NJDC's Blog

NJDC Lashes Out at Boehner Comments Against Obama

NJDC released the following press statement today:

Washington, D.C. – Following a press release by House Minority Leader John Boehner which falsely questioned Senator Barack Obama’s position on Israel, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) released the following statement from Executive Director Ira N. Forman:

House Minority Leader John Boehner comments were outrageous assertions and it is disappointing Boehner would stoop to this level.

John McCain and his conservative allies, like Boehner, continue to propagate a smear campaign against Obama and this is just the latest effort to spread blatant lies.

I have one question for Boehner, do you actually read the press releases that organizations like “The Freedom Project” release in your name?  No rational American with a reading ability at or above the sixth grade level could possible read Jeffrey Goldberg's, recent interview in the Atlantic with Obama and come to the conclusion that Obama does not deeply support the state of Israel let alone that he believes that Israel is a constant sore that infects American foreign policy.

Numerous journalists have recently reported on the spreading panic that is infecting the House GOP caucus as a result of one electoral setback after another.  Small wonder that the GOP now finds itself in such dire straits when their House Minority Leader has to resort to such shameless misrepresentations of Obama's record of support for Israel.

McCain Supporters Acknowledge Obama’s Support for Israel, Yet Scare Tactics Continue Trying to Distort Obama on Iran and Hamas

NJDC released the following press statement today:

Forman: Even Senator Lieberman and the head of the national Jewish Republicans have recognized that Senator Obama is a supporter of Israel.

Washington, D.C. – Despite months of relentless attacks on Democratic candidate, Barack Obama’s commitment to Israel, two key Jewish John McCain supporters have acknowledged Obama’s strong record on Israel.   

In an interview with CNN’s Late Edition on Sunday, Senator Joseph Lieberman, a McCain supporter, said, “John McCain obviously knows and has said that Senator Obama clearly doesn't support any of the values and goals of Hamas.” He went on to state, “I don't question Senator Obama's commitment to the security of the state of Israel.”

Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director, Matt Brooks, admitted last month that, “Obama’s voting record on issues related to Israel has been ‘fine’ during his three years in the Senate.”

“Even Senator Lieberman and the head of the national Jewish Republicans have recognized that Senator Obama is a supporter of Israel,” said Ira N. Forman, National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Executive Director. “Yet through statements, fundraiser appeals, and conservative allies, the McCain campaign continues to propagate false assumptions that have become a smear campaign against Obama, who has a strong commitment to Israel, fighting terrorism, and ensuring Middle East peace and has vigorously criticized the activities of Iran and Hamas.

In a press conference on Friday in New Jersey, McCain erroneously again portrayed Obama as being the favorite of Hamas and willing to negotiate with Iran stating, "it's also fact that a spokesperson from Hamas said that he approves of Senator Obama's candidacy.”

"There continues to be a stream of outrageous falsehood from the McCain campaign to scare voters about the Middle East," said Forman. "McCain says he’s the ‘Straight Talk Express’ yet he and his messengers continually seem to have conflicting views about Obama on Israel and Middle East policy."

John McCain: The Environment's Most Erratic Champion

As Emily Schwartz pointed out in a blog entry here recently, John McCain is no Teddy Roosevelt when it comes to environmentally friendly Republicans. While John McCain is the rare Republican who supports the active fight against global warming, he shows, as he does on many an issue, that there is a careful balance between doing the right thing and ensuring his party doesn’t tear off his hide.

Environmental issues are no different. An article published in the Washington Post today continues to put truth to power regarding McCain's stance on environmental issues. So, while he opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), he capitulated to one of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) many attempts to drill it. When Stevens attempted to attach the permission to drill ANWR to a must-pass defense funding bill, McCain gave in. Even though the bill would probably pass without the amendment, McCain would not vote against a defense spending bill at a time of war. Fortunately, others had better foresight. Even where he’s right, he’s wrong. For instance, McCain supports cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by mid century, an admirable goal. However, Obama and Clinton support cutting it by 80% in the same period! And McCain’s score from major environmental groups compared to the Democratic candidates is quite telling, as quoted from the Post article:

McCain's lifetime League of Conservation Voters score is 24 percent, compared with 86 for Obama and 86 for Clinton; Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund's conservation report card gave him 38 percent in the 108th Congress and 40 in the 109th.

