Aiken Times

Washington, D.C. – Representatives Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Lois Frankel (D-FL) introduced legislation to extend and increase international development cooperation between the United States and Israel. This legislation reauthorizes and expands a successful program that has enabled the U.S., through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Israel, primarily through the Israeli Agency for International Development and Cooperation (MASHAV), to engage in sustainability projects in developing countries. The proposed law will also study new opportunities for additional countries to participate in the cooperative program.

     To date, the partnership has completed projects such as bringing smart-agriculture and greenhouse technology to Albania and expanding technical knowledge of drip irrigation in the coffee production industry in Guatemala.

     “The United States and Israel have unique capabilities to confront shared threats and opportunities. As our two countries celebrate 75 years of an unbreakable relationship, this bill promotes strengthened cross-sector collaboration that will truly unleash the full potential of our two countries. Countries around the world will benefit from the result of development cooperation,” said Rep. Wilson.

      “Israel and the United States have a special relationship,” said Rep. Frankel. “This legislation will allow our joint efforts to continue to boost green energy production, water technology, education, and food security in developing countries, while fostering good will.”

     “Recent development cooperation between the United States and Israel has led to collaboration on agricultural, water, and energy projects in Central America and Europe. These projects have enabled the sharing of American and Israeli know-how and technology and are helping to improve lives. Over the last almost three years, the Abraham Accords have opened new pathways to cooperation between Israel and Arab states, pointing the region toward a new era of peace,” said Jason Isaacson, Chief Policy and Political Affairs Officer at American Jewish Committee (AJC). “We applaud Representatives Frankel and Wilson for their legislation to reauthorize this important development partnership, and their effort to include regional Arab partners. Such multilateral cooperation further strengthens the Abraham Accords and demonstrates the United States Government’s commitment to advancing shared goals through international development.” 

      “America and Israel are partners that work together to benefit each other and the world,” said the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). “This important bipartisan bill will expand this mutually beneficial cooperation by leveraging Israel's proven innovation in areas like water, energy, agriculture, and sustainability. 

      USAID has a long history of partnering with MASHAV to leverage their capacity-building and training expertise in the areas of education, women’s empowerment, food security, humanitarian aid, and technology innovation. In 2019, USAID and MASHAV signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on global development cooperation—this bill fulfills that MOU and enables the US and Israel to continue this important work while creating new partnerships abroad. 

      The bill has been endorsed by AJC, AIPAC, Hadassah, Anti-Defamation League (ADL), and Jewish Federations of North America. 

      Click here for the full text of the bill.

Original source can be found here