J Street Congratulates Kaine on Chairmanship of Near East Subcommittee

J Street congratulates Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia on his selection as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs.

“Senator Kaine is in the grand tradition of Truman Democrats, particularly when it comes to his heartfelt commitment to making Israel a home for the Jewish people that is safe, secure and at peace with its Palestinian neighbors,” said J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami. “As Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet to begin difficult but vital talks, they and Secretary Kerry will benefit from having a strong proponent of US leadership to achieve a two-state solution at the helm of the subcommittee.”

“From the moment when we first met Senator Kaine during his candidacy, we were impressed by his commitment to peace, his deep understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and his sense of urgency in engaging US leadership to resolve it,” added Ben-Ami.

The Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs deals with all matters concerning U.S. relations with the countries of the Middle East, including Israel and its neighbors.