Each week, the Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) is energizing and mobilizing the Jewish electorate in support of candidates and elected officials who share our values. We are advocating for policies consistent with our values, including support of the U.S.-Israel relationship. We know that Jewish voters are overwhelmingly pro-Israel, despite the fact that Jews are voting predominantly on domestic policy issues. For more information on the Jewish vote, please check out our FAQs about the Jewish vote and share with others. |
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Jewish voters are voting their values, and disapprove of Trump’s handling of nearly every issue. According to a non-partisan poll of 1,000 Jewish voters commissioned by the Jewish Electorate Institute (JEI) in May, Jews overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump’s policies on nearly every issue because they are inconsistent with Jewish values. Case in point: on the issue of immigration, more than 70 percent of Jewish voters oppose every aspect of the Trump administration’s actions, including ongoing efforts to build the wall, discrimination based on religion, or separating families at the border.
But what about foreign policy, and specifically, what about Israel? According to the JEI poll, 68 percent of Jewish voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of foreign policy and 50 percent disapprove of his handling of a range of issues related to Israel. At the same time, Israel ranked the lowest policy priority – of the 16 presented – among Jewish voters when choosing which candidate to support. While 90 percent of those polled identified as “pro-Israel,” 53 percent identified as both pro-Israel and critical of at least some of the current Israeli government’s policies. Just as one can be a patriot and opposed to the policies of the Trump administration, certainly one can be pro-Israel and be critical of the Netanyahu government.
We think this issue deserves a closer look because President Trump has not been good for Israel. First, he has not been good for America’s credibility and international standing, and Israel – as one of our closest allies – depends on America’s diplomatic strength in the eyes of the world. Trump has also denigrated both America and Israel’s democracies and democratic institutions. Second, Trump has politicized and personalized the U.S.-Israel relationship, framing it as solely about him and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Parties in the majority and leaders in power will come and go in both our countries, and this relationship – which has endured seven decades – must be sustained in the future. For these reasons and more, we affirm that President Trump’s policies are not in America’s interest and are not in Israel’s interest.
Keep reading for more and to hear about JDCA’s response to events in the past week, and consider supporting JDCA today by clicking here.
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Denigrating Israel’s Democracy: Earlier this week, after it became clear that Israel would go to elections in mid-September, President Trump called Israeli politics “messed up” because, according to Trump, having another election is “ridiculous.” He added that Israel should “get their act together,” and made clear he is “not happy” that the Israeli government is complying with its democratic norms and procedures. Trump’s remarks demonstrated his disdain for democracy and Israel’s democratic process in particular. Israel has long been the only democracy in the Middle East, which serves as the foundation of a strong-U.S. relationship. Regardless, Trump appears to have as little regard for Israel’s democracy as he does for our own.
Interfering in Israel’s Democracy: This is not the first time Trump has interfered in Israel’s democratic process. Forty-eight hours before Benjamin Netanyahu’s deadline to form a coalition expired, Trump tweeted, “Hoping things will work out with Israel’s coalition formation and Bibi and I can continue to make the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever.” Trump’s statements and intervention is Israel’s democratic process were widely criticized both in the United States and in Israel, including by JDCA. As Menachem Begin once reminded Ronald Reagan, Israel is not a banana republic. Israel is democratic country that has every right to select its leaders – and build coalitions – free from Trump’s interference.
Politicizing and Personalizing the U.S.-Israel Relationship: Trump’s statements this past week reinforce something we have long warned about – the politicization and personalization of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Trump and Republicans have increasingly attempted to use Israel as a partisan wedge issue, and we reject it in the strongest possible terms. Trump has also repeatedly framed the relationship about him and Prime Minister Netanyahu, which is dangerous. Leaders will come and go, and this relationship must endure. Using Israel as a means of scoring political points – as Trump and Republicans continue to do – is not in Israel’s interest, it’s dangerous for our future.
Art of the Deal? In the midst’s of Israel’s election process, the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was in Israel this past week to discuss the administration’s secretive Israeli-Palestinian peace plan, which – according to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – is “unexecutable.” This is not surprising, considering Kushner suggested this week that Palestinians aren’t capable of governing themselves, and that Republicans in Congress revealed they no longer support a two-state solution, which has served as the foundation of U.S. policy toward Israel for twenty-five years. Trump is clearly more interested in delivering a “deal” that neither Israelis or Palestinians support than executing a foreign policy consistent with the long-term interest of the United States and Israel.
Regional factors: Trump has continuously taken actions in the Middle East that have put Israel’s national security at risk. This week, it became clear that he’s attempting to maneuver around Congress in order to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, and has even hidden from Congress evidence that Saudi Arabia escalated its ballistic missile program with help from China – a direct threat to Israel’s quantitative military edge. Trump’s announcement in December of a withdrawal of 2,000 U.S. troops from Syria threatened to create a power vacuum on Israel’s border, and give Iran a land bridge from Tehran to the Mediterranean. Trump even signaled to the world that he values Russia above Israel when he handed Russian officials Israeli intelligence related to Israel. This is not only a betrayal of America’s interests and intelligence, but also of Israel’s.
