Senator Roger Wicker                                       Senator Jack Reed
Chairman                                                             Ranking Member
Committee on Armed Services                        Committee on Armed Services
425 Russell Senate Office Building                 728 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510                                   Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, and Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee,

I am writing to make it clear that the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA), the oldest pro-Israel group in America founded in 1897 (whose past presidents include Justice Louis Brandeis) and a charter member (1956) of the Conference of Presidents of Major Americas Jewish Organizations, supports Mr. Elbridge Colby’s nomination for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.

We are also compelled to inform you that ZOA was never consulted about, and never approved a February 5th letter sent to you by Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations (CoP) Executive Director William Daroff, on CoP stationary listing ZOA’s name.  The CoP also held no meeting, no discussion and no vote of the CoP’s member organizations regarding Mr. Colby. 

ZOA and I have investigated Mr. Colby’s record.  I personally spoke at length with Mr. Colby about multiple issues, including the grave threat that a nuclear Iran poses to America, Israel and the entire region and the West, as well as Mr. Colby’s past statements.  During our discussions, Mr. Colby expressed his view that the United States should continue to provide Israel with US financial aid and everything, any military equipment and ammunition and armamentarium that Israel needs to deal with the Iranian threat or any threat.  He also expressed a desire to do all he can to fight the dangerous increasing scourge of mindless, irrational Jew-hatred and Israel-hatred in America and around the world. 

Based on our review and our lengthy discussion, we believe Mr. Colby is a strong supporter of the U.S.- Israel alliance and has the character and knowledge, talent, experience and patriotic commitment necessary for this important post. The ZOA is confident that he will vigorously carry forward the strong pro-Israel policy of President Trump and Secretary Hegseth and Secy Rubio and Amb. Nominee Huckabee. ZOA is pleased to give Mr. Colby’s candidacy our support for confirmation.  

Sincerely, 

Morton A. Klein
President
Zionist Organization of America