Kyl helped champion the landmark Jerusalem Embassy Act, which paved the way for U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the eventual relocation of the American Embassy.
By United with Israel Staff
Former U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, a longtime Arizona Republican who played a major role in advancing congressional support for Israel, has died at 84.
During nearly three decades in Congress, Kyl championed U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, supported Israeli missile-defense programs and advocated a tough American approach toward Iran.
One of Kyl’s most significant accomplishments on Israel came in 1995, when he worked alongside then-Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole to advance the Jerusalem Embassy Act.
The landmark legislation declared that Jerusalem should be recognized as Israel’s capital and called for the U.S. Embassy to be relocated there from Tel Aviv. It passed the Senate by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 93-5.
Successive presidents used a national security waiver contained in the law to postpone the embassy move for more than two decades.
President Donald Trump ultimately recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in December 2017 and relocated the U.S. Embassy there in May 2018, fulfilling the central objective of the legislation Kyl had helped champion.
Kyl’s support for Israel extended well beyond Jerusalem.
He was a strong advocate for U.S.-Israel missile-defense cooperation and helped secure American support for Israel’s Arrow missile-defense program, designed to intercept ballistic missiles.
Kyl also repeatedly warned about the threat posed by Iran and advocated tougher economic pressure on Tehran.
“In all of the years that I have been coming to Israel, one thing stands out to me above all others as crucial to the security of this country—and that is the need to deal with Iran,” Kyl told The Jerusalem Post in 2007.
That same year, Kyl joined Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman in sponsoring what became known as the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment, which called for confronting Iranian activities targeting U.S. forces in Iraq and combating Tehran’s regional proxies. The measure passed the Senate 76-22.
Kyl also opposed efforts to bypass direct Israeli-Palestinian negotiations to secure international recognition of a Palestinian state, including pressing the Obama administration against recognizing a unilaterally declared Palestinian state.
His approach reflected a broader belief that Israel’s security depended on maintaining sufficient military strength to deter its enemies and create the conditions for peace.
Kyl served in the House of Representatives from 1987 until his election to the Senate in 1994. He served three Senate terms before retiring in 2013 and briefly returned to the chamber in 2018 after being appointed to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Sen. John McCain.
Following Kyl’s death, Haim Silberstein, chairman of the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy, highlighted his role in securing American recognition of Jerusalem.
“Jon Kyl did not settle for declarations of support for Israel, but helped turn recognition of Jerusalem as its capital into a principle enshrined in American law,” Silberstein said.
“Israel will not forget his true friendship, and Jerusalem will not forget the man who helped enshrine its status as Israel’s capital in American law.”
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