“I am deeply concerned about upcoming legislation that would harm our friend and ally Azerbaijan,” Bookstein wrote.

“In May 2015, I travelled to Azerbaijan to speak at an international conference on multiculturalism and tolerance,” he wrote. “For three days we met with people from all faiths and nationalities, in a kind of conference that I have never seen.”

He wrote that Azerbaijan is 95 percent Muslim, adding that Jews, Christians and Muslims are living in peace here.

“We all hope that as Azerbaijan grows, prospers and develops, they will enjoy the same kind of Democracy that we have in America — but that isn’t going to happen in a few short years,” he wrote. “It would also be completely hypocritical and harmful to America, Israel and the Jewish community, if we were to implement sanctions against our allies in Azerbaijan.”

He wrote that for example: in Saudi Arabia, a strong American ally, Jews are not permitted to be citizens — but in Baku the government builds Jewish schools and synagogues.

The letter said that in Kuwait, Israelis can’t even fly on the state airline — but there are direct flights between Baku and Tel Aviv.

“No one is rushing to sanction these countries that don’t even have chance of a secular democracy,” the letter said.

“Friendship is an important Judeo-¬Christian value,” the letter said. “We believe that the U.S. policy towards the Republic of Azerbaijan should be one based on friendship, of engagement and support, not one of suspicion and withdrawal.”

“As a huge supporter of the U.S.¬ led efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq, and as a time-tested staunch ally in Eurasia, Azerbaijan has shown itself to be a strong partner — and friend — to the U.S., fighting side by side with our troops in war¬torn countries, and providing logistical support for U.S. military operations,” the letter said.

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