We should be promoting environmental policies that are not only progressive, but also aggressive in keeping our Earth healthy for generations to come. Does John McCain agree? Sure doesn’t look that way.

McCain isn’t a Maverick? What a surprise …

Senator McCain’s record has proven that time and time again, he’s a conservative when his party needs him. A May 7^th Arizona Republic article revealed that since 1999, McCain has cast the deciding vote in Congress on major issues in favor of the Republican Party 14 times. By comparison, during this time period McCain’s only sided with the Democratic Party four times.

In addition to voting with his party the majority of the time, McCain appears to be trying to distance himself from those few times he did oppose his own party. For example, his plan for our economy has been to make permanent the temporary tax cuts that President Bush initiated back in 2003; during said time McCain actually voted strongly against these tax cuts and sided with the Democratic Party.

It’s evident that despite allegations that McCain fights against the Republican Party, he isn’t a “maverick” after all.

Statements of Senators Clinton and Obama marking Israel's 60th Anniversary

Statement of Barack Obama on Israel's 60th Independence Day

Chicago, IL | May 07, 2008

This week marks the 60th anniversary of the fulfillment of a dream -- the independence of the State of Israel. Throughout many centuries, Jews held fast to the hope of returning as free people to the land of their ancestors. Blessed with visionary leaders like Theodore Herzl and David Ben-Gurion, in the 20th century they began to take the practical steps necessary to build a modern state. Against all odds, and overcoming obstacles from international indifference, to hostile opposition in the region, to the murderous crimes of the Nazis, the leaders of the Zionist movement declared the establishment of the State of Israel in May 1948. In their moment of triumph, they were immediately plunged into a war for their new nation's very survival. Because of the courage and commitment of its people, Israel did survive. While threats to its existence have endured, Israelis have built their nation into a strong, vibrant democracy, with a prosperous economy, a rich cultural life, and a deep friendship with the United States that benefits both our peoples in so many ways. Even in hard times, Israelis have so much to be proud of. As the Jewish State continues to grow and prosper, the United States will always stand with Israel to ensure it can defend itself against threat of terrorism and violence, from as close as Gaza and as far as Tehran. We must never waver in our unshakeable commitment help Israel achieve its goal of true security through lasting peace with its neighbors.

On this happy occasion, I send congratulations and warm wishes to President Peres, Prime Minister Olmert, and the Israeli people, and I join with Jews and friends of Israel everywhere in celebrating Israel's 60th Independence Day.

Statement by Senator Hillary Clinton on the Occasion of

Israel's 60th Anniversary

I offer my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Israel on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment as a state and homeland for the Jewish people, and I join all the friends of Israel who celebrate today with joy and pride.

Emerging after the tragedy of the Holocaust, the Jewish State was reborn after two thousand years, fulfilling the biblical prophecy of a return to Zion.  Since then, in just three score years, Israel has welcomed Jewish exiles from Europe, the Arab world, Africa, and the former Soviet Union. 

From my first trip to Israel in 1982 to my most recent visit in 2005, I have seen for myself Israel's achievements – and its challenges. The people of Israel, proud and free and always triumphing in the face of adversity, have built a strong and vibrant democracy, a diverse and rich society, and an innovative and thriving economy. 

Yet today, even as we celebrate all that Israel has achieved, we know that the Jewish state is still not safe. In every generation, Israel faces serious challenges to its security and threats to its existence. And just as the United States recognized Israel at birth, and has always stood by Israel when its survival and well-being were challenged, so too do the American people stand by Israel today, united by shared values and strong bonds of friendship.

As President of the United States, I will be proud to continue and strengthen these bonds, so that the State of Israel will continue to grow, from generation to generation, in security and peace.

Am Yisrael Chai! (the people of Israel live!)

Oil Independence

Israel is taking steps toward becoming the world leader in the age of the electric car. Multimillionaire Shai Agassi, with great enthusiasm from private donors and the Israeli Government, is working to make Israel cleaner and oil independent. His company, Project Better Place, is planning to mass-distribute the new electric cars next year, and to establish a network of battery-recharging areas by 2011. The Israeli Government has pledged significant tax incentives for buyers. According to Dafna Agassi, marketing director of Project Better Place, the electric car market has the potential to transform technology the way the mobile phone did:

Think about what happened with Finland and Nokia -- it sprung an entire industry. We are starting the field here. Imagine bringing this to other countries and the potential impact is huge.

Today, the price of crude oil has hit a record high at $122 a barrel. President Bush remains adamant that the solution lies in replenishing our oil reserves and drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. President Bush also wants Congress to allow construction of more nuclear and coal plants. Instead of continuing to build dirty fuel sources and destroying an area rich with wildlife, the United States should be following Israel’s example of pursuing an environmentally friendly way to rid our dependence on oil.

The three presidential candidates have all spoken about global warming as a top priority in the coming years. However, The American Prospect addresses Senator McCain’s environmental failures in “The Myth of Green McCain.” The Senator claims to be “a leader on the issue of global warming,” but has yet to produce any sort of comprehensive environmental plan of action. Senator McCain has the worst environmental record of the three presidential candidates. The League of Conservation Voters published their congressional scorecard for 2007, and McCain received a zero based on his environmental voting record. In order to keep up with the changing global climate and economy, we need a president who will lead us in fight against oil dependency. John McCain is not that person.

A Note on Holocaust Remembrance Day

Today marks the annual anniversary of Holocaust Remembrance Day across the globe.

The, holiday, known in Hebrew as Yom Hashoah, was established through legislation in the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) to fall on the 27th of Nissan on the Hebrew calendar. The purpose of the day is to remember those 6,000,000 Jews who perished in the Holocaust.

We also remember a vow of "never again". On this day, let us remember tragedies past and work to prevent such acts in the future. On this day, it is especially important to remember America’s commitment to the State of Israel. Even today, the Jewish people and their young nation are under constant threats from those who would seek to recreate the tragedies of the past. Let us all work together to maintain the critical bipartisan alliance at home and consensus abroad to ensure that Israel’s security and her people’s prosperity is guarded without fail.

 

McCain's own spiritual advisor problem

Lest we forget, as we are reminded in Open Left today, McCain has his own spiritual advisor challenges.  Does this mean that McCain subscribes to all these off the wall statements from his supporters?  Probably not all of them anyway - but before the Republican attack machine goes after Senator Obama for the unfortunate ravings of his former Pastor they should remember the old saying that people in glass houses should not throw stones.

HEAD OF REPUBLICAN JEWS: OBAMA HAS "FINE" RECORD ON ISRAEL

Washington, D.C. - Despite months of relentless attacks on Barack Obama's commitment to Israel, Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director, Matt Brooks, admitted Saturday that Senator Obama actually has a good voting record on Israel.

As quoted in the Palm Beach Post: "Obama's voting record on issues related to Israel has been 'fine' during his three years in the Senate, Brooks says."

"For fifty years, the pro-Israel community has used voting records as the most important single arbiter of whether a candidate is considered 'pro-Israel' and as the primary predictor of future behaviors," said Ira Forman, National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Executive Director and longtime political strategist within the Jewish community. "Even the head of the national Jewish Republicans is acknowledging that Senator Obama has a fine record. Perhaps now the conservative smear artists will be shamed into ending the mudslinging," Forman stated.

