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Rep. Waxman Tells the Truth about Obama and Israel

Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) has published a new op-ed in the Los Angeles Jewish Journal about President Barack Obama’s support for Israel. Waxman wrote:

Since the recent meeting between President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the two leaders are more clearly on the same page than ever before. Both spoke eloquently of bonds that they call “unbreakable” and “unshakable.” The peace process is also on a much steadier footing, with the burden having appropriately shifted to President Abbas to decide whether he will drop his preconditions and enter direct talks.

On Iran, which is the primary existential threat facing Israel, both Israeli and American officials have talked openly about how our governments are closely strategizing to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. This goal has taken an enormous amount of the president’s personal attention, in talking directly to leaders in Russia, China, Europe and other key nations to advance unprecedented sanctions adopted by the U.N. Security Council in June that will block arms sales to Iran, freeze Revolutionary Guard assets and authorize searches of Iranian cargo vessels. The president also signed into law the Iran sanctions bill, which imposes sanctions on insurance, financing and shipping companies that assist Iran in developing its energy sector. This approach will inflict significant economic hardship on the Iranian regime and hopefully get them to see they would be better off not pursuing nuclear weapons.

This administration has enhanced Israel’s qualitative military edge. Joint military exercises, sales of the new F-35 fighter jet and $205 million for the Iron Dome missile defense system against Hezbollah rockets reflect our solid military ties.

The president is also leading the campaign against efforts to delegitimize Israel. At the United Nations, the United States has opposed action on the Goldstone Report, opposed calls for international investigations of the flotilla incident, and fought the anti-Israel bias at the U.N. Human Rights Council and other U.N. bodies.

In this context, I am alarmed by the continuing effort to paint such an extremely negative picture of the president and even of Democrats in Congress.

It doesn’t make much sense. The president’s policies have earned the praise of most people who are following this issue carefully, including the prime minister of Israel and other Israeli leaders.

Waxman also wrote about the misinformation campaign being waged against Obama:

... I have received so many e-mails and other accusations against the president - from people who consider themselves well informed - that I feel compelled to set out some of the myths and facts.

No, President Obama is not a Muslim; he is a Christian. No, Prime Minister Netanyahu did not enter the White House through a back entrance. This “incident” did not happen, and it has been refuted by the Israeli ambassador and by the prime minister himself. No, the United States did not refuse Israeli nuclear scientists visas - Israel and the State Department have both denied it. No, it was Turkey, not the United States, that withdrew landing rights from Israel at U.S. bases in Turkey. The United States objected and boycotted a joint NATO exercise Turkey planned to host.

I cannot help but think that some of this is being orchestrated by Republican partisans to gain support and undermine Democrats. While this strategy may seek a short-term political advantage, it would be a long-term loss for the U.S.-Israel relationship. Bipartisan support for Israel has been a bulwark of U.S. ties to Israel since its founding. It is a tradition that is in the moral and strategic interests of both our nations.

Comments

Riain Yehuda George | August 27, 2010 – 2:36 pm

kol ha-khavod!

Richard Schwartz | August 27, 2010 – 5:28 pm

Additional facts that Jews should consider
1. It is significant that while there are many Jewish Democratic members of congress, there are no Jewish Republican senators and only one Jewish Republican member of the House of Representatives.

2. During the eight years of the Bush presidency, there was no progress toward peace in the Middle East; and Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran all became stronger

3. Most US Jews recognize that a just, sustainable, comprehensive two-state solution is essential if Israel is to remain a Jewish, democratic state, able to solve its many economic environmental and other domestic problems, and that some thoughtful pressure from the US government is essential to obtain a solution to the current conflicts.

4. President Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Joe Biden and other Democratic leaders have often expressed their strong commitment to Israel’s security, while also urging Israel to make the changes that will ultimately be beneficial to both countries.

5. Some other considerations include: How will Israel solve its many environmental, economic and other domestic problems without a proper resolution of the current conflicts? How will Israel remain both a Jewish and a democratic state if it maintains the West Bank?

6. Rather than stressing obstacles to a resolution and seeing issues in terms of good versus evil while the situation worsens, isn’t it better to seek common ground and solutions?

7. There is still strong bipartisan support for Israel in the US congress. The vast majority of Democratic congress members support Israel. However, like many Israelis, they may not support every Israeli policy, just as they have disagreements with some US policies.
8. Republicans are in complete denial about climate change, and this will increasingly threaten Israel, which already is suffering from the worst drought in its history and major heat waves and wildfires.
9. The US-Israel security relationship is doing very well and getting better. The two military and intelligence establishments have been working closely and productively
10. People who argue that Obama is more sensitive to Muslims than Jews should consider that his chief of staff and main advisor are Jewish, that he picked a Jew as a Supreme Court nominee, that he is the first president to have seders in the White House and he has frequently stressed his solidarity with Jews and with Israel.
11. For more facts about President Obama and Israel, please visit:
http://www.njdc.org/media/entry/obamasecurityfactsheet072110
Among the material there are the following:
a. President Obama requested and received $2.8 billion for directly assisting Israel’s security. This is the largest amount given to Israel in U.S. history specifically allocated for Israel’s security apparatus.
b. The Obama Administration has led the global effort to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. Steps taken include:
Building international consensus against Iran’s nuclear program
Imposing new U.S. sanctions on Iran and those who conduct business with Iran
Imposing new sanctions against Iran’s banking sector because of its links to international terrorism
c. High-level military and intelligence personnel including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, CIA Director Leon Panetta, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen have all traveled to Israel in 2010 to discuss security cooperation vis-à-vis Iran and other situations in the Middle East.

Rosalie Gottlieb | August 27, 2010 – 5:39 pm

I am so happy to have the lies refuted. I am so happy as I have gotten so tired of e-mails with lies and I am tired of arguing.

pesach thompson | August 29, 2010 – 1:53 am

Rep.Waxman, I am honored to here of your being a true patriot and eveyone who believe in right should speak out just as you have! I pray for the day that your words be not alone and a majority in america. The truth should preveil and not lies! thanks for fresh air in the sespool of lies on our nations leader!

Stephanie | September 2, 2010 – 6:17 pm

Richard Schwartz | August 27, 2010 – 5:28 pm
Additional facts that Jews should consider
1. It is significant that while there are many Jewish Democratic members of congress, there are no Jewish Republican senators and only one Jewish Republican member of the House of Representatives.

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