WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12), the most senior Jewish Member of the House of Representatives, issued the following statement regarding the ongoing violence between Israel and Iran:

“As the violence between Israel and Iran continues, I remain primarily concerned for the welfare of innocent civilians, too many of whom are paying the price for this escalation.

“As a close ally, the United States must continue to help defend Israel from incoming Iranian attacks. At the same time, the Administration must firmly reject any effort to draw our country into the offensive fighting, and make clear that there is no military solution to this conflict.

“Let’s be clear: Iran must never have a nuclear weapon. We also must understand that the total elimination of Iran’s nuclear program and the threat it poses to Israel, the United States, and the world, will never be achieved through military means. Further, if Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ultimate goal is regime change in Iran, this offensive is unlikely to achieve this objective.

“We cannot ignore how we got here: President Trump’s withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) enabled Iran to further enrich uranium, and dealt a blow to American diplomatic stature and global trust. President Trump’s haphazard and erratic foreign policy has led to a significant decline in American standing in the world. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s corruption and desperate attempts at self-preservation have led to his placing his political survival over the safety and security of Israel’s people.

“All of these factors and more have contributed to the destabilized reality in the Middle East. It is now up to all people of goodwill to demand an end to this horrific violence and for sanity to prevail.”