Trump is not good for Israel. Nor is he good for America or Jewish Americans. His reckless foreign policy abroad and fomenting of anti-Semitism at home is an affront to our values. Ultimately, it’s up to Israelis whether they want to change their government, just as it’s up to Americans whether we want to change ours. We are ready for change, and JDCA can play a pivotal role in bringing about change consistent with our values, but we need your support. The stakes have never been higher, so please join our movement today as we prepare to bring about meaningful change in 2020.
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JDCA Speaking Out |
• JDCA Chairman Ron Klein and Executive Director Halie Soifer met with 24 Senate Democrats and other Jewish leaders to discuss Israel, anti-Semitism and social justice issues.
• Halie debated her Republican counterpart at the AJC Global Forum to discuss why the Democratic Party will remain the political home of American Jews.
• Halie was featured in the Times of Israel and profiled as, “the woman who hopes to mobilize the Jewish electorate to defeat Trump.”
• In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Ron offered a clear-eyed perspective on the reality of strong Democratic support for Israel.
• JDCA urged the California Democratic Party to reject anti-Israel and anti-Semitic resolutions and applauded them for doing so.
• JDCA joined with other Jewish organizations in condemning the banning of Stars of David at the upcoming DC Dyke March, and expressed support for the LGBTQ community, including those who wish to march displaying Pride flags with the Star of David. More on the DC Dyke march, which will take place TODAY at 5pm, can be found here.
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These are just a fraction of our activities. Every week brings challenges, and every week, we meet them. Stay informed in real-time by following JDCA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so that you don’t miss anything, including briefing calls and events. And be sure to visit our online store in advance of Father’s Day!
Our work is not possible without your support, and we thank you for standing with JDCA as we fight for socially progressive, pro-Israel, and Jewish values.
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Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Ron Klein
Chair, Jewish Democratic Council of America
Halie Soifer
Executive Director, Jewish Democratic Council of America
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There are over 300 million Gentiles in America, yet what comes to the forefront of Washington politics is what the Jewish voter should do. Perhaps the majority of Americans who are multi-ethnic voters need their own lobbyist group to counter AIPAC, ADL, JDCA, etc.
How about AGPAC (American Gentile Political Affairs Committee)? After all, since the Zionists of Israel heavily influence the American Jewish voter, American Gentiles need a voice too.
Maybe we could get back the 3 billion dollars of taxpayer money stolen from the U.S. treasury every year. I’ll bet every one of the 50 States that make up the republic could put their 60 million dollar portion to better use for their own infrastructure improvements instead of it being forced to donate it to Israel, which ranks 34th in GDP out of over 180 countries.
See: http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/countries-by-gdp/ .
The israeli trump regime represents the likud (the extreme right, I’d say the psychos, but all zionazis are psychos, by default), aspect of zionazi-gay control of the usa, much like the bush jr. regime did. IE: the full on buggery loving neocons.The zionazi-gay outfit featured in this blog entry represents the “liberal” zionazi-gays.
Their claims about “trump” hurting israeli interests are interesting, though, as this is about perception and mass population control. The trump quislings (especially trump) are the gofers of the netanyahoo aligned freakshow in israel. I say interesting, because they are right, actually. The likud trump quislings are hurting israeli interests (forget american interests, these critters don’t even consider them, america exists to serve israeli/zionazi interests), just like likud are doing in israel.
They are too direct, their openly lording of their power underneath the enslaved goy colonials collective noses threatens to cause rebellion among said carefully indoctrinated cattle.
If the herd animals get angry enough, they might pull aside the curtain the “wizard of oz” operates behind. “Worse” still, the they might have thought to bring along some rope in the quest.
There are some other interesting aspects of this entry, such as the pretense of non-interest by pindo Jews in israel, and pseudo criticism of same. One of the rules of the (now fortunately) defunkt guardian talk forum was “don’t criticize israel”, a form of keeping the dirty laundry out of sight. This also applied to other zionazi-gay propaganda sites, like moon of alabama. A little criticism was OK, but any in depth analysis was discouraged with banning.
Interestingly, this “don’t mention israel” attitude prevails here, also, among comment writers, informally. Other than a few people, the majority very rarely mention israeli/zionazi-gay actions and influence in world affairs. BTW, the site called offguardian, and the vast majority of its participants, were/are guardiantalk/guardian cif workerbees.
Hey vot tak – I agree with your comment – I haven’t noticed it on this site as you have said – but I agree with your discussion of the liberals’ viewpoint, in this post on Saker’s. And I agree with Saker’s article for the Unz Review on another thread here tonight – I would have liked Saker to comment briefly on his opinion about this posting – but you said it in your second paragraph – there is no talk of American interests….only Israeli interests…its so scary that this is a world take-over – did you see what I posted on the other thread ? I will post it here to – I copy paste it from Gilad Atzmon’s facebook page – I think its written by Israel Shamir –
Israel Shamir is with Израэль Шамир and Pepe Escobar.
June 4 at 8:23 PM
A Russian Bolton?
