Published in Chicago Jewish News - October 14-20, 2005: "Point of View"

Dangerous Times

Dear Friends of Israel,

I am pleased to have this opportunity to share my concerns with you over the increase in Anti-Semitism and Anti-Zionism in the U.S.

As the world around us keeps on changing we know we are witnessing historical events affecting Israel.  The way Israel is treated affects Jews everywhere and the United States is no different. We are not only  facing Muslim hostility;  al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hizballah, Iran (on and on) but also a homegrown terrorist threat from American born Muslim converts, no friends to the Jews.  We are facing intense hostility from such places as the United Nations and CAIR, where Jews and Israelis are seen as the blame for human rights violations and the reason for Muslim hostility.  More and more there is evidence that Islamic master connivers and haters of Israel, Jews, and the West are rapidly gaining sympathy and winning over the hearts and minds of those here in the United States.  Some are more than willing to blame the Jews.  Others just think it makes good sense.  When bright journalists, elite graduate students, heads of churches and CIA officials express outright hostility, we are witnessing a dangerous phenomenon.  Until now, we believed that America would always be predisposed to favor Israel.  Instead we are witnessing an intense pressure that stands to influence American foreign policy against Israel. 

Recently on 60 Minutes, Michael Scheuer, a former senior intelligence analyst for the CIA and considered a foremost authority, advocated "revamping the US current one-way relationship with Israel," calling Israel 'a minor, stubbornly defiant and non-strategic partner.  A strategic handicap."  Another CIA political analyst, Bill Christison, has written extensively on how the "special status and alliance with Israel is damaging the security of the United States as well as the entire world."  Recently Cindy Sheehan, mother of a fallen US soldier and symbol of the get out of Iraq movement, has blamed the US support for Israel being the primary cause of worldwide terrorism. The Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a spinoff of the Islamic Association for Palestine, and has been identified as a front group for Hamas, according to FBI counter-terrorism experts.  It recently wielded its influence through the US media when ABC radio talk show host Michael Graham characterized Islam as a terrorist organization for defending and allowing suicide bombers.  Graham believes that Muslims should not tolerate terrorists or allow them to operate in the name of their faith.  Instead of grappling with and reigning in its Muslim perpetrators, CAIR used its cry foul argument to get Graham fired. This is a threat within America's midst, the intense influence by Islamic pressure groups and the capitulation of ABC radio. 

This is a vicious campaign by those embracing a Pro-Arab, Anti-Israel policy, whose mantra is "blame Israel."  By ignoring Palestinian terror and blaming Palestinian failures on Israel, the pressures are mounting.  Leading American Protestant churches such as the Presbyterians, the Church of Christ and the Episcopal Church have all voted against investment in companies doing business with Israel.  This Anti-Israel campaign is being largely funded by the Jerusalem based Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, an ecumenical radical Palestinian Christian movement which funds and encourages fellow Christian churches to adopt  Anti-Israel attitudes.  The Sabeel Center provides a blueprint for divestment.  It hosts large, well organized international conferences, speaking tours and grassroots training.  It has 156 Congressional coordinators in 37 states and is growing rapidly.

This Christian to Christian connection is providing a highly sophisticated distortion of facts and one-sided misinformed statements.  Reverend Charles Rawlings, an Ohio minister, after attending the Sabeel Center said, 'We cannot let ourselves be manipulated by the memory of the Holocaust for the purposes of injustice by the US and Israel against the Palestinians."  They believe they can create a surge in anti-Israel sentiment.  Planting the seeds of divestment is the beginning of a long term plan to delegitimize Israel from the world of nations. 

Jews and "neocons" are being blamed for the war in Iraq.  According to an American Jewish Committee survey done prior to the Iraqi invasion, Jews were about 10 points less supportive of the war than Americans in general.  A year later that was unchanged. Although Israel is happy to see that Saddam is no longer sending $25,000 apiece to the families of suicide bombers, Israel did not promote this war as it has been accused. Israel made it clear that Syria and Iran are much bigger threats. 

