Posted on 08/24/2002 7:08:06 PM PDT by UbIwerks
Opinion
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A True Friend Of Israel Faces A Tough Challenge: Why Jews Must Support Sen. Bob Smith Posted 8/21/2002 By Ann J. Lieb, Esq.
New York`s Jewish community might wonder why large golden gleaming arrows are being focused on the upcoming Republican Senate primary in New Hampshire. After all, this New England state has a relatively tiny population -- the census of 2000 counted 1,235,786 residents, only ten thousand of whom identified themselves as Jewish, a small percentage of the total population.
We can shrug our shoulders with that "Why care or why get involved with a U.S. Senate race when it`s not in our own backyard?" attitude. Or we can do everything in our power to make sure that Senator Bob Smith, the senior senator from New Hampshire, wins the primary on September 10.
During his two terms in office, Bob Smith has consistently shown himself to be one of Israel`s greatest allies in the U.S. government. Recently, on June 12, the senator gave a speech before the Senate concerning legislation he had written to eliminate funding for Arafat and the Palestinian Authority. He stated, "We must stand shoulder to shoulder with Israel in the war against terrorism. We must also send a clear message to Yasir Arafat and the Palestinian leadership that the United States will not tolerate terrorism against Israel. Israel is a true friend and ally. And, as a nation, we share many of the same values -- democracy, respect for human rights, freedom of the press, a strong desire for peace and prosperity, to name but a few...By any honest assessment Yasir Arafat both harbors and supports terrorism...The record is clear. Israel is a friend of the United States. Yasir Arafat is not. We can`t expect Israel to negotiate with individuals who wish to destroy Israel`s very existence..."
That speech is just one of many reasons why, at this crucial moment, Israel and the American Jewish community cannot afford the loss of such a great friend as Senator Smith from the political arena.
At the same time it is abundantly clear that Smith`s opponent, Representative John E. Sununu, is not a friend of Israel and the Jewish people. Sununu`s voting record on Israel has been abysmal.
* Sununu was one of only two Republicans who supported allowing Federal taxpayer funds to go to the Palestinian authority or any unilaterally declared Palestinian state. (H.R. 5272, passed House Sept. 27, 2000, 385 to 27, Roll 497.)
* Sununu was one of only six Republicans to oppose a measure weakening the Palestinian Authority. Sununu opposed the simple resolution, which stated, "the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state would introduce a dramatically destabilizing element into the Middle East, risking Israeli countermeasures, a quick descent into violence and an end to the entire peace process...and the final political status of the territory controlled by the Palestinian Authority can only be determined through negotiations and agreement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority." (H. Con. Res. 24, Roll 52, passed House March 16, 1999,380 to 24.)
* Sununu was one of only five congressmen who attempted to weaken U.S. support of Israel by voting against a resolution opposing any and all efforts to "manipulate the Fourth Geneva Convention for the purpose of attacking Israel." (H. Con. Res. 117, Roll 279, passed House July 12, 1999, 365 to 5.)
* Sununu was one of only five members of Congress to vote against a resolution to investigate the case of three Israeli soldiers, including Zachary Baumel, a U.S citizen serving in the Israeli army, who have been missing since 1982. (Bill passed 415 to 5, June 22, 1999, Roll 22246.)
* Sununu was one of 17 Congressmen to oppose a simply resolution congratulating the residents of Jerusalem on the 30th anniversary of the reunification, which stated, "Jerusalem must remain an undivided city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected as they have been by Israel during the past 30 years." (H. Con.Res. 60, Roll 176, June 10,1997, passed 406 to 17.)
It is imperative that we use our collective power and our financial resources in support of Senator Smith`s campaign. We must ensure that John E. Sununu does not succeed in becoming a U.S. senator from New Hampshire.
Contributions to Sen. Smith`s campaign can be sent to: Bob Smith for U.S. Senate, P.O. Box 387, Exeter, New Hampshire 03833. (For further information on the campaign, log on to www.senatorsmith.com.
Ann Lieb is a grant writer for a Brooklyn yeshiva. A former trademark attorney, she served as an interviewer for Steven Spielberg`s Survivors of the Holocaust project for three years.
I'm in NH and voting Sununu.
Isn't Sununu the genius who put David Souter on the US Supreme Court?
Ah, so. Does that Sununu "genius" run in the family?
Fortunately, Smith is going to get buried by a much more effective, and also conservative Republican in the form of Sununu. I hope the writer of this article has the common sense to realize that Israeli interests will be far better served by coming home to the Republican Party in the general election, than by keeping her nose out of joint about Smith's defeat.
Right now, support for Smith is just a useless curiosity. Opposition to Sununu in the general election, however, could have profound and negative effects on the United States (and Israel), then.
Congressman Billybob
She doesn't have the best interests of conservatives or the GOP in mind -- or either the US or Israel. It's just an attempt to make up to Democrats for tanking Hillard and McKinney. A vote for Smith is a vote for Shaheen.
-ccm
This is a McCain all over again. Can't blame people for trying but it is insulting to think anyone is stupid enough to buy it. If Smith were a squishy Republican, maybe, just maybe this might be for real. But he stands for everything the vast majority of Jewish voters despise. Sure he supports Israel and so do they but that is not enough for them to honestly want Bob Smith in congress. They want a Democrat in there and this is the way to get the seat.
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