Cantor seeks suspension of U.S. aid to Lebanese Armed Forces

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release)– House Republican Whip Eric Cantor  on Monday issued the following statement regarding Lebanon and the Lebanese Armed Forces’ (LAF) relationship with Hezbollah:

“Since 2006, America has provided the Lebanese army with $720 million in aid. This includes stocks of M16 rifles, missile launchers, grenade launchers and night-vision devices. The purpose of the assistance was to build up a Lebanese fighting force that would serve as a check on the growing power of the radical Islamist Hezbollah movement.

“For the past few years, the U.S. and the international community looked the other way as the lines between Hezbollah and the Lebanese military and government became blurred. But the days of ignoring the LAF’s provocations against Israel and protection of Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon are over. The LAF’s unprovoked attack on the Israeli defense forces in undisputed Israeli territory demands a sweeping reassessment of how we distribute our foreign aid.

“Lebanon cannot have it both ways. If it wants to align itself with Hezbollah against the forces of democracy, stability and moderation, there will be consequences. Congress must convey that message by blocking the roughly $100 million in 2011 assistance to the LAF until we find out the details of last week’s attack and can certify that the Lebanese army is not cooperating with Hezbollah.”

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Preceding provided by Congressman Cantor

Jewish organizations laud House letter to Obama on Israel

NEW YORK (Press Release)– Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations welcomed the letter to President Obama currently circulating in the House of Representatives supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship and urged members of the House to join the effort led by Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX), Gary Peters (D-MI), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH), House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), House Foreign Affairs Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA), and Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL).

The joint House letter states that it is “in the national security interest of the United States to unequivocally reiterate that the United States stands behind its longtime friend and ally” and urges President Obama to “remain steadfast in the defense of Israel.”

“We welcome this very important statement reflecting the enduring support for the U.S.-Israel relationship and urge other members of the House to sign onto this letter. The letter details the efforts Israel made to divert the flotilla peacefully; voices concern about the role of the IHH in the attack against Israeli soldiers on the Mavi Marmara and the IHH’s connection to recognized terrorist groups; and also questions the true intent of the flotilla, noting that Hamas turned away the aid that was aboard the Mavi Marmara after it had been inspected by Israeli officials. We wholeheartedly agree that the U.S. should make every effort to ‘thwart international condemnation [of Israel] and focus the international community on the crimes of the Iran-backed Hamas leadership against Israel and the Palestinian people’ and hope that the U.S. continues to recognize the value that Israel, as the sole democratic country in the Middle East, provides to the region and the world,” said Chairman Alan Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein.

“We are grateful to Representatives Ted Poe and Gary Peters and the leaders in the House as well as to the representatives who have signed or will sign on to show their support for this statement. Similar to the letter authored by Senators Reid and McConnell, this statement illustrates the deep commitment of the American people to the special U.S.-Israel relationship and to Israel’s need to protect its citizens from terrorism in all forms,” the leaders said.

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Preceding provided by Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

Cantor urges Obama to veto any biased U.N. resolution against Israel

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) – House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (Republican-Virginia) on Tuesday issued the following statement in the aftermath of events involving a Turkish-sponsored flotilla and the Israeli Defense Forces:

“The events of the last 48 hours are tragic and serve as the latest warning sign that all is not well in the Middle East. As information continues to filter in, I urge the President and his administration to continue to gather all the facts, and if necessary, to veto any biased U.N. resolutions reining in Israel’s right to defend itself.

“Israel remains a critical strategic ally and the only democracy in the Middle East. The United States stands with Jerusalem in its effort to ensure the safety and security of its citizenry. We can’t forget why the blockade exists in the first place: to deny Hamas the weaponry and raw materials it needs to continue its rocket attacks in Israel, killing innocent people.

“Before predictably rushing to level hyperbolic accusations at Israel, it’s important for the United Nations to consider all the facts surrounding this incident. The reality is that the so-called “humanitarian aid” flotilla steered into an internationally recognized Israeli-Egyptian military blockade of Gaza in an effort to provoke Israel. The flotilla’s own spokeswoman announced that her organization is not a humanitarian group, rather a mission intended to break the blockade of Gaza, and that’s exactly why the ships rejected Israel’s instructions to dock. The truth is that where humanitarian needs exist, the Israelis ensure that food and medicine are brought into Gaza.

“There’s a reason why seven of the eight ships were boarded peacefully and without any injuries, while the Mavi Marmara ship descended into violence. The question that should be asked is, ‘what is that reason?’”

