What would Kerry do?

Let's imagine a President John Kerry.

A President Kerry would permit Iran to build nuclear weapons. Israel considers a nuclear Iran the biggest threat facing Israel today. President George W. Bush speaks of Iran as part of an "Axis of Evil." Kerry has promised to give Iran nuclear fuel as a gesture of good faith.

Kerry would bring Yasser Arafat back to the White House. Arafat visited the White House more than any other leader - friend or foe - during the Clinton years. Under Bush, Arafat is barred from the White House. It is reasonable to believe that he would return to Washington under a Kerry presidency, particularly since his campaign is now dominated by former Clinton staffers.

Kerry spoke out against Israel's security fence before his political advisers convinced him to change his position. Bush has not lifted a finger to pressure the Sharon government to stop construction, and has accepted widespread condemnation from Europe and the Arab world for his position.

Kerry believes removing Saddam Hussein from Iraq was a "colossal mistake." Hussein, you may recall, sent missiles into Israel and seriously threatened the use of poison gas against Israeli Jews.

Kerry would end Bush's pre-emption doctrine - the Israeli version of which saved the nation from elimination in the 1967 War.

Kerry would weaken the Patriot Act, which has been used effectively to shut down radical Islam fund-raising networks in the United States and to prevent additional terrorist attacks from occurring here.

Kerry would appoint people like former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker to facilitate peace. Would we really prefer this team to the pro-Israel Dream Team of Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Feith, Abrahms and Bush himself?

Kerry would vote for a stronger role for the blame-Israel-first United Nations and seek approval of Europe's Arafat-appeasers to decide the fate of Israel's negotiations with its neighbors. Kerry's proud embrace of Germany, France and the United Nations does not augur well for Israel.

Despite these contrasting records, recent polls suggest nearly 80 percent of Jewish voters will vote for the Kerry-Edwards ticket.

If true, this will demonstrate that the American Jewish community considers too many other issues more important than the safety and security of Israel. The Jewish community should recognize and reward the Bush administration's extraordinary efforts to protect not just the United States but Israel as well.

Glenn Hamer was a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., and chief of staff to former Congressman Matt Salmon, R-Ariz. He lives in Scottsdale.

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