August 24, 2014|Robert L. Ehrlich Jr Recently, I was talking with a conservative friend of mine about the drama in Gaza. I knew this individual to be thoughtful about world events and staunchly pro-Israel in outlook. It was sometime after our mutual condemnation of Hamas that our conversation took an unexpected and disturbing turn.
Seems my friend is frustrated with the Obama administration's tepid support of Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the Jewish voters who re-elected the U.S. president, a soft-on-Israel candidate. In blunt terms, he asked why he should be concerned about Israel when it is apparent (to him) that so many Jewish voters aren't. For context, recall Mr. Netanyahu's Oval Office dressing down of an American president, persistent U.S. criticism of West Bank settlements, Secretary Kerry's continuing efforts to insert "moral equivalence" in Palestinian peace talks, and a similar enthusiasm to accommodate Hamas demands during recent ceasefire negotiations. Throw in Israel's monumental concern over Mr. Obama's stance on Iranian nuclear negotiations and you have a pretty strong case for legitimate Israeli distrust. I've been thinking about my friend's observation as Americans digest world reaction to this latest Israeli-Palestinian skirmish. Actually, indigestion is a more appropriate term, as anti-Israeli sentiment (particularly in Europe) becomes more pronounced. It seems violent pro-Palestinian demonstrations and the trashing of Jewish shops is back in vogue in Paris. Indeed, taking batting practice on the Jewish state is again a favored pastime around the world. Increasing disenchantment with Israel is also rising in more secular Jewish circles. A recent Pew Research study on American Jews reveals a weaker emotional attachment to Israel (and Zionism) and an increased willingness to criticize Israeli policies among reform and secular Jews. For this segment of the community, Israel is no longer the most vital issue. Some pundits have even argued that progressivism competes with Judaism (and trumps Zionism) as this group's religion of choice. I'll leave it to the social scientists to argue the merits of such matters. But it seems reasonable to conclude that secular Jews are not as intensively pro-Israel as others within the Jewish community. Yet, such divisions on the Jewish left carry few consequences come Election Day. The last dozen or so presidential election cycles make the point. There has been a persistent GOP pattern of failure to grow the Jewish vote since 1964: Goldwater (10 percent), Nixon (17 percent), Nixon (35 percent), Ford (22 percent), Reagan (39 percent), Reagan (31 percent), Bush 41 (35 percent), Bush 41 (11 percent), Dole (16 percent), Bush 43 (19 percent), Bush 43 (24 percent), McCain (22 percent) and Romney (30 percent). The political result is a "hall pass" for lefties: Denigrate Israel (particularly right wing Israeli governments) and reap strong Jewish support. But it's the other side of the equation that remains more frustrating. I refer to the perpetually strained relationship between the Republican right and the Jewish community. Putting aside a strong (but small) group of Orthodox activists who regularly support GOP candidates (including yours truly), the Christian right's stalwart support for all things Israeli is nevertheless viewed with great suspicion (and, often, open hostility) by the larger community. On Tuesday, August 26, 2014 8:34:08 AM UTC-5, Travis wrote: > > > > > > > > > > http://terrortrendsbulletin.com/2014/08/25/the-muslim-brotherhoods-republican-friend-in-michigan/ > > > The Muslim Brotherhood’s Republican Friend in Michigan > > [image: msnbc_mj_snyder_121212b-615x345] > <https://terrortrendsbulletin.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/msnbc_mj_snyder_121212b-615x345.jpg> > > Michigan GOP Governor Rick Snyder is slated to speak at the annual Islamic > Society of North America (ISNA) convention. Jimmy Carter is delivering the > keynote, which should tell us what the tone of the convention will be: > > > http://www.toledoblade.com/Religion/2014/08/23/President-Jimmy-Carter-to-be-keynote-speaker-at-Muslim-convention.html > > In 2011, Snyder spoke at an event sponsored by the Council on American > Islamic Relations (CAIR): > > > http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20110323/POLITICS02/103230392/1022/Census-shows-Michigan-needs-immigrants–Snyder-says > > <http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20110323/POLITICS02/103230392/1022/Census-shows-Michigan-needs-immigrants--Snyder-says> > > Both CAIR and ISNA were unindicted co-conspirators in the > largest terrorism financing prosecution in US history, the U.S. v the Holy > Land Foundation, in which the defendants were convicted on all counts. > > Both CAIR and ISNA were identified as Muslim Brotherhood organizations in > captured documents submitted into > evidence by the prosecution and stipulated to by the defense team. > > Snyder was cautioned about Muslim Brotherhood influence operations after > his speech at the CAIR event. > > He can no longer plead ignorance. > > > > > __._,_.___ > ------------------------------ > Posted by: "Beowulf" <[email protected] <javascript:>> > ------------------------------ > > > Visit Your Group > <https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/grendelreport/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJmOXMydTgwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzIwMTk0ODA2BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTMyMzY2NwRzZWMDdnRsBHNsawN2Z2hwBHN0aW1lAzE0MDkwMDcxODg-> > > > > [image: Yahoo! 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