WASHINGTON, 25 July 2006 — As many in the Middle East struggle to comprehend Israel’s assault on Lebanon, it is important to examine what has been happening here in Washington.
While US, European diplomats, military and intelligence officers have voiced their concern over Israel’s strategy and goals, President George Bush has repeatedly reaffirmed Israel’s “every right to defend itself,” since the intensive Israeli strikes against Lebanon began two weeks ago.
For many overseas, this is difficult to understand. But a closer look from Washington shows US Jewish organizations “launched a major lobbying offensive in the nation’s capital last week to give Israel more time to deal a decisive blow,” wrote The Forward, a US Jewish newspaper. Last week both the US Senate and the House of Representatives unanimously voted to give their complete support for Israel’s offensive against Hezbollah fighters. This reflects, said The Washington Post, “a bipartisan desire to not only defend a key US ally but also solidify long-term backing of Jewish voters and political donors in the United States.” House Republican leader John Boehner cited Israel’s “unique relationship” with the United States as a reason for his colleagues to swiftly go on record supporting Israel in the latest flare-up of violence in the Middle East.
The resolution is also similar to one the Senate passed last week. It harshly condemned Israel’s enemies and said Syria and Iran should be held accountable for providing Hezbollah with money and missile technology used to attack Israel.
Some US lawmakers believe the political calculation is undermining efforts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. “There is no danger for the candidates,” Rep. James Moran, D-Va., told reporters, adding that those politicians “will get rewarded politically and financially for getting out front in their support.” Many lawmakers are facing re-election in November, and polls confirm that since the Sept. 11 attack on US, support for Israel has intensified among both the politicians and the public.
So strong was the momentum for the resolution that it steamrolled efforts by a small group of House members who argued that Congress’s pro-Israel stance goes too far, they quietly expressed reservations that the resolution was too much the result of a powerful lobbying force and attempts to court Jewish voters.
Rep. Ron Paul of Texas was the only Republican to vote against the resolution. Democrats who voted against the measure of support were Neil Abercrombie of Hawaii, John Conyers, Carolyn Kilpatrick and John Dingell, all from Michigan, Jim McDermott of Washington, Nick Rahall of West Virginia and Pete Stark of California.
“I’m just sick in the stomach, to put it mildly,” said Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va., who is of Lebanese descent.
Rahall joined other Arab-American lawmakers in drafting an alternative resolution that would have omitted language-holding Lebanon responsible for Hezbollah’s actions and called for restraint from all sides. Rahall said that proposal was “politely swept under the rug,” a political reality he and others say reflects the influence Israel has in Congress.
“There’s a lot (of lawmakers) that don’t feel it’s right ... but vote yes,” Rahall said.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who co-sponsored the alternative resolution and also is of Lebanese descent, agreed. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobby “throws in language that AIPAC wants. That isn’t always the best thing for this body to endorse,” Issa said. Nevertheless, Issa voted in favor of the resolution. “I want to show support for Israel’s right to defend itself,” Issa said.
Another lawmaker with Lebanese roots, Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-La., also voted in favor of the resolution despite holding deep reservations on its language regarding Lebanon.
The lack of momentum for alternative proposals frustrated pro Arab-American groups.
“This is the usual problem with any resolution that talks about Israel — there are a lot of closet naysayer (in Congress), but they don’t want to be a target of the lobby of Israel,” said Eugene H. Bird, president of the Council for the National Interest, a group that harshly condemns Israel’s military campaign.
“These guys aren’t legislating. They’re politicking,” said James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, told reporters.
