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U.S. Senate Formally Expresses Support Of Israel
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Former vice presidential candidate Senator Joseph Lieberman introduced the anti-Palestinian resolution in the Senate.
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U.S. Senate Formally Expresses Support Of Israel
WASHINGTON, May 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The U.S. Congress on Thursday overwhelmingly voted to formally express its support of Israel in the Middle East conflict despite reservations expressed by the White House.
Senators approved in a 94-2 vote a resolution stating that the U.S. Congress "stands in solidarity with Israel, a frontline state in the war against terrorism, as it takes necessary steps to provide security to its people by dismantling the terrorist infrastructure in the Palestinian areas."
Democrat Senators Ernest Hollings and Robert Byrd were the sole dissenters in the upper chamber.
"I think the resolution is ill-timed and not in the best interests of the United States and not in the best interests of Israel," Hollings said on the Senate floor just prior to the vote.
"Where is the humanity on [toward] the Palestinian side here?" he asked, implying that the bill lacks balance.
But Hollings' protests were drowned out by the Senate vote and a similar 352-21 vote in the House of Representatives that occurred just minutes later.
"For the last 18 months, Israel has been a democracy under siege. And it has responded in the only way that any self-respecting democracy must. It has defended itself," said Representative Tom Lantos.
"When democracies come under terrorist attack, it is morally incumbent upon us, as the world's leading democracy, to express our solidarity. That is what this resolution does."
“No” votes on the resolution included those cast by David Boiner (D-MI), John Conyers (D-MI), Cynthia Mckinney (D-GA), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Gary Condit (D-CA).
Neither of the two resolutions is binding on U.S. President George W. Bush, but they are significant inasmuch as they are seen to represent most lawmakers' opinions about the bloody, 19-month conflict.
The original lower house bill, sponsored by archconservative Tom DeLay, the number three House Republican, and Democrat Tom Lantos, was withdrawn under pressure from the White House last week.
Congressional leaders met late Wednesday with White House officials to smooth over language in the lower house bill, a congressional source said, though top lawmakers suggested the White House would not oppose the resolution.
"Whereas the United States and Israel are now engaged in a common struggle against terrorism and are on the front lines of a conflict thrust upon them against their will ... be it resolved that the House of Representatives ... remains committed to Israel's right to self-defense and supports additional United States assistance to help Israel defend itself," the final text of the bill reads.
The bill introduced in the Senate by former vice presidential candidate Democrat Joe Lieberman, one of 10 Jewish members of the 100-seat Senate, is similar in nature.
With an annual U.S. commitment nearing three billion dollars, Israel is the largest recipient of U.S. foreign aid.
Lawmakers, with their eyes on the November mid-term elections that could reorient the leanings of both chambers of Congress, traditionally court the Jewish vote, and have been impatiently biding their time these last weeks, awaiting the chance to show their clear support of Israel.
But mindful of the reticence expressed by the White House, which only recently engaged in the contentious Middle East and expressed concerns that blatant support for Israel could stifle mediation efforts, the bills were purposely held from the floor.
The rise of American Muslim voting strength, however, is also on the rise.
In the wake of Israel's pullback from Palestinian-controlled areas, the recent visit to the region by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and a week before an anticipated Washington visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, "the time has come" for the Senate to act, Senate Majority leader Democrat Tom Daschle said.
"I think it is important for us to express our solidarity with Israel," the Senate majority leader told reporters.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer, trying to put the best face on the votes, said they were coming at a less sensitive time in negotiations due to recent events in the region, including the Israelis withdrawal from the siege on Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s compound in Ramallah.
Before the vote in either legislature Thursday, American Muslims for Jerusalem issued an appeal for all concerned citizens to contact their representative and express their disapproval of the resolution.
It contained “Talking Points” that should be raised when expressing their disapproval. These include:
- Members of Congress should be focused on constructive steps that can help move the process forward to a peaceful and comprehensive resolution for both Palestinians and Israelis.
- The Bush Administration is opposed to this one-sided resolution and has indicated that it will undermine American peacemaking efforts. It is inappropriate for Congress to stand with a foreign government against the wishes of the Administration at this time of crisis.
- The resolution sends a dangerous message, not only to the Palestinians, but to our allies in Europe and the Arab world, that the United States is not prepared to exercise balance and leadership in finding resolution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict.
- Over the past several weeks, Israel blatantly refused to heed American demands to withdraw from Palestinian towns and cities, and continues to block the U.S.-supported U.N. fact-finding mission to Jenin. This resolution overlooks this and rewards Israel for its intransigence in the face of American and international pressure
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