"Emergency Committee for Israel" Treats Truth Like a Punching Bag

by: Publisher

Thu Dec 15, 2011 at 11:10:23 AM EST

— by Marc R. Stanley and David A. Harris

Why does the "Emergency Committee for Israel" treat the truth like a punching bag? Why do they spread fictions and smears about President Barack Obama and his powerfully pro-Israel record? The answer is simple; because they are far-right Republican partisans. When members of their own party repeatedly suggest that foreign aid should 'start at zero' and then make no mention of the 10-year Memorandum of Understanding between Israel and the U.S., they're silent as can be. When 100 percent of House Republicans repeatedly side with business over strengthening Iran sanctions, they're nowhere to be found. But they have plenty of cash on hand to spread myths about this President, and to shamefully turn support for Israel into a partisan football.

They have been called out by mass media for their lies and innuendo, and by non-partisan Jewish organizations trying to shame them towards a better path. But the sad truth is that they're more committed to hurting this President than they are to helping the U.S.-Israel relationship, and that's reprehensible.

More information on ECI's false attacks follows the jump.

Fact: Defense Secretary Leon Panetta delivered a staunchly pro-Israel address recently at the Saban Center. He:

• Reaffirmed this Administration's iron-clad commitment to Israel's security, and detailed the many steps-such as Iron Dome-this Administration has taken;
  
• Emphasized that all options remain on the table for preventing a nuclear-armed Iran;
  
• Discussed how "President Obama has stood steadfastly in the way" of efforts to delegitimize Israel at the United Nations; and
  
• Expressed strong opposition to cutting foreign aid.

ECI: Wrong on the UN.

Fact: President Obama and his Administration have a perfect voting record at the United Nations, proactively defending Israel's legitimacy at the UN. No other President since 1967 has a perfect voting record.

ECI: Wrong on Sarkozy and UNESCO.

Fact: The President used his time with Sarkozy to make the case to the world to place "unprecedented" pressure on Iran, and-behind the scenes-to argue to Sarkozy himself that he was wrong not to support the President and the Administration in firmly rejecting Palestinian efforts to gain membership in UNESCO. The President instructed the Administration to condemn UNESCO's acceptance of Palestinian membership immediately, resulting in the withdrawal of one-fifth of UNESCO's funding from the U.S.

ECI: Wrong on Clinton.

Fact: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in an off-the-record and closed-door discussion with friends at the Saban Center, is reported to have voiced concern over Israeli legislation limiting foreign funding of Israel's non-governmental organizations, and regarding women's rights in Israel. In fact, leadership throughout the American Jewish community share precisely the same concern regarding pending legislation in Israel, and both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Peres have spoken this week about the importance of complete women's equality in Israel.

ECI: Wrong on making Israel a partisan political football.

Fact: In truth, as NJDC Chair Marc Stanley argued in The Hill</a> last week, ECI is sadly nothing more than a GOP advocacy organization. The American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League, two major American Jewish non-partisan organizations, recently offered a "unity pledge" to help prevent this issue from becoming partisan; ECI notably, angrily refused to sign. The Forward reported in September about the criticisms leveled at ECI from many non-partisan pro-Israel advocates after ECI's last dangerous ad. The American Jewish Committee in particular called their previous ad "highly objectionable." The Forward has independently editorialized that each ECI "claim is either an outright falsehood or one that irresponsibly distorts the truth." ECI puts partisanship above the U.S.-Israel relationship, and today's ad proves it yet again.

ECI: Wrong on President Obama.

Fact: This President has a stellar pro-Israel record; just ask Prime Minister Netanyahu. This President doesn't start foreign aid at zero; he has lifted aid to Israel to unprecedented levels. He's gotten the funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system that's saving Israeli lives today. He has a perfect voting record at the UN, defending Israel's legitimacy there and around the world. He personally intervened to save the lives of Israeli diplomats in Cairo. He has restored Israel's Qualitative Military Edge which eroded during the previous Administration. He secretly got Israel the bunker-busting bombs it needed. He has ordered the largest-ever U.S.-Israel joint military operation (to occur in 2012). He has built a global coalition supporting withering sanctions against Iran.

The list goes on and on.