RJC Disturbed by Congressional Democrats' Efforts to Pressure Israel
Thursday, January 28, 2010 By: RJC Press Office
Washington, D.C. (January 28, 2010) -- Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) Executive Director Matt Brooks responded to
reports of a letter in which 54 U.S. House of Representatives Democrats (no Republicans) urged President Obama to pressure Israel to loosen security measures implemented to counter the threat from terrorism originating from the Hamas-controlled Gaza strip:
This is a very troubling letter. It's reassuring that not a single Republican member signed on. But the fact remains that one in five Democrats in Congress have called on the President to pressure Israel to relax measures put in place after years of rocket fire from Gaza.
In their letter, these 54 Democrats express no concern whatsoever about the consequences that might have for Israelis living under the threat of terrorism from Gaza.
We are especially concerned to see that one of the members signing on to this misguided letter is Joe Sestak, a candidate for Senate from Pennsylvania.
Support for Israel's right of self-defense has traditionally been a point of bipartisan consensus. But when one in five House Democrats take an official action so at odds with that principle, it obviously raises questions about whether the Democrats' traditional support for Israel is weakening.
Download the letter with signatures here.