|
|
August 4, 2000/3 Av 5760, Vol. 52, No.47
Pro-Israel platform courts Jewish vote
LISA HOSTEIN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), left, talks with Joseph Smukler, chairman of the board of trustees of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, at a pre-Republican National Convention event in Philadelphia co-sponsored by the United Jewish Communities and American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
Robert A. Cumins photo courtesy UJC |
Rarely in recent U.S. elections have a candidate's views on Israel and the Middle East been a make-or-break issue for Jewish voters.
It's generally a given these days that most candidates are pro-Israel, or at least they espouse the traditional pro-Israel slogans during the campaign - support for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship, a commitment to Israel's security and a pledge to support a united Jerusalem as the eternal capital of the Jewish state.
At the same time, many Jewish voters must feel a certain comfort level on the Israel issue before they move on to other criteria by which to cast their votes.
Which perhaps explains in part why Republican Party leaders addressing Jewish delegate functions at the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia this week emphasized what they see as Texas Gov. George W. Bush's support for Israel and the party's strong pro-Israel platform.
Republican leaders know that their presidential candidate has to overcome the legacy of his father, former President Bush, who was viewed by many Jews as hostile to Israel. They also know that many Jews are uncomfortable with some of the domestic positions being espoused by Bush, including his views on abortion and religion in public life.
So instead of focusing on economic and other public policy issues, most of the party leaders addressing Jewish events touted the Middle East-related planks in the party platform and, in several cases, criticized the Clinton administration for pressuring Israel to make difficult decisions without getting anything in return from the Palestinians.
"It is wrong" that at the Camp David summit, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak gave and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat took, and "the United States never said anything," Newt Gingrich, former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, declared July 30 to hundreds of cheering supporters gathered at a Jewish community event co-sponsored by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the United Jewish Communities, the umbrella organization of local federations.
House Speaker Dennis Hastert sounded similar themes at the AIPAC-UJC event, warning the Palestinians not to "back away from the peace table" and unilaterally declare statehood in September, as they have threatened to do.
For his part, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), who was defeated by Bush in the primaries and was greeted with a hero's welcome during the convention, emphasized the importance of an undivided Jerusalem but seemed to back the idea of a compromise that would include a sharing of sovereignty with the Palestinians.
But he also said, "The United States should play no part in any agreement that is not consistent" with the premise that "Jerusalem remain the undivided capital of Israel."
Bush's chief foreign policy adviser, Condoleezza Rice reiterated Bush's position that he would move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Bush backers credited the Texas governor himself with a strong commitment to Israel. Mel Sembler, the national finance chairman of the Republican National Committee and an honorary chairman of the RJC, organized a trip to Israel in1998 for Bush and his wife, Laura, under the auspices of the RJC.
"He's a deeply religious man, and I think that's wonderful," said Sembler, a developer in St. Petersburg, Fla., who has served as the U.S. ambassador to Australia.
|
