Israel Matzav

Another day, another Chuck Hagel refusal to support Israel

Breitbart.com is reporting that in 2007, Chuck Hagel refused to sign a letter written by his Senate patron, Chuck Schumer, asking the United States' Arab allies to recognize Israel.

Former Sen. Chuck Hagel declined to sign a letter circulated by Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in 2007 calling upon then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to press Arab allies of the U.S. to recognize Israel’s right to exist “and not use such recognition as a bargaining chip for future Israeli concessions.”

Seventy-nine Senators eventually signed the letter, which was sponsored by Schumer and by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

The Schumer-Graham letter “concerning the Responsibilities of Friendly Arab States” has not, apparently, been cited yet in the debate over Hagel’s potential confirmation as Secretary of Defense. The letter also calls upon Arab allies to “take meaningful steps” to assist the Palestinian Authority, to stop supporting terror groups, to end the Arab states’ boycott of Israel, and to push Hamas to recognize Israel and past peace agreements.

The most charitable explanation for Hagel’s refusal to sign might be that the letter differs from the terms of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative, which Hagel has praised, and which offered Israel recognition in exchange for full withdrawal to its 1967 borders.

Hagel has also claimed he did not sign such letters unless they were directed to the President, but he failed to join 96 Senators in a critical pro-Israel letter to President Bill Clinton in 2000.

Among the minority of Senators who declined to sign the Schumer-Graham letter were members of both parties, including Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), both of whom have declared they will vote for Hagel’s confirmation. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who is regarded as pro-Israel but voted “present” on the motion to end debate on Hagel’s confirmation on Feb. 14, also declined to sign the Schumer-Graham letter.

Then-Sens. Joe Biden (D-DE), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and Barack Obama (D-IL) all signed the Schumer-Graham letter.

If Hagel is pro-Israel, I'm a candidate to be the Pope....

Labels: Barack Hussein Obama, Charles Schumer, Chuck Hagel, United States Senate

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 3:52 PM