Last week, Congressman Anthony Weiner (Democrat-New York) — exercising his prerogative as a member of the US House of Representatives — unceremoniously introduced H.R. 1670. This bill, which mirrors the one introduced in 2004, would cut all US military assistance to Egypt, which stands at nearly $2 billion annually. In justifying the earlier version of the legislation, the Weiner found that, “Egypt is not a reliable ally in the war on terrorism.” The latest version is no less accusative of Cairo. Though the measure is almost certain to fail, the venom in its language and its basic message is clear.
This is not the first, or the last, Middle East-related bill introduced by Weiner, a 40-year-old representative from Queens, New York. In fact, he has already authored six measures pertaining to the region in 2005 alone. All seem intended to criticize US regional policy as being too pro-Arab or soft on terrorism, and each works to strain bilateral relations with key Arab nations — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Palestine.
In March, Weiner, who has opposed the road map peace plan, attempted to block the Bush administration from providing $350 million in assistance to the beleaguered Palestinian Authority. In recent years, Weiner has actively worked to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “Bush’s refusal to recognize Jerusalem slaps a staunch ally in the face for fear of upsetting hostile and terrorist regimes...and punishes Israel for the sins of its neighbors,” he noted in a 2002 press release. After the March 2004 targeted assassination of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, Weiner boasted, “Israel’s Bin Laden has been killed.” Saudi Arabia has been a repeated target of Weiner’s ire. This year he has bills in the hopper to deny Saudi citizens tourist visas and prohibit financial assistance to the Kingdom, even if it funds joint security training. Previously, he authored the Saudi Arabia Accountability Act, which aimed to impose diplomatic and economic sanctions on Riyadh for its alleged noncooperation in the war on terrorism, incitement, and human rights record. He also tried to block the Export-Import Bank from working in Saudi Arabia.
Like the Egyptian bill, not one of the other five bills unveiled by Weiner this year seems likely to become law. This begs the obvious question: Why do members of the US Congress choose to introduce legislation destined to fail? It has long been politically advantageous for members of Congress to champion the cause of Israel, and the easiest means of doing so is by sullying its neighbors. The American Jewish community has long played a prominent role in American politics. To name a few strengths, the Jewish community is extremely well organized, has an entrenched grass-roots network, a powerful presence in Washington, and is a source of considerable campaign contributions to candidates seeking local, state, and federal office. Its strength is nationwide, but is concentrated in urban areas, especially New York. It is only natural that an ambitious politician such as Weiner — currently campaigning for mayor of New York — would court the friends of Israel.
However, in many ways, Weiner’s repeated attempts to stir the Middle East pot and curry favor with pro-Israel groups are grossly outdated. On the surface there is little immediate political downside to Weiner’s political positioning. There are far fewer Arab organizations in Washington, and most of those do not have the resources to respond to Weiner. Arab governments oppose his measures, but do not actively work against them. Primarily this is due to the fact that by being so overtly one-sided, Weiner has marginalized himself and become a fringe player.
There are many other members of Congress who staunchly support Israel without sacrificing their credibility on regional matters. Reps. Gary Ackerman and Nita Lowey, both fellow New Yorkers, fall into this camp. Both sit on key committees, and have opted to mix political reality, dialogue, and reason into their repertoire. While still hawkish in their support of the Jewish state, both tend to be constructive in their criticism and do not preclude the notion that strong relations with the Arab world can be of great benefit to the US and, in the long run, Israel.
Weiner was elected to Congress in 1998 after winning a tough primary election battle. His district has a sizable Jewish population, which he has dutifully worked to please. This is unsurprising, as elected officials strive to stay in office by placating their most powerful and organized constituents. Florida legislators support the Miami-based Cuban exile community, just as members from Arab American-rich Detroit frequently embrace Lebanese and other Arab issues.
But Weiner stands out from the crowd, because his pronouncements and legislative actions are frequently interpreted as mainstream by the time they reach the already suspicious Islamic and Arab worlds. Measures such as H.R. 1670 tend to disprove that the US can serve as a credible partner in building a peaceful and stable region. They undermine the credibility of the US administration and Congress.
At a time when Bush officials hope to carry out the road map, stabilize Iraq, and create a Middle East regional free trade zone, it would be helpful to the US if more practical voices emanated from Congress.
