Webinar: A discussion with Senator Ted Cruz

Center for Security Policy President Fred Fleitz and Director for the Middle East and North Africa Victoria Coates welcomed Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for our first post-COVID in-person event at CSP to discuss his recent trip to Israel in the wake of the most recent flareup of violence with Hamas.  Long a leading proponent of the U.S.-Israel alliance in the Senate, Senator Cruz has been the co-lead on the Jerusalem Recognition Act directing the move of the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and a staunch critic of the theocratic, radical Iranian regime, which he believes is determined to acquire nuclear weapons.

A Discussion with Senator Ted Cruz

Long the leading voice in the Senate for pro-Israel initiatives such as moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and robust American support for the Iron Dome missile defense system that has saved so many civilian lives, Senator Ted Cruz visited the Jewish state late last month to express his unconditional support for the U.S.-Israel alliance in the wake of Hamas’ most recent attacks.

Key takeaway points:

• Senator Cruz described his first-hand experiences touring a home in Ashkelon destroyed by a Hamas rocket and a near-by Iron Dome battery and expressed his commitment to supporting and funding this missile defense program that has saved so many civilian lives.
• Senator Cruz defined the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and the decision to end compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or Iran nuclear deal, as the key foreign policy decisions of the Trump administration, which paved the way for the historic Abraham Accords between Israel and four Arab nations last year.
• After noting that the Hamas attacks out of Gaza were master-minded by the Iranian regime, Senator Cruz pointed out this activity was fueled by increased revenues from Iranian illicit oil sales to the People’s Republic of China that were not being pursued by the Biden administration.
• Senator Cruz deplored the creeping normalization of BDS and anti-Semitic activity in the United States and called for a return to bi-partisan support for the alliance with Israel and the Jewish people.
• Coming off a contentious meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee earlier in the day, Senator Cruz described his battles to defend Israel’s sovereignty and enforce existing legislation such as the Taylor Force Act.
• Senator Cruz also took audience questions including one on the Muslim Brotherhood, which he defined as a terrorist organization.

A transcript of the entire conversation can be viewed here:

Cruz Webinar Transcript V1