Posts Tagged ‘Israel’

NJDC Response to Cantor’s Comment on Obama

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

The NJDC responds to Cantor’s remark

Cantor Plays Partisan Politics with U.S. – Israel Relationship

Aaron Keyak – September 23, 2009 – 11:46 am

Today, Ira N. Forman, CEO of the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC), released the following statement in response to Representative Eric Cantor’s (R-VA) remark that President Barack Obama seems not to be a “‘true friend’ of the Jewish state” as reported in Politico today:

Representative Eric Cantor (R-VA) has decided to position himself as the arbiter of who is and who isn?t pro-Israel in this country. Setting aside Cantor?s lack of sterling professional foreign policy credentials, is it wise for him to set himself up as such a figure? This is a particularly salient question considering the fact that President Barack Obama is on the record repeatedly praising Israel and committing himself to its security needs throughout his administration. Moreover, Cantor should understand that these types of partisan attacks damage the longstanding tradition of bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel relationship.

At least one columnist has speculated that Cantor wants to modify his extreme partisan image to reveal a “newly civil Cantor.” Cantor?s insulting characterization of Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as his willingness to play the cheapest kind of partisan politics with the U.S.-Israel relationship call into question whether Cantor wants to turn over a more “civil” leaf.

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Cantor’s Answer on Israel – Palestine

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

This is from the JTA:

Cantor: Obama not ‘true friend’ of Israel

September 23, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The only Jewish Republican in Congress said President Obama does not seem to be a “true friend” of Israel.

In an interview with Politico, House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said he was opposed to Obama’s “disproportionate focus” on a settlement freeze instead of dealing with the “existential threat” to Israel from Iran.

“If you look at the policy that this White House has followed, it certainly does not seem as if we are dealing with a true friend” of Israel, Cantor said in the interview.

Politico

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Will Cantor denounce Rush’s remarks?

Saturday, August 8th, 2009

Cantor has said “I’m a firm believer there is a big place for the American Jewish Community in the Republican Party,”

Now,

From the Huffington Post Thursday,

Rush Limbaugh continues to put the Republican Party’s leaders in very awkward situations with his controversial, often explosive, remarks. Only a week ago Republican Rep. Eric Cantor, a leader of his party in the House, said that the GOP “needs the Rush Limbaughs” — now the conservative host is putting that statement to the test.

Today on his radio show Limbaugh compared President Obama to Hitler: “Adolf Hitler, like Barack Obama, ruled by dictate.”

Now from the Huffingtonpost yesterday,

…

On Friday, National Jewish Democratic Council David Harris called on House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to denounce Limbaugh’s remarks. Pointing out that the Virginia Republican had said more “Limbaughs” were needed in the GOP just last week, Harris called on “Cantor and the Republican Party to condemn Limbaugh and these utterly contemptible tactics.”

“Mr. Cantor, after Rush’s website antics today and comments yesterday, do you really still think you ‘need’ Limbaugh?” his statement read.

The question wasn’t immediately answered, with Cantor currently traveling in Israel. But Harris’ statement got to a larger point: to what extent should the GOP — and, in particular, its Jewish members — be held accountable for the recent bout of Obama-Nazi comparisons?

…

How will Cantor react now?

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Cantor’s Foreign Policy?

Thursday, August 6th, 2009

GOP Delegation In Israel Contradicts U.S. Policy

JEN THOMAS | 08/ 6/09 05:13 AM |
JERUSALEM ? The Obama administration’s policy on Israel is misguided, puts too much emphasis on the issue of settlements and ignores the bigger threat of a nuclear-armed Iran, a U.S. delegation of Republican congressmen visiting Israel said Thursday.

Led by minority whip Eric Cantor from Virginia, the only Jewish Republican in Congress, the delegation of 25 Republicans say their weeklong mission to Israel is designed to show solidarity with the Jewish state and promote Mideast peace. A group of Democratic congressmen are expected to visit next week.

Cantor said that instead of focusing on issues such as Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, Obama should concentrate on “the primary issue of import … and that is the existential threat that Iran poses not only to the state of Israel but to the United States.”

The congressman said he is “concerned about what the White House has been signaling of late.”

Israel believes Iran is trying to develop nuclear weapons that could one day be used against the Jewish state. Iran says its nuclear program is meant only for energy production.

Cantor and others supported Israel’s handling of the eviction of two Arab families from a house in east Jerusalem earlier this week, a move criticized by the European Union and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“I don’t think we, in America, would want another country telling us how to implement and execute our laws,” Cantor said.

The Obama administration is pressuring Israel to freeze all settlement activity on lands the Palestinians claim for a future state. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has refused to hold peace talks with Israel until such a freeze is implemented.

The congressmen have been meeting Israeli and Palestinian leaders and their tour has included visits to West Bank settlements.

Cantor says “Too much emphasis on settlements?” Really? Settlements along with security has been the big issues dividing the Palestinians and Israel. Iran is a separate issue and what does Cantor want to do about Iran, attack? This is re-fried Bush 43 saber rattling, ineffective if not outright risky. Comments Anyone?

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