NJDC contends that both Senators Clinton and Obama are strong supporters of Israel and the special relationship which exists between our two nations. The nonpartisan organization, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which does not endorse candidates, has said, "Senators Clinton, Obama, [and] McCain [...] have demonstrated their support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship."

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Republican primary candidate gives the Hitler Salute?

This is a story so incredible, even I couldn’t make it up. Tony Zirkle, a candidate in the Republican primary for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District seat gave a speech to a rather unique audience, the Nationalist Socialist Worker’s Party, or the Nazi Party. The speech, which centered on the trafficking and prostitution of young white females, is a staple of Zirkle’s many runs for public office.  I don’t know if suggesting that we should honor Hitler is also part of his platform, but it seems to fit. And when asked about it, Zirkle mentioned that he had spoken to two black journalists about it as well (the Nazi party is white supremacist), and that he would be happy to talk about it to the following as well: "If the Black Panthers or the Jewish Zionists want me to speak about these issues, I'll do it."

This kind of attitude of racism and anti-Semitism is simply un-American. To his credit, it was a fellow Republican opponent for the primary, Luke Puckett, who brought this meeting to the attention of the media, and stated, “I can't believe, in 2008, someone could have such backward opinions." The point of mentioning this isn’t to paint the Republican Party as pro-Nazi, racist, or anti-Semitic; quite the contrary.  owever, when your party promotes discrimination and intolerance (however unintended it may be) in its platform, candidates like Mr. Zirkle are always going to pop up. It’s not a real shocker that he has yet to win a single race.

Check out the full story here.

The Jewish Pennsylvania Primary Vote

According to exit polls,  Senator Hillary Clinton carried the Pennsylvania Jewish Primary vote yesterday by 14 points.  She received 57% of the Jewish vote to Senator Obama's 43%.  Jews voted in large numbers and constituted 7% of the state's primary election vote.  Interestingly, Jews constitute only 2.3% of the state's population as a whole.

Resolution in Honor of Israel at 60

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer made the following statement on the House Floor today, in support of a resolution acknowledging the 60th anniversary of the state of Israel:

Madam Speaker, it is fitting today that Members on both sides of the aisle join to recognize the founding of our nation's steadfast friend and ally, the State of Israel; to reconfirm the special bond that exists between our two nations; and to reiterate that the support for Israel in this Congress is bipartisan, overwhelming and stronger than ever.

On May 14, 1948 - the day on which the British Mandate for Palestine expired - the people of Israel proclaimed the sovereign and independent State of Israel.

And, 11 minutes later, the United States - at the direction of President Truman - recognized the establishment of this new state.

President Truman observed:  "I had faith in Israel before it was established, I have faith in it now.  I believe it has a glorious future before it - not just another sovereign nation, but as an embodiment of the great ideals of our civilization."

Madam Speaker, over the ensuing six decades it has become increasingly clear that Israel's success is not only a strategic imperative for the United States, but a moral imperative, as well.

Ours is a relationship of principle and conscience, of shared values and common aspirations, of peace and opportunity, and of a mutual commitment to freedom and democracy.

The United States and Israel are nations of immigrants.

We are safe havens for the oppressed.

We are partners for peace.

And, we are united in fighting terrorism.

No people on earth have been subjected to more bigotry and violence than the Jewish people.

And, no people are more in need of a sovereign, secure homeland to provide safe haven and to protect identity.

David Ben-Gurion once remarked: The security of Israel "is a question of the survival not only of the people of Israel, but of the Jewish people the world over."

Throughout the last 60 years, Israel has been an island of freedom in a sea of despair. It has been vilified, threatened and attacked.  And yet, it has prevailed and prospered - just as it will prevail and prosper today, tomorrow and in the future.

When we talk of Israel, we inevitably acknowledge her courage in the face of those who seek her destruction.

But let us also acknowledge that over the last 60 years, the Israeli people have established a vibrant, pluralistic, democratic political system that includes freedom of speech, association and religion; a vigorous, free press; free, fair and open elections; the rule of law and an independent judiciary.

