Speaking Out to Support Israel The Leadership Peter King vs.The Cowardice of Steve Israel

Congressman Peter King (R-NY) continues to lead the congressional charge against President Obama's Anti-Israel policies. That "charge" is being made on only one side of the the political aisle.

Rep. Pete King says President Obama's weak Mideast policy is forcing House Democrats to make the difficult choice of either supporting Obama or supporting Israel.

"I hope they put our relationship with Israel above their relationship with Obama," King (R-LI) said yesterday.

Flanked by Jewish community leaders at a press conference across from the United Nations, King rallied support for his legislation calling for the US to quit the UN Human Rights Council and its probe of the Israeli raid May 31 on a flotilla off Gaza.

King insists that any resolution must specifically back the blockade not just "support Israel's right to defend herself.

“Israel is under siege,” King said. “If you are under siege, a blockade is a legitimate way to defend yourself.If we aren’t being explicit, we are backing away from Israel.” 

Not a single House Democrat, including the entire New York City delegation, would sign on to that resolution introduced by King last week. Let me put it another way, Every single member of the NY Delegation took the lead from the Anti-Israel president and refused to get on board with the King bill.  They want to give Obama Carte Blanche to continue isolating Israel.

Congressman Steve Israel was able to pull his head out of the sand to offer a watered down resolution that does not call for the US to pull out of the Anti-Israel UN Human Rights Council. Apparently the President, Ms Pelosi and the Progressives that run our government what us to stay on the council, even though our presence on the council legitimizes the groups long term anti-Israel strategy. Depending on the year up to 80% of the council's resolutions condemn Israel. And in most cases real human rights violators, North Korea, Darfur, Iran, etc. are totally ignored.

Through the cowardice of Congressmen such as Steve Israel, the United States presence on the council show our support for their agenda. And led by Steve Israel, the Democratic delegation in NY proves that no-matter what their personal views may be, they cannot be counted on to support Israel over the objections of Barack Obama. 

But King found Dems and Jewish leaders back in the city who also don't trust the UN council, which regularly bashes Israel.

He was joined at the press conference by Democratic Assemblymen David Weprin and Rory Lancman, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik and Jewish community leader Jeffrey Wiesenfeld.  

"When the president goes abroad and apologizes for America, he is not making it clear that we are on Israel's side," King said. "I am concerned that not a single Democrat will go on the bill unless we take out the language about the UN."

King has said that voicing support for Israel without taking on anti-Israeli forces within the US would be "meaningless, feel-good legislation."

Peter King has shown himself to be a true leader, while my Congressman, Steve Israel, and indeed the entire NY delegation, have shown themselves to be nothing but political hacks.