Jane Harman: “As we begin debate on the foreign operations bill, Israel's future is a central issue. As a strong supporter of the…”

“As we begin debate on the foreign operations bill, Israel's future is a central issue. As a strong supporter of the peace process, I watched the recent Israeli election with some trepidation. While the transition is not yet complete, I believe that Prime Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu deserves high marks for his centrist tone and his willingness to reach out to all elements of Israeli society and to leaders throughout the region. In this election, Israelis did not choose peace or security, they chose peace and security. His razor-thin election may be a source of unexpected strength for Netanyahu, justifying his reach beyond his base. While the extremes of Israel's political life try to exercise their power, the Prime Minister, for the first time elected independently, must recognize that governing on the fringe is a sure recipe for failure. He has already indicated that the most important ministries will be filled by Likud moderates. No Israeli has been untouched by the wars Israel has had to fight for its existence. Netanyahu lost his older brother, Yonatan, who led the daring and dramatic raid on Entebbe. And no one was untouched by the tragic assassination of Yitzahk Rabin. As a warrior who waged a fight for peace, Rabin's quest must not be abandoned. Bibi Netanyahu is assuming the post of Prime Minister at a crossroads for Israel.”