Israel Matzav

Democrats missing in action

Congress is finally starting to push back against President Obumbler's assault on Israel. Unfortunately, it's only one party in Congress that's doing the pushing: The Republicans.

As the White House continues to turn the screws on Israel, some in Congress finally are saying, "Stop!" Unfortunately, none is a Democrat.

Rep. Pete King, a Long Island Republican, aims to put America squarely on the side of our beleaguered ally. That King sees the need to do it through binding legislation tells you how far President Obama has careened off course.

The America Stands with Israel Act is direct and, at five pages, refreshingly concise. Noting that Hamas is a terrorist organization that aims to destroy Israel, the bill would require the US to withdraw from the loony UN Council on Human Rights, which, predictably, condemned Israel after the Gaza flotilla incident. The bill also would prohibit the use of American funds to investigate Israel.

About 40 Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors, but not a single Democrat has. Given the stakes and clarity, it seems fair to conclude all Dems agree with Obama that Israel is the obstacle to peace, or they are guilty of putting party loyalty ahead of Israel's survival.

Either way, they are wrong.

"Barack Obama's view of the world is that there is too much belligerency coming from the United States and Israel," King told me. "He looks at the plight of the Palestinians and blames Israel. Not Arafat, not Abbas and not the Arab countries that have let the Palestinians live in squalor for 60 years."

One result of that warped view is a White House push for Israel to drop its Gaza embargo. Why stop there? Why not just save time and demand that Israel arm Hamas directly?

Alan Dershowitz, the Harvard lawyer, captured the moral imbalance. As quoted by Michael Medved in Commentary magazine, Dershowitz put it this way:

"If the Palestinians put down their weapons, there would be peace tomorrow. If the Israelis put down their weapons, there would be genocide tomorrow."

Is it possible Obama doesn't understand that?

I think he understands it quite well. So does his friend Rashid Khalidi, who taught Obama everything he thinks he knows about the Middle East.

Jennifer Rubin notes this press release from King's office.

On Monday, June 14th at 11:00am, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY), together with U.S. Representatives Eliot Engel, Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Charles Rangel and Anthony Weiner, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and a host of additional State and City public officials, will call on the U.S. State Department to investigate any and all passengers on the Mavi Marmara and other ships from Turkey’s IHH flotilla who apply for visas to enter the United States. A speaking tour has been announced for some of these passengers with a planned New York City event in the coming weeks. A petition calling for this investigation has already captured over 20,000 signatures and will be presented by JCRC-NY to Rep. Engel for delivery to the appropriate authorities in Washington, DC.

You don't really think that the United States is going to risk its 'friendly relations' with Turkey to do that, do you?

If some of these passengers turn out to be involved in terror and the US admits them and lets them go, it will do more to set back the 'war on terror' than any single act since all the Saudis in the US were flown home without questioning right after 9/11.

When will they ever learn?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:58 PM