September 5, 2012

In-depth ‎

Dems. Remove Pro-Israel Language from Party Platform

The Weekly Standard's blog takes a look at the changes in language in the Democratic policy on Israel.

In the 2008 Democratic party platform, there was this language on Jerusalem, Israel:

 

Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths.

This year, however, that language has been removed. Indeed, there is no mention of Jerusalem in the 2012 party platform adopted by Democrats.

 

The Truth About Obama and Israel

Writing in the New York Times, Haim Saban takes issue with Republican claims that Barack Obama has been less than a fully committed friend to Israel. 

When he visited Israel as a candidate he saw firsthand how vulnerable Israeli villagers were to rocket attacks from Gaza. As president, he responded by providing full financing and technical assistance for Israel’s Iron Dome short-range anti-rocket defense system, which is now protecting those villagers. In July, he provided an additional $70 million to extend the Iron Dome system across southern Israel. That’s in addition to the $3 billion in annual military assistance to Israel that the president requests and that Congress routinely approves, assistance for which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed deep personal appreciation.

Not Another ‘Rabbi for Obama’

Rabbi David Wolpe talks to Yair Rosenberg of Tablet Magazine, and insists that his invocation at the Democratic Convention on Wednesday night is not a political endorsement. 

But unlike many American rabbis who use their pulpits to promote their political views, Wolpe avoids partisanship and has managed to avoid being pinned down politically, largely because he consistently puts his religious agenda first. He has worked with conservative religious leaders to defend faith in contemporary society, reached out to Jews beyond his own denomination, and filled his writing with religious—rather than political—exhortations.

‎Daily Digest

• ‎Times of Israel:‎ PM dissolves Security Cabinet meeting over leak from debate on Iran
• Haaretz:‎ Israel yet to decide on fate of synagogue in vacated West Bank outpost
• Jerusalem Post: Peres: Time running out for non-military pressure on Iran
• Ynet:‎ Ahmadinejad: Iran having 'problems' selling oil
• ‎New York Times:‎ Iran Supplying Syrian Military via Iraqi Airspace
• Washington Post:‎ Pentagon says book on bin Laden raid contains classified data, Navy SEAL leader condemns book
• ‎Wall Street Journal:‎ Turkey’s Anti-Assad Policy Ricochets Back