Kaine has described himself as a “strongly pro-Israel Democrat,” while downplaying concerns about the eroding support for Israel among Democrats.
“Our party has a long tradition of being pro-Israel, and being pro-Israel doesn’t mean we agree on everything, but we’re friends, we’re allies, we’re partners and to the extent we have disagreements we try to work them out productively,” Kaine said.
As governor of Virginia, Kaine made promoting ties between his state and Israel a priority. In 2009 he played a key role in efforts to boost economic and high-tech ties between Israel and Virginia, praising Israelis as “spectacular innovators” who can play a key role in a high-tech “knowledge transfer” with America.
Kaine was also directly involved in the decision by the jointly Israeli-American-owned Sabra hummus company to build a $61 million production plant in Virginia.
After being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2012, Kaine continued to influence U.S. policy toward Israel, especially in the Senate Foreign Relations Armed Services Committees. He co-sponsored the U.S.-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 and supported U.S. funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
– Jewish Press staff, JNS, INN
