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Ayalon: Israel will stand by DeLay
Jerusalem Post ^ | September 30, 2005 | NATHAN GUTTMAN

Posted on 09/30/2005 9:33:41 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative

The first public appearance of Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) after being indicted and forced to leave his leadership position was at Wednesday night's dinner hosted by "Stand for Israel," a group of Israel-supporting evangelical Christians and Jews led by Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein.

"It's really good to be here among so many old friends and brothers and sisters in the cause for justice and human freedom," DeLay opened, drawing a standing ovation from the crowed. Some shouted, "We love you, Tom."

The ousted majority leader of the House of Representatives is known to be a staunch supporter of Israel and has close ties with right wing groups and the settlers. "Tom DeLay is a true friend of Israel and has always worked for the security and well-being of the state," Israeli ambassador to Washington Danny Ayalon said Thursday. "We will keep up the close ties with him."

Tom DeLay was forced to step down, at least temporarily, from his position as House majority leader after a Texas grand jury indicted him Wednesday on charges related to illegal use of campaign contributions. DeLay has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyers claim that the prosecution was driven, in this case, by political motivation.

As majority leader, Tom DeLay played a lead role in blocking US aid to the Palestinian Authority and conditioning its restoration on reforming the PA and fighting terror. He has supported foreign aid to Israel and backed pro-Israel resolutions on Capitol Hill.

In 2003, DeLay was one of the co-sponsors of House Resolution 294 that expressed support for Israel as it fights terrorism. In his speech from the floor, DeLay said that "Israel's fight is our fight" and added that the point of the war against terror is not only to defeat terror, but also "to destroy terrorists."

As a born-again Christian, DeLay is close to the pro-Israel Evangelical circles and has said in the past he believes that the land of Israel was given to the people of Israel by god and should not be divided. He opposed the US-led peace plan known as the road map, calling it a "road map to disaster," and has been a critic of the Sharon government's disengagement plan.

In a 2003 speech at the Zionist Organization of America conference, DeLay said about his latest tour of Israel, "I didn't see any occupied territories, I only saw Israel."

Israeli officials said Thursday that, even though Tom DeLay was a great supporter of Israel in his leadership position, they do not think Israel's stand in congress will be affected by his departure, since there is a strong support base for Israel in both parties and in both houses of Congress.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: ayalon; congress; delay; evangelicals; proisrael; standforisrael; zionism

1 posted on 09/30/2005 9:33:42 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative
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To: West Coast Conservative

This is good to know. Now maybe DeLay can humble himself enough to apologize to Mike Pence and get behind Pence's initiatives.


2 posted on 09/30/2005 9:44:03 AM PDT by jla
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To: West Coast Conservative

Israel never had a better friend than Tom DeLay.


3 posted on 09/30/2005 9:52:34 AM PDT by OldFriend (One Man With Courage Makes a Majority ~ Andrew Jackson)
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To: West Coast Conservative

The article gives me the impression that he and others may be some kind of Israeli or Zionist plant.


4 posted on 09/30/2005 9:58:40 AM PDT by Realism (Some believe that the facts-of-life are open to debate.....)
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To: Alouette

FYI and/or ping list


5 posted on 09/30/2005 10:26:30 AM PDT by eureka! (Hey Lefties: Only 3 and 1/4 more years of W. Hehehehe....)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Yehuda; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; ...
If you'd like to be on this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

..................

6 posted on 09/30/2005 10:55:18 AM PDT by SJackson (we are forced to live in a democracy... the process is frustratingly slow, HRH Gov Blagojevich)
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To: Realism

I hope that you missed a sarcasm off tag...


7 posted on 09/30/2005 11:15:39 AM PDT by sofaman ("Get off the phone, you big dope!" Mark Levin.)
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To: Realism
The article gives me the impression that he and others may be some kind of Israeli or Zionist plant.

Boy that made me check your sign up date in a big hurry. Gave me the impression you might be some kind of palesite or arab or white supremacist plant.

8 posted on 09/30/2005 11:18:38 AM PDT by johnb838 (New Tone for A-Rats: I want to hear you SCREAM!)
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To: West Coast Conservative

btttt


9 posted on 09/30/2005 11:34:16 AM PDT by dennisw (You shouldn't have other people get your kicks for you - Bob Dylan)
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To: Realism
The article gives me the impression that he and others may be some kind of Israeli or Zionist plant.

Hmmmmm. Such as the sabra cactus?

10 posted on 09/30/2005 11:41:44 AM PDT by veronica ("America has been killing people on this continent since it was started." PMS/ Peace Mother Sheehan)
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To: OldFriend
Israel never had a better friend than Tom DeLay.

And vice-versa.

11 posted on 09/30/2005 11:42:24 AM PDT by veronica ("America has been killing people on this continent since it was started." PMS/ Peace Mother Sheehan)
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To: Realism

Why does it give you that impression?


12 posted on 09/30/2005 11:56:54 AM PDT by West Coast Conservative (Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.)
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To: West Coast Conservative
they do not think Israel's stand in congress will be affected by his departure

He didn't go anywhere!

He may not have the title (temporarily) but he still has the same power.
13 posted on 09/30/2005 12:02:10 PM PDT by Republican Red (''Van der Sloot" is Dutch for ''Kennedy.")
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To: johnb838; All
Gave me the impression you might be some kind of palesite or arab or white supremacist plant.

None of the above, I'd just feel more comfortable knowing that our Congressmen see the United States as their first prioity not second. Nothing against Israel intended.

14 posted on 09/30/2005 12:06:22 PM PDT by Realism (Some believe that the facts-of-life are open to debate.....)
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To: West Coast Conservative

BTTT...


15 posted on 10/01/2005 7:00:01 AM PDT by veronica ("America has been killing people on this continent since it was started." PMS/ Peace Mother Sheehan)
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To: West Coast Conservative

hope all here stand up for TD--the charges are such BS


16 posted on 10/01/2005 10:09:14 AM PDT by rang1995 (They will love us when we win)
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