There is already talk of a nuclear terrorist attack on US soil being a matter of "when" and not "if."  As threats by Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda become taken seriously, and they should be, there will be a greater need to find the scapegoat and blame the Jews and Israel.

Dr. Frank Luntz recently studied non-Jewish graduate students under 30 at the top schools --  Harvard, MIT, Columbia, Georgetown, U of Chicago, Northwestern, UCLA -- the top journalism schools, top law schools, top business schools.  These students will be tomorrow's top decision makers and opinion leaders.  Never has there been a more overwhelming and outspoken opposition on elite college campuses to the support of Israel.  These future leaders were born after the Holocaust, after the 1967 War, and don't understand Israel as a threatened nation.  They rely on the New York Times, CNN, and the BBC for their information.  It is not the lack of identification that is alarming but the intensity of the hostility.  The study uncovered outright anger and impatience towards Israel and sympathy toward the Palestinians.  Much of this is also learned in the classrooms.  Israel is increasingly seen as a burden and we are losing the communications war.  When faced with the discussion about the conflict, the graduate students saw Jews as speaking in emotional generalities while pro-Palestinian advocates give facts, dates and examples.  Jewish students emphasize security while Palestinians emphasize humanity.  They feel that Israel has the power and that Jewish money affects US policy (if only it were true!).  Palestinians are viewed as innocent and defenseless and don't have a homeland because of Israel. 

There is even some sympathy for suicide bombers.  A Harvard Law student said:

"I think that what Israel's doing to the Palestinians is effectively what was done to the Jews in Europe during World War II. I understand they're living in a regime of terror, but frankly, if I were a Palestinian, I don't know that I wouldn't strap on a bomb and go kill myself."

At stake is nothing short of US foreign policy towards Israel in the years to come.  Unless this trend is reversed, the next generation of leaders will not see Israel as an ally. 

Israel is an American Value.  We know Israel is a strategic military ally of the United States.  It is also an unsinkable military base in the Middle East.  Israel is a strategic partner with the US in science and technology. Israel is an indispensable intelligence resource in the war on terrorism.  Israel is the only true democracy in the Middle East and the United States is in the Middle East to spread democracy.

What now?  Today we are discussing the withdrawal from Gaza and how it will affect Israel's future.  A year or so from now do we want to be back discussing disengagement from parts of Jerusalem?  During the disengagement we witnessed soldiers and settlers hugging each other, crying together, praying together -- a real testament of a Jew’s love for another Jew and allegiance to the democratic Israeli Jewish army.  We are being told that this was the first in a series of concessions.  I suggest a withdrawal from portions of Jerusalem would not go as smooth.  Let's hope it never comes to that point.  Better yet, let's make sure it doesn't.

What is Protect Our Heritage PAC?  Our purpose is in supporting those elected officials, Democrats and Republicans that vote to support and secure the values behind a strong US-Israel relationship.  To Protect Our Heritage PAC is a single issue PAC focused solely on maintaining strong political support within the United States by keeping a laser-like focus on those elected officials in positions to strengthen the mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Israel.  We are Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals.  We agree to disagree on social issues but we understand the necessity of a strong US-Israel relationship.  As the settlers and soldiers in Gaza were able to embrace, let us also find our ability to come together for the sake of the US-Israel relationship.  Israel is doing what it must do.  We must do our part by supporting her. 

We ask that you join us, the To Protect Our Heritage PAC, in our fight to protect our heritage.  It is through Israel that the eye of the world is focused and helping Israel survive will bring a brighter future to all of us. 

My daughter often tells me, "Mom, you cannot just say these things."  I say to her, "Natasha, you cannot just ignore these things."  That is our job.  We say these things in order for the truth to be known.

Beverly Sandler

For the To Protect Our Heritage Political Action Committee

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