- ADL's audacity gives chutzpah new meaning. Whether it's
latest scheme works isn't known. However, early indications express displeasure.
More on that below.
-
- Along with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), ADL's
web site calls for a "National Pledge for Unity on Israel,"saying:
-
- America supported Israel since its 1948 founding. Its
friendship transcends politics. It's never been just a party platform plank.
It's "a core American policy that serves our nation's most fundamental
national interests."
-
- For the past six decades, American presidents and congressional
leaders "championed the shared values and outlook that bind the two
nations."
-
- "This broad bipartisan backing has been vital to
America's interests and to Israel's security throughout decades of war
and a constant struggle for survival."
-
- Fact check
-
- For decades, Washington's been Israel's paymaster/partner.
Together they waged aggressive wars and state terror against nonbelligerent
countries, organizations and individuals.
-
- Both are unrivaled global menaces. They're scourges on
humanity. Annually, Washington grants Israel billions of taxpayer dollars,
low or no-interest loans (some never repaid), the latest weapons and technologies,
and other benefits afforded no other nation.
-
- Israel, in fact, gets more US aid than all other countries
combined. In return, they partner in crimes of war and against humanity.
Neither respects democratic values, human and civil rights, or rule of
law principles. Both are unprincipled rogue states.
-
- ADL and other Israel Lobby members pressure administrations
and congressional members to provide uncompromising support. Few decline.
Now ADL wants more, saying:
-
- "Now is the time to reaffirm that Israel's well-being
is best served, as it has always been, by American voices raised together
in unshakeable support for our friend and ally."
-
- ADL's October 19 press release headlined, "ADL and
AJC Co-Sponsor National Pledge Calling for Bipartisan Consensus on Israel,
saying:
-
- Both organizations want "elected officials, religious
leaders, community groups and individuals to join them in signing the 'National
Pledge for Unity on Israel.' "
-
- According to AJC executive director David Harris:
-
- "If there is one thing candidates for high office
and people of all political stripes can agree on, it is the importance
of the long tradition of bipartisan support for our friend and ally, Israel."
-
- ADL national director Foxman said:
-
- "The last thing America and Israel need right now
is the distractions of having Israel bandied about as a tool for waging
political attacks."
-
- Foxman sounds worried about what rarely happens. He underscored
his appeal by saying individual and organizational signatories will be
published. The implication, of course, indicates names omitted fall short
of total support.
-
- He added:
-
- "(W)e want the discourse on US support for Israel
to avoid the sometimes polarizing debates and political attacks that have
emerged in recent weeks, as candidates have challenged their opponents'
pro-Israel bona fides or questioned the current administration's foreign
policy approach vis-a-vis Israel."
-
- Imagine one nation asking others to pledge loyalty as
an expression of support. The notion's foreign, unheard of, and arrogant.
Few at best would go along, doing so only under heavy pressure or threats.
-
- On October 25, Haaretz writer Natasha Mozgovaya addressed
the issue in an article headlined, "ADL bid for US bipartisan support
for Israel faces staunch resistance," saying:
-
- In times of political granstanding ahead of America's
2012 elections, demanding "bipartisan support seems to be a naive
pledge," stopping short of calling it unheard of, arrogant, abusive
and outrageous.
-
- "But it didn't prevent (ADL and AJC) from (wanting)
Jewish organizations and individuals to join them in" pledging loyalty
to Israel while "preventing the Jewish state from becoming a wedge
issue in the upcoming campaign season."
-
- In fact, it never did before so why now? Few congressional
members do less. Critics are targeted for removal. Israeli Lobby power
is ruthless. Few officeholders and aspirants oppose it. What Israel wants,
it gets.
-
- Political support for Israel isn't overwhelming. It's
nearly unanimous. The tradition goes back decades, especially since the
1960s.
-
- In days, Jewish activists, organizations, and congressional
members will receive ADL's pledge by mail. Republican Jewish Coalition
(RJC) executive director Matt Brooks expressed ire, saying:
-
- "This effort to stifle debate on US policy toward
Israel runs counter to this American tradition. Accordingly, the RJC will
not be silenced on this or any issue."
-
- He stopped short of admitting strong Republican support
for Israel, no matter his strong rhetoric.
-
- At the same time, he added:
-
- "An open and vigorous debate on the questions confronting
our country is the cornerstone of the American electoral process....For
this reason, the RJC will not be a signer to this pledge."
-
- The Emergency Committee for Israel also was blunt, saying:
-
- "You must be kidding." It promised that "this
attempt to silence those of us who have questioned the current administration's
foreign policy approach vis-a-vis Israel will reenergize us."
-
- "Directors Harris and Foxman need a refresher course
on the virtues of free speech and robust debate in a democracy. Their effort
to stifle discussion and debate is unworthy of the best traditions of America,
and of Israel."
-
- At issue, of course, is proving who's Israel's staunchest
ally, even though both parties have little disagreement on matters concerning
Israel. But they want voters to think one side is more loyal than the other,
using rhetoric only to convince them.
-
- Nonetheless, Foxman responded, saying:
-
- The pledge wants to encourage "measured and thoughtful
expressions of different points of view regarding US policy toward Israel.
What prompted ADL and AJC to launch this initiative was a desire to ask
participants in the political discourse to avoid harsh and personal rhetoric
or tactics in the form of attacks on political opponents' positions on
Israel."
-
- In fact, what ADL, AJL, AIPAC, and other Israel Lobby
members demand is assurance that whatever Israel wants it gets. Hasn't
it nearly always been that way?
-
- Haven't targets of both countries suffered enough from
it? Isn't it high political Washington acted responsibly?
-
- One day perhaps if America's corrupted duopoly is replaced
by officials representing popular, not imperial and corporate, interests.
It can't happen a moment too soon.
-
- Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
-
- Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive
Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central
time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
-
- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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