By Jared Edgerton, Contributing Writer
Both Pennsylvania Senators spoke at the annual conference of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee on Tuesday. Bob Casey and Pat Toomey addressed mounting concerns over the special relationship between the United States and Israel, a major focus since President Obama’s recent call for Israel and Palestine to use the 1967 borders as a starting point for peace negotiations.
Following President Obama’s speech last week, Senator Toomey issued a press release saying he was “extremely disappointed.” He emphasized that a call for Israel and Palestine to start negotiations with 1967 borders undermines undermines Israel’s negotiating position. (Obama seemed to back away from that position in his own speech to AIPAC on Sunday).
During his remarks to AIPAC, Toomey reiterated his strong support for Israel and called American aid to that country vital. He also discussed the Arab Spring revolutions saying he was hopeful the revolutions would help future generations be free of the “dictatorial regimes” that has dominated the Arab world for so long.
Senator Casey’s AIPAC speech also addressed the border question and sought to contrast his views from the unpopular interpretation of Obama’s Thursday remarks. “Israel’s borders must be defensible and must be determined by parties on the ground,” Casey declared, responding to a concern voiced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week.
He also reiterated America would be “sticking by our friends in these increasingly uncertain times,” and “as long as I am in the Senate, you will have a friend that will fight for these resources that are so vital to Israel’s security.”
Senator Casey got his best reaction from the crowd after he asserted “Jerusalem must be the undivided and eternal capital of Israel.”
Both Senator Toomey’s and Casey’s speeches found common ground in their stance toward Iran. Senator Toomey called Iran “the greatest security threat to American and the existential threat to Israel,” saying it is a country “we cannot take our eye off.”
And Senator Casey warned the United States must stay “vigilant” and “prepared to act” if Iran acquires nuclear weapons and threatens Israel.
Their policy positions were mostly consistent except for Senator Casey’s support for a two state solution and Senator Toomey remaining mute on the issue. Toomey ended his speech by describing excited he is for a trip to Israel he is going on this weekend.
Casey and Toomey both know the politics of Israel in the U.S.
As Senator Casey gears up for his 2012 reelection campaign support – or at least indifference – from powerful pro-Israel groups will be vital. He needs no further instruction than the 2010 campaign to see the danger of being on the wrong side of the issue.
Last year, Congressman Joe Sestak was repeatedly questioned on his support for Israel. The Emergency Committee for Israel hammered Sestak with TV ads asking, “Does Congressman Joe Sestak understand Israel is America’s ally?”
The attack stemmed from Sestak signing a letter criticizing Israel’s blockade of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.
Although Sestak continually denied being anti-Israel, the issue resurfaced again in the campaign after retired Senator Chuck Hagel endorsed him and The Republican Jewish Coalition released an ad calling, both Senator Hagel’s and Sestak’s attitudes and records on Israel a “deep concern in the Jewish community.”
Keegan Gibson contributed to this report.
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8 Responses
Not all Jews are Democrats…There is a split running roughly along the lines of how secular and spiritual people practice their Jewish heritage. According to the inner most interpretations of the torah, metaphorically speaking, the Creator purposely implanted within our spiritual root connections inner weed seeds that can germinate at any point into detaching weeds, suffocating humanity from the source of spiritual Light that sustains us. Orthodox and spiritually inclined Jews understand that this geo-political weed patch ourselves within, induces us to tap our respective Christian, Muslim, and Jewish roots for inner catharsis and transformation, for the purpose of harmonizing back with the Creator in thought and action.
A shallow-rooted appeasement, might make us feel good and secure temporarily, but has far more severe consequences in the long term. War, pain, holocaust, only to bring humanity to the decision of the need for inner transformation, the decision that we should have done sooner than later.
I met with several members of AIPAC on Wednesday and floated my Central Park Weed Out Hate Fest idea, in which 100,000 Americans of all racial stripe would root out weeds of hatred as a sign of solidarity and as a inner spiritual prayer. I had the opportunity to discuss this concept with Gov. Christie that morning. This kind of event would communicate in no uncertain terms to weed out the hatred that fuels terrorism.
I am very happy with my senators Pat Toomey and Bob Casey and my congressman Charlie Dent which he will introduce the Angela Fretz banning and abolishing sanitary napkin plastics act legislation before August 2012 which that will be shortly after Caylees law is introduced and my legislation is combined with Caylees Law/the John Walsh criminal justice system reform legislation. Israel is our friend along with Canada, the United Kingdon, South America and the Mexican government being our friends. I am both in favor of President Barack Obama and Congresswoman Michelle Bachman and Congressman Paul Ryan and the rest of our senators, congress and government.
Joe Sestak was never “on the wrong side” of the Israel issue. He was targeted in a smear campaign that most Jewish voters saw right through. That so-called Emergency Committee was just an ultra-right front paid for by unknown corporate millions and run by that nut Gary Bauer. Despite their fear-mongering, Sestak got over 70% of the Jewish vote, as you’d expect any Democrat in a Pennsylvania-wide race to get. He even did better than some.
And Toomey is not going to win any new Jewish supporters with his “extreme disappointment” in President Obama either. Most Jews are solid Democrats. That’s how it’s been and how it always will be. Pat Toomey isn’t going to change it.
I mean anything?
Is there anything that Israel could do to lose our support.
Stay classy, Angela. …or not.
What’s disgusting is treating your allies like enemies and your enemies like long lost friends. As the Obama administration seems to excel in doing.
f’ing disgusting. ‘special relationship’? Real G.D. special. I am going to barf.
You can’t spell “pander” without “PA”.