Ever wonder why the White House has so much trouble saying a critical word about Israel? Well last night, President Obama spoke at a private Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraising dinner in North Dallas– minimum contribution $10,000 a head. The president began:
Well, to the whole Stanley family, because we’ve got a whole crew here, I want to say thank you. Marc and Wendy have just been great friends for such a long time and great supporters not just to me but of good causes here in Texas and all across the country, and we couldn’t ask for better friends. And we’re really thankful to all of them.
The speech was at the Stanleys’ house (says the Dallas NBC affiliate). Marc Stanley is a prominent Dallas attorney and a vocal supporter of Israel. He said in 2011:
Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama are truly on the same page.
Stanley is the immediate past chairman of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC). He’s important to the Democratic Party. He was lately at the annual Congressional baseball game, raising money at $2500 a home run.
The NJDC is a strong supporter of Israel doing whatever it wants to do, with missiles. Marc Stanley has blamed the Palestinians for the breakdown of peace talks and said that the Israel lobby must stay monolithic so that everyone gets the message that support for Israel is “rock solid.”
And he loves giving military aid to Israel. He writes:
President Obama has ensured that Israel’s annual aid of $3 billion per year is allocated to provide Israel the latest and most efficient technologies and weapons available. Over the past four years, the U.S. has provided $11.4 billion in foreign aid to ensure Israel maintains its Qualitative Military Edge (QME) — which President Obama promptly restored after the Bush Administration let it lapse
And the White House press secretary goes out every day and takes the Israeli side in the conflict and blames the Palestinians for the violence that has now killed scores of Palestinians.
[W]e strongly condemn the continuing rocket fire into Israel and the deliberate targeting of civilians by terrorist organizations in Gaza. No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians, and we support Israel’s right to defend itself against these vicious attacks…
We’re concerned about the safety and security of civilians on both sides. This means both the residents of southern Israel who are forced to live under rocket fire in their homes and the civilians in Gaza who are subjected to the conflict because of Hamas’s violence.
Writing in Haaretz about how liberal Zionists like himself are marginalized in Washington, Peter Beinart describes the corruption of Congress by money, and the effect on the President:
Members of Congress generally feel that when it comes to winning American Jewish votes and acquiring American Jewish money, they can never back the Israeli government – or bash the Palestinians – enough. Although J Street has given liberal Zionists more visibility, many Washington politicians still consider us a marginal breed. That view extends all the way to the top. Several years ago, a friend active in Democratic circles recounted a conversation with President Barack Obama. My friend told the president that many American Jews were unhappy with Israel’s direction and open to American pressure aimed at changing it. “I can’t hear you,” Obama replied. My friend began repeating himself, but Obama cut him off. “You don’t understand,” the president repeated, more slowly and with emphasis: “I … can’t … hear … you.”
P.S. Marc Stanley has opposed Islamophobia in a forceful way here.
“I . . . CAN’T . . . HEAR . . . YOU” . . . how depressing, how cynical, how immoral. Not surprising, for those of us who have observed the past 6 years, but still, depressing. Reminding us how impotent we are.
By the way, a comment prompted by that “rock solid” support. As others have mentioned, Richard Silverstein suggested the other day that Israel’s name for its current operation can better be translated as “solid rock” or “mighty cliff.” I can’t evaluate the translation, but it sounds plausible.
http://www.richardsilverstein.com/2014/07/07/operation-mighty-cliff-gaza-invasion-begins/
HEAR THIS
THIS IS THE ENEMY – GET THE POLITICANS AND WIPE OUT THE ZIONIST ORGS
For any Jews that want Israel to continue to exist they better join Max Blumenthal and all march with tar and feathers on the real enemies in the US congress and the Zio orgs and Both Political Parties.
And any Americans who want the US to survive in any recongizable form better join them.
We dont have 65 years to build Lobbying orgs to over ride the AIPACs, we just gonna have to take them out by popular demand, political threats and demonstrations that target them specifically and personally.
Gaza conflict
July 10, 2014 12:08pm
WASHINGTON (JTA) – A resolution in support of Israel’s right to defend itself against rocket fire from Gaza was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives.
The resolution, which has more than 50 bipartisan sponsors, was introduced Wednesday by Reps. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and Tom Cole (R-Okla.) in response to the attacks on Israel following the murder last month of three Israeli teenagers.
It supports Israel’s right to defend itself against what the resolution calls unprovoked rocket attacks from the terrorist group Hamas and condemns the attacks. The resolution also calls on Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, to immediately stop firing rockets on Israel.
“Despite Israel’s repeated efforts to pursue peace, Hamas has continued its policy of terror and violence against the Israeli people,” the lawmaker Israel said.
“Israel is one of America’s most important and loyal friends,” Cole added. “As the world has watched the unrest and tension reach a new height over the last several days with rockets fired into Israel by Hamas, we remain supportive of Israel’s right to combat these terrorist acts.”
http://www.aipac.org/learn/issues/issue-display?issueid={4399EDFB-3F50-4744-819A-CD491B3FA7DC}
What are you doing to protect Israel
Talking Points
Hamas is relentlessly firing rockets at Israel.
