In a bill sponsored by Republican Thomas Massie, Congress voted by a margin of 314 to 104 not to embargo arms sales to Israel. Every Republican besides Massie voted against it. Democratic notables such as Nancy Pelosi voted in favor. Disturbingly, Jewish Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, who previously had been an Israel supporter, also voted in favor.
What is going on here? How has it come to be that it is now mainstream in Democratic circles to vote to cripple Israel in its fight against its numerous Muslim enemies, leaving the only Jewish country in the world defenseless?
Democrats had traditionally been supporters of Israel. But Democrats also go with what is popular and not necessarily with what is right. That is why they hurl absurd accusations against Republicans that they want to abolish Social Security and diminish Medicare. It’s a good sound bite, so they go with it – sometimes effectively.
So it goes with abortion and transgender rights. These are populist causes, so we’ll go with them.
Now, unfortunately, it has become popular to accuse Israel of genocide and apartheid, despite those accusations having been proven undeniably incorrect.
Israel has constantly warned civilians in Gaza of upcoming military campaigns taking place in their neighborhoods. The Hamas figures given for Gazan deaths do not distinguish between civilians and combatants, so it is impossible to know the true numbers. Besides, Hamas commits war crimes by hiding in civilian areas, including mosques, hospitals, and schools.
Israel has delivered over a million tons of food to Gazans. Of course, a good percentage of that food was hijacked by Hamas thugs. That is a pretty poor job of committing genocide.
Apartheid? Arabs in Israel have more rights than in any Arab country. Check the shopping malls, restaurants, and hospitals, and you will find a large population of Muslims. In fact, a Muslim sits on the Israeli Supreme Court.
Thus, the accusations against Israel are totally unfounded. Yet it has become popular on the left to dump on Israel, so mainstream Democrats have fallen in line to condemn the country.
Republicans thus far have remained steadfast in their support of Israel. Yes, there is new anti-Semitism coming from the right, from figures such as Tucker Carlson and Candace Owens; but so far, despite their huge audiences, their hatred of Israel has been marginalized.
Yet, when President Donald J. Trump openly wonders why the majority of Jews continue to vote Democrat, he is vilified. The established Jewish organizations complained that Trump assumes Jews are a one-issue group and that Israel is not the only concern of Jews.
Jews still have to be crazy to support the leftist agenda and all the destruction it has brought to American society, including high crime and homelessness. Israel may not be the only issue for Jews, but it should be right at the top of the others.
Donald Trump is right: Jews have to be crazy to stick with the Democrats.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.