Commentary
Netanyahu’s strategy, Biden’s acquiescence, and the existential crisis to Israel, Jews and America
I thought you’d like to read an email I sent to my Congresswoman’s chief of staff, Felicia Goldstein. Since I’ve corresponded with Felicia in the past, I thought this email would have a greater chance of a response/action than if I addressed it directly to the my representative, Lois Frankel.
Here’s the email:
Dear Felicia,
As I’m sure you know, five Democratic members of Congress sent a letter to President Biden on December 18. The signers of the letter were Seth Moulton (Massachusetts), Jason Crow (Colorado), Mikie Sherrill (New Jersey), Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania), Abigail Spanberger (Virginia), and Elissa Slotkin (Michigan). Prior to serving in Congress, each served our country in either the security establishment (Spanberger and Slotkin) or the military (Crow, Houlahan, Sherrill). The letter, attached to this email, expresses the representatives’ deep concern about Israeli PM Netanyahu’s military strategy in Gaza and President Biden’s reluctance to “use all our leverage to achieve an immediate and significant shift of [Israel’s] military strategy and tactics in Gaza.”
What is significant about this letter is that it was not sent by members of an ultra-left/ultra progressive Congressional group like “The Squad;” it was sent by very centrist, well-meaning Democrats with no political axe to grind. What is also significant about the letter is that, aside from Congresswoman Slotkin, it was not signed by any other Jewish member of the House, including our local Jewish representatives, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz and your boss and my Congresswoman, Lois Frankel.
I, like many American Jews, am very conflicted by the current crisis. There is no question that Israel has a right and duty to defend itself. There is no question that the October 7 Hamas attack was horrific and barbaric – the most egregious terrorist attack since 9/11 and the worst violence against Jews since the Holocaust. But there is a question as to how that defense should be carried out. Netanyahu’s policies over the years regarding the settlements, his pathological opposition to a two-state solution, his cynical embrace of the Israeli ultra-right/ultra-orthodox for his own political gains, not to mention personal legal protection, helped fuel this crisis. I am not alone in suggesting that Netanyahu will be remembered as the worst prime minister in the history of Israel. President Biden’s reluctance to reign Netanyahu in is causing broad opposition to the war within the Democratic Party and within the American Jewish community. It is eroding America’s position in the world. And, I fear, will contribute to a loss of support for Biden among his many disparate constituencies, potentially hastening the election of Donald Trump. And we all know what that means: the end of democracy in America as we know it.
Where is Congresswoman Frankel on this? Where are her colleagues, the other Jewish members of Congress in both Houses? What do they think? Shouldn’t they be taking a stand, one way or the other? What answers do they have to this existential crisis, not only to Israel, but to American Jews and, with the specter of Trump, to America itself.
Sincerely,
Theodore Block
And here’s the letter from the five representatives referred to in the email:
More to come? I’ll let you know.
Around the Block 
Was there a solution put forth as to how to destroy hamas but still refrain from such widespread bombing and loss of life?
I would like to add a sentence to this letter, addressed to Hamas.
Return the hostages and there will be a cease-fire.
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Ted, All six signees are Democrats. Is one of them not a centrist?I agree with you that our Congresswoman needs to take a position too. Hy
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They are all centrists, with security/military backgrounds.
Re: Lois Frankel – if I don’t hear back from the personal email I sent to her chief of staff, I will call the office and demand a reply. I know Frankel is in the throes of a dilemma; she represents a heavily Jewish district, fractured by this crisis. No matter what she says, she runs the risk of alienating half her base. But, that’s her problem, not ours. One way or another, she needs to show some backbone and go public with a point of view.
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We are
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I personally am offended by the non-stance taken by US President. Joseph Biden and a number of other elected officials in America’s government bodies. The ‘yahu is NOT fighting HAMAS, he is murdering Palestinians! His broad-bombing tactics are obvious proof he is out to chase all non-Israelis out of their homeland.
Normally I do not take sides in the Middle East. But what I am seeing now is intentional slaughter of 99% innocent civilians, and possibly 1% HAMAS. To me, this is a war of genocide, and for America to not be seen to oppose such criminal behaviour on the ‘yahu’s part destros any respect I have (had) for America, though I do not blame this on Americans themselves. I would expe t this “kind” of a move out of a Republican, but to ha e it come from a Democrat is abhorring!
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