NJDC: Obama and Bush the same on settlements

The National Jewish Democratic Council is championing Barack Obama’s friendship with Israel by arguing that his policy on settlements is the same as the policy of the Bush administration.

An NJDC e-mail to supporters entitled "A Presidential Double-Standard on Israel?" begins:

Settlements have been in the news a great deal recently, and some have pointed to President Barack Obama’s policy in this area and questioned his true support for Israel. As the Forward has reported:

"[T]he administration, from the president on down, continues to insist on a ‘total freeze’ on settlements, in accordance with the road map, and rejects Israel’s insistence on continued expansion of the settlements within the limits of their ‘natural growth.’"

But what if I told you that this report – seemingly ripped from today’s headlines – dates from 2003, and is about President George W. Bush? A man who those on the right call Israel’s greatest friend ever? Why the double-standard?

The fact is that President Obama’s support for Israel is rock-solid.

The e-mail is correct in pointing out that the two administrations did have similar policies on settlements, but the Bush administration never emphasized the issue as forcefully as the Obama adminstration has in the last few weeks.

The rest of the e-mail goes on to cite Obama’s reiteration in his Cairo speech of the strong bonds between the United States and Israel and concludes "Don’t believe the smears, don’t buy the double standards."

The entire e-mail is after the jump:[[READMORE]]

Dear …..,

Settlements have been in the news a great deal recently, and some have pointed to President Barack Obama’s policy in this area and questioned his true support for Israel. As the Forward has reported:

"[T]he administration, from the president on down, continues to insist on a ‘total freeze’ on settlements, in accordance with the road map, and rejects Israel’s insistence on continued expansion of the settlements within the limits of their ‘natural growth.’"

But what if I told you that this report – seemingly ripped from today’s headlines – dates from 2003, and is about President George W. Bush? A man who those on the right call Israel’s greatest friend ever? Why the double-standard?

The fact is that President Obama’s support for Israel is rock-solid. As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on May 18, "You’re a great leader – a great leader of the United States, a great leader of the world, a great friend of Israel, and someone who is acutely cognizant of our security concerns."

This President stood before the entire Arab world in Cairo earlier this month and said, "America’s strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable."

President Obama’s words in Cairo were broadcast, in Arabic, throughout the Muslim world.  In that same speech, the President also spoke directly to and about the Palestinian people:

"Threatening Israel with destruction — or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews — is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve."

"Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and it does not succeed. …It is a sign neither of courage nor power to shoot rockets at sleeping children, or to blow up old women on a bus. That’s not how moral authority is claimed; that’s how it is surrendered."

"The Palestinian Authority must develop its capacity to govern, with institutions that serve the needs of its people…To play a role in fulfilling Palestinian aspirations, to unify the Palestinian people, Hamas must put an end to violence, recognize past agreements, recognize Israel’s right to exist."

Don’t believe the smears; don’t buy the double-standards.

Get the FACTS about Obama and Israel and learn more about this President’s record for yourself.

Please forward this e-mail to five friends and family members on your email list who you think could benefit from knowing the FACTS about President Obama and Israel.