While the reaction from many Democrats in Congress to the Hamas-Fatah peace pact was every bit as angry as that of most Republicans, it appears that National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) has taken a stand that is, if anything, less exercised by this development than the White House.
Whereas even the State Department and the White House expressed concern about the decision of the Palestinian Authority to choose peace with the Islamist terrorists of Hamas rather than with Israel, the NJDC seems unperturbed. Rather than calling upon Abbas to renounce his friendship with an organization that is not only committed to destroying the State of Israel but massacring its people, the NJDC merely wants both groups to play nice. The statement issued in the name of the group’s leader David J. Harris calls for Hamas to “renounce violence, abide by past agreements and recognize Israel’s right to exist” but has no word of reproach for Abbas and the PA, a major recipient of American aid. The NJDC seems to think there is nothing wrong with U.S. taxpayer dollars being donated by indirect means to Hamas via its new partners.
Even worse, the focus of the NJDC statement seems to imply that the lack of peace is the fault of Israel. Rather than expressing support for Israel’s democratically-elected government and its dismay over its peace partner’s abandonment of talks and embrace of the Islamic tyrants who rule over Gaza, the NJDC thinks the pressure should remain on Prime Minister Netanyahu:
We are hopeful that President Obama will show continuing strong leadership; that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not see this as a reason to be deterred from presenting bold steps towards a lasting peace.
You don’t have to read between the lines to see that this statement appears to be a not-so-subtle call for the administration to resume a policy of pressure on Israel to make even more concessions to the Palestinians in the futile hope that a Hamas-Fatah coalition will sign a peace deal that a Fatah government refused to accept.
The NJDC has a role to play as the official Jewish cheerleader for Obama and the Democrats much as their Republican counterparts do the same for the GOP. But one would think they would remember that their role is just as much to advocate for the Jewish community to the Democrats as the other way around. This is a moment when the pro-Israel community, from left to right, ought to be able to unite in opposition to this development and support for Israel’s refusal to deal with Hamas.
Most Jewish Democrats are ardent supporters of Israel, and, like many of their elected leaders, are horrified by the decision of Fatah to embrace the murderers of Hamas. Many Democrats in Congress understand that this is the time to ratchet up pressure on the Palestinians, not Israel and to cut aid to those who make common cause with terrorists. It is nothing less than shocking that the NJDC would issue a statement that is so at odds with the sense of the pro-Israel consensus and out of touch with the realities of the Middle East.
