Senators McCain, LIeberman, Barrasso, And Thune Visit Jerusalem: Ending Guarantees "Will Not Pass Congress"

The Jerusalem Post reports that "four senior US senators, John McCain, Joe Lieberman, John Barrasso and John Thune held a press conference Sunday afternoon in Jerusalem in which issues pertaining to the future of US-Israeli relations were addressed. The senators responded to recent speculation regarding ending US financial guarantees to Israel. US envoy George Mitchell alarmed Israeli officials by suggesting last week that the US could use financial pressure to extract new concessions from the Israelis. 'Under American law, the United States can withhold support on loan guarantees to Israel,' Mitchell had told PBS interviewer Charlie Rose over the weekend, noting that the previous administration of George W. Bush had done so. But he quickly added that he preferred persuasion to sanctions. Lieberman said unequivocally that any attempt to cancel financial guarantees to Israel will 'not pass Congress.' McCain also weighed in on the issue, stating that any talk of withholding guarantees from Israel in order to pressure it is not helpful, and 'I don't agree with it.' The senior senator from Arizona said that while he held Mitchell in the highest regard, 'We disagree with that comment,' and that he was sure that it was not the policy of the Obama administration either. At the meeting held in the David Citadel hotel in Jerusalem, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told the four visitors that the Hizbullah terrorist group is continuing to arm and the Lebanese government is to be held responsible for any attacks emanating from its territory into Israel. Barak also discussed the need to restart peace process talks with the Palestinians, as well as the Iranian issue. The defense minister expressed his happiness in meeting 'old friends of Israel' who proved their support in hard times. Barak said he was certain the senators will remain steadfast friends of Israel in any future situation." Tweet