House Majority Leader Eric Cantor. Photo: United States Congress.

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), the only Republican Jew in the House, said Monday night at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference that he is worried for the first time in his legislative career that “some of our nation’s leaders are complacent,” particularly those who week to reduce America’s overseas involvement.

“I worry that they indeed overlook the gift that is Israel,” Cantor said. “I worry that Israelis worry, and these worries are not unfounded.”

U.S. support for the Iron Dome missile defense system is critical, Cantor said, because the system has no margin for error.

“Make no mistake. The Iron Dome has to be right 100 percent of the time, or Israelis die,” Cantor said.

The Iron Dome and other missile defense systems, however, are not “panaceas,” Cantor said.

“True peace will require an end to Iranian-backed weapons smuggled into Gaza,” he said.

Regarding the Iranian nuclear threat, Cantor said, “We need to be clear-eyed that the nuclear talks with Iran cannot be unending, and that they may fail.” Military action against Iran “may become necessary” to protect America, Israel and other allies, and America must lead any such efforts if they become necessary, according to Cantor. The consequences of the Iranian threat “should not be Israel’s alone to bear,” he said.

Cantor also took time to specifically thank the pro-Israel Christians who came to the AIPAC conference.

“We salute you, and we thank you, for standing with us, standing with Israel,” he told the Christians in attendance.

“Thank you for standing with us, to defend the gift that is Israel,” he said.