies of the United States has

always existed. Therefore, the reciprocal trips of Prime Ministers Netanyahu and Abe to their

respective countries are historic in many ways. Given the relative distance and size, the fact that both

leaders are looking beyond their traditional allies to new partners like each other is quite forward-

looking. Interestingly, both leaders have identified similar opportunities in each other and with other

third countries such as Australia and India. On a personal level, both nationalist leaders see a

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pragmatic kindred spirit, while on a national level, the opportunities for growth between Japan and

Israel seem exponential. Japan represents a huge market opportunity for Israel in the fastest growing

region in the world, while Israel’s start-up culture and technology infrastructure is complementary for

what Japan needs to grow in the future.

Q: Japan selected Israel as its first research and development cooperation agreement partner

in June 2014. Israel’s Economy Minister Naftali Bennett called the agreement “a breakthrough

achievement and a dramatic change in Japanese policy on economic relations with Israel.”

Where are the greatest opportunities for growth in the relationship following this accord?

WALKER: The most exciting areas for cooperation are not on the geo-political security level but in

the areas of enhanced economic, education, and technology exchanges. This is not to diminish

increased governmental cooperation but to highlight how limited it would be without the private sector.

Japan and Israel’s economies are uniquely compatible and efficient as highlighted by the various

governmental statements coming out of both capitals, but ultimately it will be up to the private sectors

in both countries to follow the lead of their governments. Given the types of specialized technology

Israel has been developing in the defense sector that Japan has not traditionally been involved in,

there are huge implications and upsides to combining this Israeli know-how with Japanese giants of

industry. On education, Israel and Japan have some of the most respected institutions of higher-

education and think-tanks in their regions that would be enhanced with greater cooperation and

exchanges. Currently, the levels of exchange between the two countries are so small that any

increase would be significant. Here again, the role of the American private sector that has links in

both countries could be critical.

Israel’s innovation culture of being a “start-up nation” and expertise particularly in defense technology

is particularly well-suited for some of Japan’s largest companies such as Honda, Mitsubishi or Toyota

that have major industrial arms along with their automotive brands known around the world for their

high-quality. In addition, high-technology companies such as Hitachi, Sony, and Toshiba continue to

look for partnerships with small specialized firms that Israel has in abundance. Encouraging and

incentivizing partnerships in this space would be a small investment for a large return.

Q: Japan has been a major investor in the peace process, funding projects designed to help

Israelis and Palestinians. How has Japan’s involvement help promote peace between Israel

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and the Palestinians?

WALKER: A little known fact about Japan is that its development assistance is traditionally the

highest in the world and the Middle East has been one of its main areas for investment. Japan has

promoted the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority by funding a variety of

infrastructure projects most notably the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge that connects Jordan with the

West Bank. Japan’s emphasis on tangible projects such as bridges, hospitals, and roads in close

cooperation between regional partners that include Israel and Jordan has allowed its aid to facilitate

the peace process and not be used as political proxies unlike other aid programs. Whenever possible,

Japan has tried to invest in international consortiums or partnerships with other countries to facilitate

trilateral approaches to building bridges (both literally and figuratively) between communities.

Q: August of this year commemorates the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the

beginning of Japan’s current democracy. How can Japan’s transition to democracy serve as a

source of inspiration or emulation for other countries, particularly in the Middle East, that lack

democratic freedoms?

WALKER: Japan’s transition from empire to peaceful island nation is truly one of the most

remarkable legacies of history. To emerge from military rule with a democracy as strong and as

unique as Japan is exemplary and instructive for all countries in the world, including in the Middle

East. The key has always been a coherent nation that has stuck together through the best and worst

of times along with a consensus-based society that puts greater emphasis on the community than the

individual. In many ways, Japan’s version of democracy with a strong emphasis on culture, history,

and tradition is more attractive to many in the Middle East than America’s own brand; therefore

working with the Japanese to highlight the sources of inspiration is a worthy endeavor. Like the

Ottoman Empire of the 19th century that looked at Japan’s own Meiji Restoration as a source for

inspiration rather than its European neighbors, many in the Middle East are looking beyond the West

to places like Japan that have been able to both democratize and modernize while not losings its

distinctive Asian character.

Q: In October a group of AIPAC’s most involved members will travel to Japan on a mission

trip. What significance will the trip and subsequent meetings hold for Japanese officials?

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WALKER: Any type of high-level trip to Japan always leads to greater cooperation that is vital for US-

Japan relations, but this one in particular should be very interesting given the areas of natural

trilateral cooperation that I have highlighted. It may seem counter-intuitive, but AIPAC’s most involved

members are best placed to facilitate many of the areas that I have noted. As pro-Israel Americans

who may or may not have a history with Japan, after this visit they will be natural trilateral

ambassadors for the U.S., Japan, and Israel. Working together to enhance cooperation between

these three like-minded nations will only strengthen the individual bilateral relations and particularly

Japan-Israel that has so much latent potential. Despite all of the progress and technological miracles

that keep us interconnected, there is no substitute for physically visiting and meeting with officials in a

place like Japan. I’m excited to hear and see what comes from this critical trip that couldn’t be coming

at a more important time.