Furthermore, Israel has developed an advanced, entrepreneurial economy and is among the world leaders in the high-tech industry.

Madam Speaker, over the last five years, I have had the privilege of traveling with Congressional delegations on tours of Israel three times.  And, what the Members saw was a reflection of themselves: People who love their country; people who want to live in peace and freedom; and people who want their children to have even greater opportunities.

As our allies in Israel celebrate their 60th anniversary of independence, let us honor their determination to fulfill the vision of Zionism's founding father, Theodor Herzl, who observed, "If you will it, it is no dream."

Through courage and will, Israel was born and the dream of generations was made real - and it will endure.

I want to congratulate the citizens of Israel and the entire Jewish community on this important anniversary of Israel's founding.

Happy Earth Day!

Since first established in 1970, Earth Day has been a national reminder that we must take responsibility to protect the planet on which we live.

Judaism commands us to take initiative in maintaining the environment. From the very beginning, “The Lord God took the man and placed him in the Garden of Eden, to till it and tend it" (Genesis 2:15). It is our duty to take care of the earth. Tikkun Olam, a pillar of Judaism, literally tells us to repair the world. We must act now to correct injustices done to our environment.

It is time for new leadership that can bring about necessary changes to transform America into the frontrunner in environmental sustainability. Today, President Bush set the record for the highest disapproval rating of any President in the 70-year history of the Gallup poll. The Democratic candidates are prepared with new energy policies. Senator Clinton’s Earth Day statement and Senator Obama’s Earth Day statement address making smart choices in government and in private that reflect our status as stewards of the earth.

The Talmud explains: While the sage, Choni, was walking along a road, he saw a man planting a carob tree. Choni asked him: “How long will it take for this tree to bear fruit?” “Seventy years," replied the man. Choni then asked: “Are you so healthy a man that you expect to live that length of time and eat its fruit?" The man answered: “I found a fruitful world because my ancestors planted it for me. Likewise, I am planting for my children.” Though we have barely begun to see the effects of global warming, it is a problem that future generations will inherit. By taking steps in our own lives to reduce carbon emissions, we can ensure a better world for our children.

For more on Judaism and protecting the environment, see the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life.

How Does McCain Really Feel About Hagee?

During his Sunday morning interview with George Stephanopoulos on This Week, Senator McCain said that accepting the Pastor’s endorsement was "probably" a mistake but quickly followed up by saying that he was "glad to have his endorsement". McCain also stated earlier that he "admired" Hagee’s leadership, yet he condemned any of Hagee’s remarks that were "anti anything".

McCain only attempted to distance himself from Hagee after he received intense criticism for accepting the Pastor’s endorsement. Even then, McCain said: "all I can tell you is that I am very proud to have Pastor John Hagee's support."

For more information on McCain's connection to Hagee and the Pastor's controversial comments, click here.

NJDC Condemns Outrageous Falsehoods from McCain Camp, RJC

NJDC released the following press statement today:

Washington, D.C. - Today, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) condemned the false accusations and fear mongering from the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) and Senator McCain's campaign surrounding Senator Obama's view on former President Jimmy Carter's recent meeting with Hamas.

Both the RJC and the McCain campaign falsely claimed that Senator Obama did not condemn Carter's meeting with Hamas last week, when in fact, on April 10th, the JTA reported, "The leading presidential candidates all said that it would be a mistake for Carter to meet with Hamas." The article continued with a statement from an Obama campaign spokesman: "Senator Obama does not agree with President Carter's decision to go forward with this meeting because he does not support negotiations with Hamas until they renounce terrorism, recognize Israel's right to exist and abide by past agreements."

"This is just an outrageous falsehood," said Ira N. Forman, NJDC Executive Director. "This is the kind of irresponsible behavior we saw in 2000 when the RJC charged Vice President Al Gore as anti-Israel because he wouldn't promise to move the Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on his first day in office. Bush made the promise to move the Embassy, then failed to live up to his word without a hint of criticism from the RJC."

