WASHINGTON (JTA) – A U.S. congressman urged Energy Secretary Steven Chu to modify his trip to the Middle East to include Israel.
Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), in a letter to Chu, wrote of his disappointment that the secretary’s trip this week to the Middle East does not include Israel. Chu is visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to promote investments in energy technologies — which is exactly why Israel should be included, the New York representative wrote.
"Israel has more high-tech start-ups per capita than any other nation and leads the world in civilian research and development spending per capita,” the letter said. "We know that the United States is addicted to foreign oil — by focusing on the petrodollar states it creates the appearance of an addict rewarding his pusher."
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