Edward Abington Jr. is a leading Arabist. A former consul general for the State Department in Washington, he once represented the Palestinian Authority in negotiations in Washington. A friend has sent along Abington's comments on Rahm Emanuel's likely stance re Israel/Palestine. Abington offered his views on a foreign-policy listserv called Salon. He then appends a lengthy statement from someone who is associated with Americans for Peace Now, about Emanuel's record. Abington:
decision to appoint Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff.
The postings have generally been negative, noting Emanuel's father's
membership in an extremist Israeli organization and Rahm's service in
the IDF. I have an open mind about his appointment and think it was
done because of his toughness and his ability, among other things, to
deal with Congress and push Obama's agenda there. The following
assessment of Emanuel's record in Congress was written a few days ago
by someone who worked for me in the Middle East and in whom I have a
lot of confidence. The author knows the Hill extremely well.
[the memo follows. I see that Snuffysmith beat me on this]
>
> Spotlight on Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-IL)
>
>
In recent days, there has been a great deal of discussion in the Middle
East policy and activist communities over the appointment of
Congressman Rahm Emanuel as President-elect Obama’s White House Chief
of Staff. As many savvy observers have argued, this appointment has
nothing to do with the foreign policy views of Congressman Emanuel, and
everything to do with President-elect Obama’s apparent determination to
move his agenda through Congress. Notwithstanding this observation,
Emanuel’s appointment has generated controversy, fueled by those — on
both the right and left — who are concerned about Emanuel’s views on
Israel.
>
> Apparently simply arguing that Emanuel's
views on Israel are irrelevant — that President-elect Obama would not
appoint someone as his Chief of Staff unless he believed that person
could be trusted to faithfully serve him and promote the President’s
agenda, including in the foreign policy arena, and that the Chief of
Staff does not in any case have a role in making foreign policy — will
not put this controversy to rest. Likewise, it seems that there is no
use in pointing out the absurdity of concluding from this one
appointment that, after refusing to pander to pro-Likud forces during
the election campaign (and paying a price for this refusal),
President-elect Obama has decided only now that it is time to begin
pandering.
>
> With so many people determined to view
Emanuel’s views on Israel as important, it seems to make sense to
actually review Emanuel’s track record in Congress when it comes to
Israel and Israel-related issues. This seemed like an especially
useful exercise given that both those attacking Emanuel and those
defending him apparently haven't bothered to examine this record,
preferring to restrict their arguments and counter-arguments to
discussions of his lineage, speculations about his personal feelings,
analysis of comments made by his relatives, and impressions of him
related by friends and acquaintances. Any or all of which may be
interesting. But given that Congressman Emanuel has been in elected
office for 5 years, his record in Congress seems like a more serious
place to look for real insight about his views.
>
> So,
for the benefit of anyone who is determined to take a position for or
against the Emanuel appointment based on his views on Israel and the
Middle East, what follows here is a quick summary of his record on
these issues since he first came to Congress in January 2003. This
record paints a consistent picture of a man who is clearly committed to
Israel’s security and stability — as we, at Americans for Peace Now
are — and who recognizes, as APN does, that peace — and U.S.
engagement and leadership to achieve Israeli-Palestinian peace — are
vital to the national interests of both Israel and the United States.
>
> Point 1: He has stayed off the really bad stuff
>
>
Members of Congress are constantly asked to sign letters and sponsor or
cosponsor legislation related to Israel and the Middle East. Many of
these initiatives are dubious in the extreme, representing efforts to
get Members of Congress on the record support extreme positions that
undermine any present or future peace efforts.
>
>
During his 5 years in Congress, Emanuel has not sponsored or
co-sponsored any of the truly gratuitous, marginal, anti-peace
legislation that is constantly popping up. In addition, a search of his
statements in the Record, including during floor debates, shows that he
has consistently taken a pragmatic, constructive line on
Israeli-related issues. This includes some tough, and serious,
statements with respect to Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, and Palestinian
terrorism. This also includes consistent support for Israel and for
Israel’s security — positions that APN and other pro-peace groups
would generally share. While Emanuel has joined with the majority of
his colleagues in signing on or voting for most of the major
AIPAC-supported initiatives opposed by APN and other pro-peace groups
(including, for example, the House version of the Palestinian
Anti-Terrorism Act), he has not spoken out prominently in support of
such measures or engaged in grandstanding during floor debate over
them. This includes with respect to Jerusalem.
