Dodd, Specter, Isaacson and Thune spearhead letter to Obama on Israel

Going Over Obama's Head to Congress--Seventy-Six Senators Send the White House a Clear Message About Israel
Edwin Black May 19th 2009


In the wake of the recent meeting between President Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, four senators have circulated an letter to colleagues urging Obama to support the Jewish State's efforts to achieve peace.

Read the letter here.

At press time, seventy-six senators have signed the letter. The House version bears almost 195 signatures and is at 195, as of press time. The letter, crafted April 30 before the summit is designed to send a clear message to the White House about Israel’s security, its determination to control its own Palestinian negotiations as it confronts an Iranian nuclear threat. The notion that Obama was linking Jerusalem's negotiations with Palestinians to its ability to thwart nuclear annihilation rankled many in the Jewish and non-Jewish Israel support community. In a word, Israel has gone over the president’s head and appealed directly to the Congress.

“We are writing out of our shared concern over 60 years of conflict in the Middle East, and a mutual desire to see peace between Israel and its Arab neighbors, the senatorial letter starts. “While the obstacles are formidable, we agree with you that every effort should be made to realize that peace." The message continues, "Many years of strong, principled US engagement led to historic peace treaties between Israel and both Egypt and Jordan. We believe that achievement of a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians requires adherence to some key principles. These include an understanding that while the United States has an important role to play, the parties themselves are the ones who will need to negotiate and live with whatever agreement is reached. As we work closely with our democratic ally, Israel, we must take into account the risks it will face in any peace agreement. Without a doubt, our two governments will agree on some issues and disagree on others, but the United States friendship with Israel requires that we work closely together as we recommit ourselves to our historic role of a trusted friend and active mediator."
Congress emphasized that peace cannot come while terrorism continues to wrack Israel. "We must also continue to insist on the absolute Palestinian commitment to ending terrorist violence," the sentors insisted, "and to building the institutions necessary for a viable Palestinian state living side-by-side, in peace with the Jewish state of Israel. The more capable and responsible Palestinian forces became, the more they demonstrate the ability to govern and to maintain security, the easier it will be for them to reach an accord with Israel. We encourage you to continue programs similar to the promising security assistance and training program led by Lieutenant General Keith Dayton, and hope that you will look for other ways to improve Palestinian security and civilian infrastructure."

The four senators who organized the letter are Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Arlen Specter (D-PA) and John Thune (R-SD). The House version was rallied by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA).

http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=11334&pageid=17&pagename=News

And this is one major reason why Obama is in such an impotent place re Israel. The Congress will put up roadblocks that weaken the hand he holds.

*Posted here because this is an American issue more than an I/P issue.

that illustrates something that many people here do not seem to recognize: that as president, Barack Obama has limited power to make positive changes. That has to be viewed in contrast to the Bush-Cheney presidency, in which there was unlimited power to take steps that were severely damaging to our country, to be fully appreciated.

executive branch can do whatever it wants. Obama does not have limitless power.

That's rich.