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Preceding provided by Congressman Eric Cantor

RJC lauds Scott Brown Senate victory in Massachusetts

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Press Release) — The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) congratulates Scott Brown on his victory in the special election to the U.S. Senate seat for Massachusetts. His win sends the clear message that the electorate has serious concerns about the Obama administration’s health care proposals, its out of control spending, and the rising debt and deficits which are the fruits of its misguided agenda.
 
On the heels of the Republican gubernatorial victories in New Jersey and Virginia, this special election is another indication of the voters’ dissatisfaction with the policies of the Obama-Reid-Pelosi Democrats, and their desire for a change in direction. Brown’s win also marks a positive indicator for Republicans running in House and Senate races in November 2010.
 
There are other positive indicators as well. We’ve seen a steady stream of Democrat retirements, including some veteran lawmakers; the GOP will be very competitive in a number of open seat races. Polls show that public approval of President Obama, Democrats in Congress, their health care plan, and their economic policies are at new lows. GOP recruiting is up and Republican leaders such as House Whip Eric Cantor think Republicans could take a substantial number of House seats.
 
Seeing up close the agenda laid out by President Obama and Democrats in Congress and its implications for our health care, our economy, and our national security, has changed the “hope and change” mantra of 2009 to one of “hoping for a change of course” in 2010.
 
We look forward to working with Senator-elect Brown in Washington in the months ahead.
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Preceding provided by Republican Jewish Coalition

ZOA to confer Theodor Herzl Medallion on Sheldon G. Adelson

NEW YORK (Press Release)–The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) announced that it will present to world-renowned businessman and pro-Israel philanthropist Sheldon G.  Adelson its most distinguished and historic award, the Theodor Herzl Gold Medallion for outstanding achievement in Zionism.

The ZOA Dinner will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City, 42^nd & Park, on December 13, 2009, (5PM reception, 6PM dinner).  Some refer to this award as the “Nobel Prize in Zionism.”  This magnificent Gold Medal is rarely given by the ZOA.  Past recipients include Lord James Balfour, Sir Winston Churchill, President Harry Truman, Israeli Prime Ministers David Ben Gurion, Golda Meir, Menachem Begin, and Yitzhak Shamir.  Mr. Adelson is the Chairman and CEO of the Las Vegas Sands Corporation.  He and his wife Dr. Miriam Adelson are major supporters of Birthright Israel, Yad Vashem, the U.S. Holocaust Museum and numerous other Jewish/Israeli causes.  They are also active politically, promoting strong U.S./Israel relations.

At the ZOA Dinner, Dr. Miriam Adelson will be receiving the Louis D. Brandeis Award. Past recipients include Vice President Joe Biden, Ambassador Moshe Arens, Abba Eban, Max Fisher, Justice Arthur Goldberg, Larry King, Elizabeth Taylor, Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick, Ronald Lauder, Mort Zuckerman, Natan Sharansky, Simon Wiesenthal and Senators Rudy Boschwitz, Elizabeth & Robert Dole, John Heinz, Daniel Inouye, Jacob Javits, Daniel Moynihan, Arlen Specter and many others.

Dr. Adelson is an esteemed expert in drug rehabilitation and runs clinics in both Israel and the U.S.  She is also a full partner in all of the Adelsons’ pro-Israel activities.

Morton Klein, President of the ZOA, will be presenting the awards to the Adelsons.

Speakers at the ZOA/Adelson Dinner include Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (video), Deputy Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon, and Minority Whip U.S. Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia.

Robert Guzzardi, Esq., will be receiving the Moskowitz Award for Jewish Activism, presented to him by Mrs. Cherna Moskowitz, wife of Dr. Irving Moskowitz.

Jeff Jacoby of the Boston Globe will be receiving the Ben Hecht Award for Outstanding Journalism in the Middle East.  Previous recipients include A.M. Rosenthal, Cal Thomas, Daniel Pipes, Caroline Glick, Itamar Marcus, Sidney Zion, and Joseph Farah.

The Emcee for the evening will be Mr. Gary Erlbaum, a leader in the Jewish Federation of Philadelphia, and the Jewish Agency.  He was also former National Chairman of Young Leadership for Israel Bonds.

Introducing guests and presenting awards include Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice-Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations; Martin Gross, President of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; Henry Schwartz, officer of the ZOA Board; and Sandra Stein, Esq., member of the ZOA Board who is with the law firm of Coughlin Stoia.

Author and TV host Rabbi Shmuley Boteach will be giving the invocation and lighting the Chanukah candles.  Rabbi Boteach has been called one of the top 10 influential rabbis in America by Newsweek magazine.  Also writes a weekly syndicated column for the Jerusalem Post.

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Preceding provided by Zionist Organization of America