>
> Point 2: He has supported a number of pro-peace initiatives
>
>
During his time in Congress, Emanuel has signed on to a number of
pro-peace initiatives, including some where he was one of the only
Jewish members to do so.
>
> The Roadmap letter (May 2003)
>
>
In May 2003, Emanuel was one of 4 Jewish members of Congress to sign a
Dear Colleague to President Bush in support of the President's Road Map
for Middle East peace. This letter was strongly supported by Americans
for Peace Now and other pro-peace organizations. The bi-partisan
letter was co-sponsored by Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA), Darrell Issa
(R-CA), David Price (D-NC) and Amo Houghton (R-NY). It was signed by a
total of 44 members of the House of Representatives. The other Jewish
signers were Barney Frank (D-MA), Bob Filner (D-CA), and Bernie Sanders
(I-VT). The letter was especially significant because it came as a
counterpoint to a letter (strongly supported by AIPAC, which Emanuel
and many of the 44 also signed) circulated immediately after the
publication of the Roadmap, which implied that Congress did not support
the Roadmap.
>
> Excerpt from the Capps-Issa-Price-Houghton letter:
>
>
“We applaud your recent release of the 'Roadmap to Peace' as well as
your statements underscoring your personal commitment to ending the
violence between the Palestinian and Israeli people. We join you in
noting with satisfaction the appointment of a new Palestinian Prime
Minister with real authority. We hope that this change in the
Palestinian governance structure will enhance the ability of a new
Palestinian leadership to deliver lasting reforms…Along with changes
on the Palestinian side, we share your belief that the Roadmap must
also be implemented by Israel, with the end goal, as you have stated
many times, ‘two states living side-by-side’ in peace and security…."
>
> Letter Supporting direct funding for the PA (July 2003)
>
>
In July 2003, Emanuel signed a letter to President Bush supporting the
Road Map and the decision to provide $20 million in direct assistance
to the Palestinian Authority. The letter was co-sponsored by Lois
Capps (D-CA), Gary Ackerman (D-NY), and Howard Berman (D-CA), and
strongly supported by APN and other pro-peace groups. It ultimately
obtained 74 signers. The other Jewish members who signed on were:
Ackerman (D-NY), Berman (D-CA), Waxman (D-CA), Harman (D-CA), Schiff
(D-CA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Filner (D-CA), Davis (D-CA), and Sanders
(I-VT).
>
> Excerpt from the Capps-Ackerman-Berman letter:
>
>
“We write to express our support for the $20 million in direct
assistance to the Palestinian Authority proposed by the Administration.
We believe this assistance will strengthen Prime Minister Abbas and, we
hope, enhance his ability to both achieve an end to terror while
providing the Palestinian people with tangible benefits that will
demonstrate the value of embracing reform and unambiguously rejecting
extremism. Hopefully, with this support, the Palestinian leadership
will begin the important process of dismantling the terrorist
infrastructure, as called for in this stage of the roadmap. This
assistance will also help the Palestinian people confront their
pressing humanitarian needs…American assistance has long demonstrated
its importance as a tool to advance our efforts to secure Middle East
peace, combat terrorism, and promote U.S. interests in the region.
Clearly, the Middle East peace process is now at an important
crossroads. The decision to provide this direct assistance to the
Palestinian Authority is an important signal of our continued national
commitment to achieving peace with security. We stand ready to work
with you to achieve our nation's longstanding goal of finally bringing
an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
>
> Hyde-Capps Letter (December 2005)
>
>
In December 2005, Emanuel signed a letter to Secretary Rice supporting
efforts to improve the situation on the ground in Gaza. The letter was
co-sponsored by Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) and Lois Capps (D-CA). This
letter was strongly supported by APN and other pro-peace groups. It
was eventually signed by 106 members, including 8 other Jewish
members: Lantos (D-CA), Frank (D-MA), Schiff (D-CA), Harman (D-CA),
Davis (D-CA), Schakowsky (D-IL), Israel (D-NY), and Filner (D-CA).
