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Israel - Relations with U.S. (Notes)

U.S.-ISRAELI RELATIONS Commitment to Israels security and well being has been a cornerstone of U.S. policy in the Middle East since Israels founding in 1948, in which the United States played a key supporting role. Israel and the United States are bound closely by historic and cultural ties as well as by mutual interests. Continuing U.S. economic and security assistance to Israel acknowledges these ties and signals U.S. commitment. The broad issues of Arab-Israeli peace have been a major focus in the U.S.-Israeli relationship. U.S. efforts to reach a Middle East peace settlement are based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 and have been based on the premise that as Israel takes calculated risks for peace the United States will help minimize those risks. On a bilateral level, relations between the United States and Israel are continually strengthening in every field. In addition to the Joint Political-Military Group described above, there are: bilateral science and technology efforts (including the Binational Science Foundation and the Binational Agricultural Research and Development Foundation); the U.S.-Israeli Education Foundation, which sponsors educational and cultural programs; the Joint Economic Development Group, which maintains a high-level dialogue on economic issues; the Joint Counterterrorism Group, designed to enhance cooperation in fighting terrorism; and a high-level Strategic Dialogue that meets biannually. Principal U.S. Officials U.S. Embassy Ambassador--Richard H. Jones Deputy Chief of Mission--Gene Cretz Political Affairs--Marc Sievers Economic Affairs--William Weinstein Management--Brian McIntosh Consular Affairs--Richard Beer Public Affairs--Helena K. Finn Commercial Affairs--Ronald Soriano Science Attaché--Robert Tansey Defense Attaché--Col. Bill Clark Legal Attaché--Michael Steinbach The U.S. Embassy in Israel is located at 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv (tel. 03-519-7575). U.S. Consulate General Consul General--Jacob Walles Deputy Principal Officer--Thomas Duffy Chief, Consular Section--Stuart Patt The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem has offices at 18 Agron Road (tel. 02-622-7230) and on Nablus Road (tel. 02-622-7230). The Consulate General in Jerusalem is an independent U.S. mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government. U.S. Consular Agent The U.S. Consular Agent in Haifa is located at 26 Ben Gurion Boulevard (tel. 972-4-853-1470), and reports to the Embassy in Tel Aviv. The Consular Agent can provide routine and emergency services in the north.