"Senator McCain and the RJC ought to be ashamed of themselves for employing such reckless falsehoods that instill unnecessary fear in voters," Forman continued. "How can Senator McCain's supporters claim their candidate has 'integrity' when his campaign is willing to spread utterly blatant misinformation?"

Even the conservative-leaning Washington Times wrote, "Mr. Obama joined the White House and Israel in opposing Mr. Carter's outreach to Hamas."

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Chris Matthews' view of the Jewish and African American Vote

Media Matters today quoted Chris Matthews from the April 16 edition of MSNBC's Hardball:

MATTHEWS: What is the Catholic vote, Mike Barnicle? It isn't like a vote like, for example, if you're a Jewish voter probably you care about Israel, that's a safe bet. You have one key concern. I can't think of other groups that would make it that simple. But clearly, if you're African-American, you care about civil rights. You care about certain programs of the federal government. That's a generalization, but probably true. You're more progressive. But Catholics -- where would you put them? Is there a squirrel box or a rabbit hole you can put them in politically?

What a simplistic view of Jewish and African American voters!  We would suggest that neither vote is monolithic and should not be pigeonholed into "squirrel boxes" or "rabbit holes".

The RJC Knows Better

Yesterday, Matt Brooks, Executive Director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, made the following preposterous statement:

Now more than ever, Senator Barack Obama must explain why he will not join the growing chorus of U.S. lawmakers demanding that President Carter stop undermining the Middle East peace process.

Doesn't he know better?  As soon as it was announced that President Carter was planning to meet with Hamas, Senator Obama's campaign released the following statement:

Barack Obama views Hamas as a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction, and believes they cannot be treated as a legitimate actor until they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by past agreements.  That has been his position consistently, and it places him squarely at odds with former President Carter's plan to meet with Hamas leaders.

So, what exactly would the RJC want Senator Obama to do?  Should he stand on his head while denouncing Carter's visit?  Of course the RJC knew about the Obama statement (as well as Senator Clinton's strong statement against the proposed meeting).   The only possible purpose of a statement like this was to try to sow the seeds of doubt in Jewish voters' minds about Senator Obama's commitment to Israel.

Let the political games continue...

Clinton and Obama Would Extend Deterrence to Israel

Last week, in his Washington Post column, conservative journalist Charles Krauthammer proposed that President Bush issue a "Holocaust Declaration" in the context of Iran's nuclear threat to Israel. This assertion would mirror President Kennedy's policy of deterrence during the Cuban missile crisis, and look something like this:

It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear attack upon Israel by Iran, or originating in Iran, as an attack by Iran on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon Iran.

In last night's Democratic presidential debate, George Stephanopoulos asked the candidates if it should be U.S. policy to extend our deterrence to Israel. Both Senators Clinton and Obama definitively stated that they would see an Iranian attack on Israel as an attack on the United States and retaliate accordingly.

Beyond stating their concurrence with such a declaration, both candidates laid out their policies for preventing Iran from achieving nuclear capabilities and attaining hegemony in the Middle East.

Senator Obama said:

Our first step should be to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of the Iranians. [...] And I will make it one of our top priorities when I am president of the United States. I have said I will do whatever is required to prevent the Iranians from obtaining nuclear weapons. [...] I think it is very important that Iran understands that an attack on Israel is an attack on our strongest ally in the region, one whose security we consider paramount. That would be an act of aggression that I would consider an attack that is unacceptable and the Untied States would take appropriate action.

Senator Clinton stated:

I think that we should be looking to create an umbrella of deterrence that goes much further than just Israel. Of course I would make it clear to the Iranians that an attack on Israel would incur massive retaliation from the United States. [...] We are at a very dangerous point with Iran.

Despite the right-wing smear machine's baseless attacks on the Democratic Party's Israel stance, the Democratic presidential candidates have clearly set the standard for strong commitment to Israel's security.