>
> Excerpt from Hyde-Capps letter:
>
>
“We are writing to commend you for achieving an historic agreement
between Israel, the Palestinians, Egypt, and the Quartet on the Gaza
border crossing. The successful opening of the Gaza crossing on
November 25th is a vital step on the path toward Israeli security,
economic stability and growth for the Palestinians, political stability
in Gaza, and the achievement of Israeli-Palestinian peace…Your role
in the achievement of this accord, and the subsequent successful
opening of the Gaza crossing point, clearly demonstrate the value of
robust, hands-on U.S. diplomatic engagement with Israel and the
Palestinians. Indeed, more than three decades of Middle East peace
efforts have shown that breakthroughs come only when the U.S. President
or Secretary of State is personally involved. Your leadership helps
reassure Israel and her people of the United States' enduring
commitment to Israel's welfare and security, even as Israel takes risks
for the sake of peace. At the same time, it helps deliver tangible
improvements in the quality of life of the Palestinians — improvements
that are fundamental to the efforts of President Abbas and the
Palestinian Authority to win the hearts and minds of the Palestinian
people and counter the appeal of extremists. We thus hope that you
will continue to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians a
personal priority, including seeing through the implementation of this
historic agreement.”
>
> Geneva Resolution (November 2003)
>
>
In November 2003 Emanuel signed on as a cosponsor to H. Res. 462,
“Supporting the vision of Israelis and Palestinians who are working
together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for achieving peace, and
for other purposes.” This resolution, introduced in support of the
Geneva Initiative and other track II efforts to make progress toward
Israeli-Palestinian peace, was supported strongly by APN and other
pro-peace groups. Emanuel was one of only two Jewish members to
cosponsor it; the other was Rep. Filner (D-CA).
>
> H Res. 462:
>
>
Whereas ending the violence and terror that have devastated Israel, the
West Bank, and Gaza since September 2000, is in the vital interest of
Israel, the Palestinians, and the United States;
> Whereas
ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict strengthens extremists and
opponents of peace throughout the region, including those who seek to
undermine efforts by the United States to stabilize Iraq and those who
wish to see conflict spread to other nations in the region;
>
Whereas more than 3 years of violence, terror, and escalating military
conflict have demonstrated that military means alone will not solve the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
> Whereas obligations under the
peace plan known as the `road map' have not been met by Israeli and
Palestinian leaders and no viable political alternatives have emerged;
>
Whereas despite mutual mistrust, anger, and pain, courageous and
credible Israelis and Palestinians have come together in a private
capacity to develop serious model peace initiatives, like the People's
Voice Initiative and the Geneva Initiative;
> Whereas those
initiatives and other similar private efforts are founded on the
determination of Israelis and Palestinians to put an end to decades of
confrontation and conflict and to live in peaceful coexistence, mutual
dignity, and security, based on a just, lasting, and comprehensive
peace;
> Whereas those initiatives demonstrate that both Israelis
and Palestinians want to end the current vicious stalemate, and that
both peoples are prepared to make compromises in order to achieve peace;
>
Whereas the Geneva Initiative offers a detailed framework that
addresses the fundamental requirements of both peoples, including
preservation of the Jewish, democratic nature of Israel with secure and
defensible borders, and the creation of a viable Palestinian state; and
> Whereas such peace initiatives present precious opportunities to end the violence and restart fruitful peace negotiations:
>
>
Now, therefore, be it Resolved,That the House of Representatives– (1)
applauds the courage and vision of Israelis and Palestinians who are
working together to conceive pragmatic, serious plans for achieving
peace; (2) calls on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to capitalize on
the opportunities offered by these peace initiatives; and (3) urges the
President to embrace and encourage all serious efforts to move away
from violent military stalemate toward achieving Israeli-Palestinian
peace.
