Wednesday, February 11, 2015
From: Gary L. Bauer
In recent weeks Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been subjected to a vicious campaign by the political left to prevent him from speaking to a joint session of Congress. The Prime Minister accepted an invitation from Speaker Boehner to share his thoughts about the threats posed to both Israel and the United States by a nuclear-armed Iran.
This morning Bill Kristol of the Emergency Committee for Israel and I issued a joint statement condemning this attack on our most reliable ally, which is taking place at the same time that our government is making concessions to the Islamic Republic of Iran. Our joint statement is copied below.
Please call Capitol Hill today at 202-224-3121. Tell your Representative and Senators that you expect them to attend the joint session of Congress when the Prime Minister delivers his important message on March 3rd.
Statement by William Kristol, Chairman, Emergency Committee for Israel, and Gary L. Bauer, Chairman, Christians United for Israel Action Fund, regarding the boycott of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s March address to a joint session of Congress.
In mid-January, the Speaker of the House of Representatives invited the Prime Minister of Israel to address Congress. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation. He will deliver remarks to a joint session of Congress on March 3rd.
Some Senators and Congressmen are now threatening to boycott the speech. Whatever their intentions and reasons, their action will be construed, at home and abroad, as a victory for the enemies of Israel and the enemies of a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
Some members of Congress claim to be upset that the Speaker may have violated protocol or blindsided the Administration by inviting the Prime Minister. But then why take their anger out on the Prime Minister, and thereby on the State of Israel?
Others claim that this speech will somehow help the Prime Minister in his reelection campaign — as if Israeli voters are going to base their choice on one speech to the U.S. Congress, a speech in which the Israeli Prime Minister will reiterate arguments about Iran’s nuclear program with which the major opposition parties agree and on which there is national unity.
The bottom line is simple: The enemies of Israel benefit most from this campaign against the Israeli Prime Minister’s speech. Whatever their views on Israeli politics or the Iranian nuclear negotiations, members of Congress who are friends of Israel should not play into the hands of Israel’s enemies — and America’s — by boycotting this speech. Boycotting Israel is high on the agenda of the enemies of Israel. Welcoming Israel’s Prime Minister to the halls of Congress is the least that those who claim to be friends of the Jewish state should do.
As representatives of two proudly pro-Israel organizations, we urge members of Congress to do the right thing for the U.S. and Israel. And for those who would turn their backs on Israel and boycott its leader — they are no friends of Israel, and we pledge to do our best to educate voters about their undermining of Israel and the U.S.-Israel relationship at this crucial hour.
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