To read more about this issue in last night's debate, click here, here, and here.

For more on the candidates' views on Israel, click here.

No Taxation Without Representation

Happy Tax Day. For millions of Americans, though mailing in their taxes today might be a hassle, they can rest assured that those dollars help guarantee their civil rights. The taxpaying residents of Washington, DC, however, are denied the most basic civil rights. Without representation in Congress, DC voters literally have no say in the laws they are required to follow. The District is the only jurisdiction in the United States where Americans fulfill all the responsibilities of citizenship but are denied equal rights.

Congress does not need to amend the Constitution or make DC a state to give DC a vote in the House of Representatives. The DC House Voting Rights Act was passed one year ago in the House, but has yet to pass in the Senate.

“No taxation without representation” is a platform of our democratic society. If we are all truly created equal, then every US citizen deserves a say in electing lawmakers. “A ruler is not to be appointed until the community is first consulted" (Babylonian Talmud, B’rachot 55a). As American Jews, we have a responsibility to fight for civil rights and social justice.

For more information on DC voting rights and to find out how you can get involved, see www.dcvote.org and www.jufj.org.

Jimmy Carter's Cowboy Diplomacy

The Washington Post is reporting that former US President Jimmy Carter is planning to travel to Syria to meet with Khaled Meshal, the head of Hamas.  The trip was first disclosed by the Arabic-language paper al-Hayat. 

Because Carter has long been known for his one-sided reading of the Arab-Israeli conflict, The National Jewish Democratic Council has expressed concern in the past about his ongoing, deeply biased commentary on the Arab-Israeli conflict.  It does not serve the United States' or Israel’s interest to have such an individual meeting with an organization devoted to the destruction of Israel.

Both Democratic Presidential candidates sharply rebuked Carter’s plans.

Dan Shapiro, Senator Obama’s Mideast advisor, issued the following statement:
“As soon as the news broke of former President Carter's intention to meet with Hamas leaders on his upcoming trip to the Middle East, Barack Obama made clear that he disagrees with that decision, and authorized his campaign to make his opposition known.  Barack Obama views Hamas as a terrorist organization dedicated to Israel's destruction, and believes they cannot be treated as a legitimate actor until they recognize Israel, renounce violence, and abide by past agreements.  That has been his position consistently, and it places him squarely at odds with former President Carter's plan to meet with Hamas leaders.”

Phil Singer, a Senator Clinton spokesman, said, "Hillary respects former President Carter but disagrees with his decision,"..."She would not meet with Hamas without coordinating with Israel."

It is clear that Jimmy Carter has decided to reject the opinions of the presidential candidates of his party and to continue on his own course of maverick foreign policy.   Haven’t we learned our lesson about the perils of cowboy diplomacy?

Solomon Project in Israel: Part Three

Though I have been to Israel several times and studied the nation's politics, language, and culture extensively, I have found this trip to be one of the most fascinating and informative Israel experiences I have had. The most unique part of this trip is sharing the experience with people who have very little background on the issues and have never visited the country. This of course brings many new perspectives to our meetings and discussions.

The bloggers on this trip have been presented with a wide array of viewpoints. They have heard prominent members of the Knesset speak from various political parties and persuasions, stepped foot in Sderot to see the city that is facing constant terror from Gaza, and participated in dialogue with Arabs and Israelis who have created coexistence programs around the country.

Among other topics, trip participants are asking questions about religion, human rights, and Iran's impact in the region - all to help them better understand the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the potential solutions in the area. We are receiving extensive information every day, and it is difficult to digest it all. As we were told the moment we landed at Ben-Gurion Airport, we will probably leave more confused than we were upon our arrival. As we approach the end of our time in Israel and I spend more time reflecting with our guests, I am thrilled to find that everyone is truly appreciating this experience, gaining a better understanding of the current situation here, and wanting to come back.