>
> Point 3: He has been explicit about his
support for the two-state solution, and his view that the U.S. should
play a leadership role
>
> Jerusalem Resolution (June 2007)
>
>
On June 5, 2007, Emanuel spoke on the House floor in the context of
consideration of H. Con. Res. 152, a resolution marking the 40th
Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem. Rather than speaking in
worn-out platitudes that implicitly or explicitly reject any Israeli
negotiations over Jerusalem, he offered a very personal account of his
connection to Israel and his own feelings about the 1967 war, including
a discussion of how that war opened the door for land-for-peace, and
the importance of U.S. leadership in seeking and making peace in the
Middle East.
>
> Excerpt from Emanuel floor statement, June 05, 2007:
>
>
“…In fact, one has to look at the 1967 war, that it created
possibilities, as did the 1973 war, for peace to occur, and every
nation that has decided to make peace with Israel, Egypt and Jordan,
has had peace. The war in 1967, because of the changes to the
boundaries to the south, to the immediate east and to the north,
redefined Israel's security. Once those nations came to terms with
Israel's status, which is what the 1967 war accomplished, they
accomplished and received peace, and land-for-peace has been at the
premise of America's foreign policy, Israel's foreign policy, and was
possible because of the outcome and the results strategically on the
ground and in the environment because of 1967. People remember the
military accomplishment which was unique and stands out in the 20th
century, but it also created an environment that allowed peace to
happen, at least with the two countries that have chosen the road of
peace with Israel. …The next 40 years needs to be a period of time
where America, and this may be a little bit of a criticism here, we
were always and always will be the indispensable leader in that region.
The moment we walk away from that role the parties lose interest in
discussing among themselves. I would hope that immediately the
President would again…nominate somebody to be a Middle East envoy, to
again create a dialogue between the Israelis and Palestinians, to find
what the Jordanians and Egyptians have found with the Israelis, peace,
based on the premise of land for peace… Mr. Speaker, I want to
compliment our two leaders today, the chairman and the leader on the
Republican side, for this resolution, for recognizing an historic
moment that in fact without which we would not see the peace between
Israel and Jordan and Israel and Egypt…”
>
> Rabin Resolution 12/8/05
>
>
On December 8, 2005, Emanuel made a powerful statement on the House
floor in the context of House consideration of a resolution honoring
the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin,
on the 10th anniversary of his death. Emanuel also co-sponsored the
resolution (which was strongly supported by APN and other pro-peace
organizations). In his statement Emanuel noted with pride his
involvement in the Olso Accords. Emanuel was one of 44 members who
cosponsored this resolution.
>
> Excerpt from his 12/8/05 floor statement:
>
>
“I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 535, a resolution honoring
the memory of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth
anniversary of his assassination. Prime Minister Rabin served the
people of Israel for two terms as Prime Minister, as well as previous
roles as Ambassador to the United States, Minister of Defense and
Member of the Knesset. Among his many accomplishments, it is his role
as a visionary peacemaker which has ensured him a place of honor in
history…During his tenure as Prime Minister, Mr. Rabin made
remarkable progress in the Middle East peace movement. Teaming with
former rival Shimon Peres, Mr. Rabin entered peace negotiations with
then-Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat in 1993 in
Oslo, Norway. Prime Minister Rabin, Mr. Peres and Mr. Arafat all
received the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. As a member of the
Clinton Administration, I had the pleasure of witnessing the signing of
these historical accords on the White House lawn. Meeting Prime
Minister Rabin was an honor I will never forget, and his example
continues to inspire me to this day. Prime Minister Rabin was revered
by the Israeli citizens for his unwavering commitment to the peace
process. Tragically, the life of this man of peace was cut short by an
extremist gunman on November 4, 1995. I would like to express my
condolences to the family of Prime Minister Rabin on the tenth
anniversary of his death…”
>
>