Since the beginning of July, Palestinian terrorists have fired over 500 missiles and projectiles at Israel, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. Through constant missile barrages, terrorist infiltrations and cyber-attacks, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist factions have waged physical and psychological warfare against Israel’s civilian population.
Israel is exercising its legitimate right of self-defense.
Israel has exercised its right to protect itself by undertaking military action that is has dubbed Operation Protective Edge. Israel made several efforts to defuse the situation, but Hamas rebuffed every Israeli feeler.
America must stand with Israel.
It is critical for the United States to reiterate its support for its ally Israel, including its right to live in peace and to defend itself. “No country can accept rocket fire aimed at civilians, and we support Israel’s right to defend itself against these vicious attacks,” said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.
AIPAC empowers pro-Israel activists across all ages, religions and races to be politically engaged and build relationships with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to promote the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Support Israel’s Right to Self-Defense
A bipartisan group of 88 senators signed a letter to President Obama that expresses dismay over Palestinian moves to form a unity government backed by the terrorist group Hamas.
The letter, which was spearheaded by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Susan Collins (R-ME), states that such a government represents a serious blow to peace efforts. Indeed, Hamas continues its refusal to accept international demands to recognize Israel, renounce terror, and accept previous agreements.
U.S. law is clear: No aid can be provided to any Palestinian government that results from an agreement with Hamas and over which Hamas exercises undue influence, unless that government has met the international conditions
Strengthen Iran Sanctions Policy
Royce-Engel Letter Urging Greater Consultation on Iran
House leaders are circulating a letter to President Obama that calls for greater consultation between the administration and Congress on a potential sanctions relief package that may be part of a final deal with Iran.
The bipartisan letter, spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY), comes as the July 20 negotiating deadline rapidly approaches for reaching a final agreement with the Islamist regime.
The letter notes that when asked in a recent congressional hearing if the administration would come to Congress to secure legislative relief of sanctions in a final agreement with Iran, Secretary of State John Kerry responded: “(w)ell, of course. We would be obligated to under the law.”
Strengthen U.S.-Israel Strategic Cooperation
By a resounding vote of 410-1, the House on March 5 passed the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2014 (H.R. 938), which dramatically strengthens the strategic partnership between the United States and Israel as they work to confront new threats and challenges in the Middle East. The Senate version of the bill (S. 462) remains pending.
The legislation — authored by Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Ted Deutch (D-FL) in the House and by Sens. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate — designates Israel a “major strategic partner” of the United States. It also expands U.S.-Israel cooperation in a variety of arenas, including defense, intelligence, homeland security, energy, science and trade
Support Security Assistance for Israel
Key Points
Fulfilling a 10-Year Agreement
In 2007, the United States and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Israel that pledged $30 billion in U.S. security assistance to Israel over a 10-year period, beginning in 2009. President Obama’s request of $3.1 billion for Israel in fiscal year 2014 fulfilled the sixth year of that pledge.
Ensuring Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge
The 10-year agreement embodies America’s commitment to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge over its adversaries on the battlefield.
Confronting Growing Threats
Though America clearly faces a tough budgetary environment, American security assistance is vital in helping Israel meet the growing challenges of a region in turmoil, a potential nuclear Iran, Hamas rocket attacks from Gaza, and a resurgent Hezbollah in Lebanon armed with more than 100,000 rockets and missiles.
Sanction Hezbollah
The Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act of 2014 (H.R. 4411 and S.2329) aims to cut off the terrorist group Hezbollah from the international financial system. Authored in the House by Reps. Mark Meadows (R-NC), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Ed Royce (R-CA) and Eliot Engel (D-NY), and in the Senate by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), the legislation would force international financial institutions to choose between doing business with Hezbollah or the United States. The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the legislation by voice vote on June 26
AIPAC Near You
http://www.aipac.org/connect/aipac-near-you
Educational Seminars on the Hill
The American Israel Education Foundation, the charitable foundation affiliated with AIPAC, regularly holds briefings on Capitol Hill for congressional staff. These events offer unique opportunities to hear from leading policy experts on the key issues facing the U.S.-Israel relationship.
Join the Invitation List
John Kerry has issued a statement saying Israel has a right to defend itself.
Yo John, who will defend and protect the Palestinian civilians?
Don’t they have the right to defend themselves too?
Or do you like the rest of the US leaders, think their lives are of no value too?
For a man you was awarded the Nobel Peace prize , he sure hangs around with a strange crowd.
War mongers and supporters of Ethnic cleansing , to mention just 2 of Israel,s crimes.
Is there a method for reversing the award.
Obama is a big disappointment. When I read this article I realized one of the reasons he keeps giving in to a disliked nation, one that has been a burden to us, and whose PM has even interfered in the Presidential elections trying to prevent him from winning the elections – he is also in bed with these zionists. Anyone with some pride will refuse to go to such an event. Gosh these politicians cannot get enough of Israel, and tries to outdo each other in showing devotion to it.
It is all about campaign financing, and kissing up to lobbyists .