An extreme zealous Zionist had been made an adviser to the Russian Minister of Defence. Eugene Satanovsky, a frequent commentator on Russian TV shows, the head of pro-Israeli think-tank, had been appointed by Kremlin to advise Mr Sergey Shoygu, the Russian Defence Minister. This sudden appointment meshes well with news of tripartite meeting of Israel-US-Russia security advisers. A possibility of pro-Israeli shift in Russian positions can’t be discarded. It could influence Syrian developments and Iran crisis.
Think about this so-called news about an adviser to Shoigu.
If his opinion were to influence Shoigu and the Russian General Staff Plans, Putin would be undermined and the Russian Military would be undermined.
It is ridiculous.
This is total nonsense. The man has zero military experience, and his only credentials in the story is he is an ultra-zionist.
Shoigu won’t be taking advise. He will be delivering the Russian military’s security position, overseeing military operations and war plans.
Think about these insane notions before you post them. Some absolute nobody as adviser?
Iran is not going to be double-crossed by Russia.
The “deal” brings nothing to Syria and nothing to Russia. Thus, nothing is the basis for these bozo rumors of how the Israelis really call the shots for Putin and the Russians.
Russia is in for the long haul, for geopolitics, for trade, for weapons sales, to kill terrorists, to assist strategic partners, to push the US aside, and to get a piece of the gas and oil from the ME and Mediterranean.
Russia is a “player” and leader. It does not kiss anyone’s ass.
Israel has so much influence? It can’t even risk a plane to fly over Syria. They stand off and fire cruise missiles and guided bombs.
The Patruschev meeting is to “listen” to what the US and Israel are proposing. Russia always listens.
To L-445
Nice retort
Always enjoy reading your point of view.
Cheers
The weapon sales now occurring between Russia ans Saudi Arabia could quite easily be used against Iran and not just for killing terrorists. At least those stand off attacks need have no fear of S300 interception.
We hear nothing of the the Russian Unions refusing to ship weapons to Saudi as the Italians are doing https://www.presstv.com/DetailFr/2019/05/20/596464/Italian-unions-Saudi-Arabian-ship-Bahri-Yanbu-weapons-consignments-Genoa
Russia is definitely a player, it doesn’t care how it gets its riyals and also does large trade volumes in shekels.
This is another wonderful, gorgeous post from you, you particular Anonymous. I have to say, your posts get better and better. This post has a “flow”, and continues your “Hair Club for Men, section 8200” thesis on the world in a thought-provoking and intelligible way.
I think you’re completely full of sh*te, but so what? Let’s give credit where credit is due.
The Integrity Initiative (remember them?) never could hold a candle to you. In comparison, they are rank amateurs. You’ve simply out-classed them.
If you have an employer, you deserve many, many shekels/rubles for sheer originality. Also, you should put this post (among many others here) on your resume.
Bravo! Warm regards! And why on earth are you here? I mean, we got it, right, right, you hate the Russians. Otherwise, what’s in it for you? It’s not as though you engage anybody.
Bravo and job well done again.
You seem engaged.
Who knows, with some luck one day, you may even recognize the simple truth when you see it.
Hair Club for Men, section 8200. Maybe that is the “simple truth”.
This is a fundraising letter….all the rest is fluff….Like a kid whining and pulling on his mom’s dress, to buy him another toy…..the last sentence is what the letter is all about.
In other words, “Give us your money”.
Great observation.
“give us your money”
LMAO
So true
Israel’s Attack on The USS Liberty: An Act of War, A False Flag, A Gross Betrayal
https://www.globalresearch.ca/what-we-should-have-learned-israels-attack-uss-liberty/5680016
“1. Israel is capable of attacking its allies, and especially the U.S., to further its Zionist agenda. One can’t help but think about 9/11 in this regard.
2. Israel will lie to America to draw it into a war under false pretenses. It also has no problem blaming a third party like Egypt for an atrocity it did not commit.
3. Israel wields sufficient power within American circles of power that the U.S. government is more concerned about not embarrassing Israel than it is about defending its own people.
4. The American media will participate in a cover-up of an act of war against America rather than point the finger at Israel.
5. Israel uses the same attacks against the Liberty survivors that governments and mainstream media use to marginalize “conspiracy theorists.”
6. Israel will also play the “anti-Semitic” and “neo-Nazi” cards against American servicemen who were victimized in the attack and who are continuing to demand accountability.
7. Even half a century later, the American government will continue to protect this lie and allow the victimization of the survivors to continue.
Israel cultivates the image of a country and a people who are victims, constantly under threat. But one thing that this horrifying event really makes clear is that Israel threatens anyone or any country — even supposed “friends” — that get in the way of its political objectives.”
You could switch out America with Russia it would still read the same.
I noticed in one of his last essays the Saker again laments what Putin didn’t do after the last Russian election.
How many people noticed, caught it, believe it even happened…………….Putin’s ‘horse head in the bed moment’ it was delivered in 2017 several months before the election, where it was shown to Mr Putin that even he is not invincible and can be if needed, removed…………..anyone remember…………..didn’t think so. Happened right in Moscow, in broad daylight……..I don’t think the message could nave been louder. Three guesses, first two don’t count.