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August 16, 2002/Elul 8 5762, Vol. 54, No. 48
Jews judging candidates on Israel stance
SHARON SAMBER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON - With Israel under attack and seemingly at its most vulnerable in decades, American Jews are trying to ensure that the next U.S. Congress maintains a strong pro-Israel bent.
Education, health care and the economy probably will be the key issues for most voters when they go to the polls in November.
But candidates also want to have a strong anti-terrorism platform in the election - the first since Sept. 11 - and "support for Israel is one way to do that," Democratic pollster Mark Mellman said.
The dual concern over Israel and anti-Semitism is spurring special interest in the elections - and fund-raising for candidates "far from home" - among Jewish activists.
A particularly important test case for Jewish in-volvement will take place Aug. 20, when Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.), who has angered many in the Jewish community for years, faces a primary challenger who has received support from the Jewish community.
McKinney's vote against a pro-Israel resolution in May added to a record of remarks over the years that the pro-Israel community has considered insensitive, even outrageous at times.
Another instance that particularly rankled American Jews was connected to a $10 million disaster relief donation from a Saudi prince who sought to tie the Sept. 11 terror attacks to U.S. support for Israel.
New York's former mayor, Rudolph Giuliani, rejected the gift because of its political message, but McKinney, who agreed with the Saudi's assessment, asked for the prince's check.
Denise Majette, a retired state judge, is challenging McKinney in the Democratic primary. She has taken a strong pro-Israel stance and is now neck-and-neck with the five-term incumbent.
Several pro-Israel groups have contributed to Majette's campaign.
McKinney's campaign, by contrast, shows a number of donations from indivi- duals with Arab- or Muslim- sounding surnames, including many from outside McKinney's district.
Some of the contributors to McKinney's campaign have come under federal investigation for suspected links to terrorist organizations.
The McKinney race follows a triumph for Jewish involvement in an Alabama congressional race in June.
Jews from around the country opened their pocketbooks for attorney Artur Davis, who defeated Rep. Earl Hilliard in the Democratic primary runoff for Alabama's 7th district last month.
Activists considered Hilliard anti-Israel because of his voting record in Congress.
"McKinney is the leading anti-Israel voice in Congress today," one Jewish official said. "She is far more vulnerable than Hilliard ever was."
With other congressional races looming, Jewish voters are looking at a number of races with an interest in getting involved, activists say.
"There is a willingness to get active," said Matt Brooks, executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition. "There is a tremendous amount of political fund raising."
In the end, the pro-Israel majority in Congress is likely to be strengthened as a result of the 2002 races and the departure of anti-Israel voices, such as Hilliard and Rep. James Traficant (D-Ohio), from Capitol Hill.
Other races garnering attention include New Hampshire's senatorial race, where much of the talk about the Republican primary between Rep. John Sununu and incumbent Sen. Bob Smith has revolved around the candidates' records on terrorism and Israel.
Sununu has come under fire for supporting U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority, though he also has voted for U.S. aid to Israel and has returned campaign contributions from Arab leaders who backed Hamas.
Smith has signed on to pro-Israel legislation and supports the Arafat Accountability Act, which would freeze the PLO and Palestinian Authority assets in the United States.
But in many races, voters find it hard to distinguish between the candidates' records on Israel.
In South Dakota, for example, the Senate race pits Democratic incumbent Tim Johnson against Republican Rep. John Thune; the two are about even in polls.
Johnson has a "perfect record on Israel-related issues," but Thune also is "good on Israel," according to the pro-Israel Joint Action Committee.
Analysts agree that Jewish voters are looking harder at a candidate's record on Israel.
However, the issue is not going to make or break most races, said Ira Forman, executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, echoing the view of others.
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