GOP Criticizes POTUS' Overreaction About Jerusalem Settlements, The Democrats are Strangely Silent

During the past few days, the Obama administration has been overreacting to Israel's approval of new housing in a northern Jerusalem Jewish neighborhood.  The only thing wrong with Israel's announcement was the timing, which even the most ardent Israel supporter would call plain dumb.  Though it was not done to embarrass the SCHMOTUS Joe Biden, a task he masters on his own, the timing was embarrassing not only for the SCHMOTUS Joe Biden, but for Bibi Netanyahu Israel's Prime minister who was not aware of the announcement before it was made (yes Israeli politics are very weird).

The administration claimed that the proposal for additional housing units in Ramat Shlomo undermines hopes for "profitable" negotiations. Yet the 1,600 units do not violate U.S.-Israel agreements. The U.S. had accepted and praised Israel's concession for a 10-month freeze on building in the West Bank. Jerusalem, including eastern Jerusalem, was specifically excluded from the freeze.

This is not a new community,  Ramat Shlomo is already a thriving community of almost 20,000 Jews. It is located between two much larger Jewish communities, Ramot and French Hill. Its growth would not interfere with the contiguity of Arab neighborhoods in eastern Jerusalem.

It is clear by the reaction of the White House that they are using it as an excuse to do what was intended all along, move the US away from its strong friendship with Israel. This was the position of Barack Obama before he was courting the Jewish vote as a presidential candidate, it was also the position of Hillary Clinton before she decided to move to NY and run for Senator. Lets not forget that the Clinton's nice house in Chappaqua was partially funded by the Ten Million Dollar a year salary Bubba got from Yucaipa a firm based in Dubai. Dubai is one of the most anti-Israel of the Muslim nations. Bill and Hilary are major friends of Dubai, to the point where the Clinton Foundation have established Dubai Study departments in universities in the US and London.

All this unprecedented anger is coming from an administration that received 78% of the Jewish vote. Israel's ambassador to the United States, Michael Oren, has told the country's diplomats that U.S.-Israeli relations face their worst crisis in 35 years, despite attempts by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office to project a sense of "business as usual.

With all the venom coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,  maybe Israel would find some support coming from the other side of the National Mall after all, the Democratic Party usally gets the lions share of the Jewish vote. The strange part was there was no voice coming out of the Democrats in Congress disagreeing with the President's unfair treatment of Israel.  But there was plenty of voices coming out of the GOP:

• Congressman Mike Pence, R-Indiana,"Since taking the oath of office, President Obama has repeatedly extended a hand of cooperation to our enemies while pushing aside the concerns and interests of our allies. This disturbing pattern has been displayed time and again in our dealings with Israel over the past year. The recent rhetoric by the Obama Administration threatens the stability of Israel at a time when it faces terrorist threats on its borders and the possibility of a nuclear Iran just over its border.
   
  "The United States of America knows no greater friend in the Middle East than Israel. House Republicans will continue to stand by our most cherished ally, and we will hold the administration accountable for the words and actions it takes toward the people of Israel and their democratically elected government."

•  Congressman Eric Cantor R-Virginia “To say that I am deeply concerned with the irresponsible comments that the White House, Vice President, and the Secretary of State have made against Israel is an understatement. In an effort to ingratiate our country with the Arab world, this Administration has shown a troubling eagerness to undercut our allies and friends. Israel has always been committed to the peace process, including advocating for direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians, in effort to bring this conflict to an end. Unfortunately, the Palestinian Government continues to insist on indirect talks and slowing down the process.
  
  “While it condemns Israel, the Administration continues to ignore a host of Palestinian provocations that undermine prospects for peace in the region. Where is the outrage when top Fatah officials call for riots on the Temple Mount? Why does the Palestinian Authority get a pass when it holds a ceremony glorifying the woman responsible for one of the deadliest terror attack in Israel’s history? Surely, the Administration’s double standard has set back the peace process.
  
  “Israel continues to be a world leader in the fight against terrorism and speak out against the prospects of a nuclear Iran. For this Administration to treat our special relationship with Israel, one of our closest and most strategic Democratic allies, in this fashion is beyond irresponsible and jeopardizes America’s national security"

• Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen,(R-Florida) the leading Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, charged that the Obama government’s condemnations of "an indispensable ally and friend of the United States…undermine both our allies and the peace process, while encouraging the enemies of America and Israel alike. She noted that President Obama has taken "softer approaches" towards the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Iran. 

• Senator Sam Brownback’s (R-Kansas)office stated, “It' is hard to see how spending a weekend condemning Israel for a zoning decision in its capital city amounts to a positive step towards peace."

That couldn't be right, there had to be one Democrat standing up to Obama's unfair attacks on one of America's closest allies.  I search Google News for some recognizable Democratic names.

• I checked on Jerrold Nadler Democratic Congressman from NY. Nadler shows up to speak at every pro-Israel rally at the UN, he claims to be a big friend of Israel's (and big is the operative word). There was no reports of support coming from Nadler. But to be fair, it is Monday, and the all-you-can eat buffets today are appealing to the larger-than-life Congressman.

• How about Anthony Wiener another NY Democratic Congressman who shows up at  every pro-Israel rally? Apparently like Nadler, Wiener is being a weenie and not standing up to a Democratic party President who seeks to delegitmize Israel.

• Senator Chuck Schumer would speak out.  After all he is not only a supporter of Israel, but Schumer would knock over his own grandma to get his face in front of a camera. Even Chuck said nothing.

• I didn't bother to check on my Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY). He already told everyone where he stands when he allowed the anti-Israel organization J-street to use his name for a dinner invitation at the request of the President. I knew that Israel had his lips too closely affixed to the President's agenda to make a comment in support of the Jewish state that bears his name.

•  Gary Ackerman Democratic Congressman from Bayside NY, who is also the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East was also silent.

Isn't it strange, that supposedly Pro-Israel members of congress, from some of the most pro-Israel districts in the country, members of the party that usually receives the bulk of the Jewish vote, have abandoned Israel, refusing to voice their support in a time of great need simply because the Anti-Israel President has a "D" next to his party affiliation.

At the same time members of the opposition party who usually gets a smaller percentage of the Jewish vote, who come from places like Indiana, Kansas and Virginia are standing up to a President who is using a poorly timed but legitimate announcement by Israel to drive a wedge between our country and one of her strongest Allies.

This is not an anomaly. The Democratic/Progressive alliance is not necessarily pro-Israel, even the ones that usually are, do not have the guts to stand up and be counted. Maybe its time for supporters of the Jewish State, to look at candidates from other parties when considering who to vote for in the upcoming mid-term elections.  The future of Israel may depend on it.

UPDATE: According to Ben Smith, after seeing the outrage from the GOP, some Democrats have tepidly begun to voice some criticism of the President. Interestingly, Smith says that their original silence was to help the Administration try to force regime change by Isolating Bibi Netanyahu.

One of the Democratic Voices was my Congressman Steve Israel, who must have gotten permission from Uncle Rahm to make this weak statement:

"The Administration, to the extent that it has disagreements with Israel on policy matters, should find way to do so in private and do what they can to defuse this situation," said Rep. Steve Israel.

These recent responses do not really change a thing. The truth is that the GOP leaped to try to Protect Israel from the wrath of a President already biased against the Jewish state, The Democrats followed with weak criticism and only after the GOP comments first thing yesterday.