Jewish groups fight over congress vote

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"While the US House of Representatives is getting ready to vote on the bill limiting aid to the Palestinian Authority, Jewish groups are sending mixed messages to members of Congress regarding the bill.

The American-Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) circulated a memo on Monday among congressmen in favor of the bill, known as the Palestinian anti-terrorism act of 2006. Under the headline "Vote Yes," AIPAC leaders wrote: "We strongly support this legislation and urge you to vote for it.

In the memo, AIPAC answers "frequently asked questions" about the bill and tries to address concerns about the language the bill uses on issues of humanitarian aid, ties with moderate Palestinians and US policy toward the PA."

<snip>

"In an unusual move, the memo was countered Tuesday by a memo sent to congressmen by another Jewish group - Americans for Peace Now. The APN letter takes on AIPAC's answers one by one and claims they do not reflect correctly the language of the legislation which members of congress are expected to vote upon."

<snip>

"Other American Jewish groups known for their dovish approach are also lobbying Congress against the proposed language of the anti-Hamas legislation. The Israel Policy Forum sent an e-mail to Congress members urging them to vote against the bill in its current version, and Brit Tzedek v'Shalom sent a similar letter to the lawmakers, in addition to asking its 34,000 members to mobilize against the bill."


http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1145961319614&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Scurrilous]

1. Tikun Olam: Vote 'No' on Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act

<snip>

"All I can say is thank God for American Friends of Peace Now (and Brit Tzedek and Israel Policy Forum). They're leading the charge against The Palestinian Anti Terrorism Act of 2006 ((HR 4681), a piece of draconian anti-Palestinian legislation that would further erode the already miserable quality of life for average Palestinians. It will tie Pres. Bush's hands if he wishes to provide humanitarian aid to the Palestinians. It will prohibit paying the salaries of the 160,000 Palestinians who work for the Palestinian Authority, effectively starving them if not to death, then to a state of perpetual want.

According to the Jerusalem Post, all three Jewish groups are directly taking on the behemoth of American Jewish organizations, Aipac, which is the 800 lb. gorilla behind this legislation. Aipac distributed an FAQ memo in the run up to the legislative vote on the bill, which contained specious arguments and erroneous interpretations of its language. Aipac would have you believe that the bill isn't intended to penalize Palestinians for voting for Hamas in the last election. Even if you give the group the benefit of the doubt (which you shouldn't) and say they don't INTEND to penalize them, the net effect of the legislation will be to do precisely that. And thank God, APN issued an immediate rebuttal refuting Aipac's distortions point by point. The group organized messages of opposition sent to 300 members of Congress in only 12 hours! Now that's organizing."

<snip>

"The world already sees America as a heartless bully due to our militaristic forays into the Mideast. Is this legislation the face we really need to show the world? That we would willingly stand by while Palestinians drop dead in the streets and hospitals from conditions that would be easily curable in any modern society? Do we want to stand by while Israel and Aipac turn the screws ever tighter on an already debilitated people and society?

PLEASE, write your Congressmember asking that he or she opposes HR 4681. It is bad for America. It is bad for the Palestinians. It is even bad for Israel because it will draw us farther from a reasonable solution to the conflict. This bill is a worrisome distraction from the real issues confronting the parties--their need to sit down face to face and negotiate for peace. In other words, it's a big fat waste of time for our elected representatives.

UPDATE: APN reports that Congress has delayed action on the bill, a victory for forces opposing it. This gives Congress further opportunity to amend the bill and make it more consonant with the milder Senate version."

http://americaabroad.tpmcafe.com/node/29725

[Coastie for Truth]

2. What seems to be missing/lost/ignored in the AIPAC threads

:rant:

What seems to be missing/lost/ignored in the AIPAC threads is that the bulk of the "Jewish Lobbies" - Hadassah, ORT, National Council of Jewish Women, Bnai Brith, Union of American Hebrew Congregations, United Synagogue, etc. - have been a solid bloc with the Christian LEFT and the NAACP and the Urban League and the UU Community.

What also seems to be missing/lost/ignored in the AIPAC threads is that and that this campaign against AIPAC - and "Jewish lobbies" generally is detracting from our campaigns for "Clean Money/Clean Elections" and "Single Payer Universal Health Care" and the Environment and Global Warming and a Fair Peace in the ME. These tangents about "Jewish Lobbies" are counter-productive. See my thoughts on this diversion

I regard this incessant rain of "Jewish Lobby" threads as a deliberate attempt to divert attention from "Single Payer Universal Health Care" and "Clean Money/Clean Elections."

:rant: