July 27, 2006—Congressman Trent Franks (AZ-02), Dave Weldon (FL-15), and Eliot Engel (NY-17) today announced their founding of the Israel Allies Caucus (IAC). 

“If there is hope for peace and freedom in the world, free peoples across this planet must unite to defeat this hellish ideology of terrorism,” Franks said.

 He concluded, “May the people of Israel take comfort in these days knowing that America stands with you.  May you find victory, and may the light of God's peace shine down upon the streets of Jerusalem forever.”

 The IAC was created in order to join with the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus and the other caucuses in legislatures around the world to support Israel's right to live in peace within safe and secure borders and to promote the Judeo-Christian values upon which western civilization was built.  The announcement comes as Israel continues to face international pressure to agree to a premature ceasefire as it confronts terrorist threats from Hezbollah and Hamas.

 Trent Franks is the Congressman from the 2nd Congressional District of Arizona.  He is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee and Vice Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee