WASHINGTON, DC (Press Release) – National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) Chairman Marc R. Stanley, Immediate Past Chair Michael M. Adler and Vice-Chair Stephen Bittel on Sunday jointly issued the following statement:
U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek has a stellar record of support for Israel, and it is wrong for anyone — of either political party — to call that record into question. He has been a true friend for many years to the Jewish community, embracing the U.S.-Israel relationship and so many other issues of interest to American Jews.
That’s why it is so deeply disappointing to see Florida U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Greene and his campaign circulating materials and direct mail pieces politicizing support for Israel, and painting his Democratic primary opponent — Rep. Meek — as less than supportive of Israel. The fact is that Rep. Meek’s support for Israel and his excellent record on this issue is beyond question, and any political attacks in this campaign season that politicize support for Israel are simply wrong — regardless of the party affiliation of the campaign launching the attacks.
NJDC has repeatedly opposed the use of the U.S.-Israel relationship as a campaign wedge issue, and we have fought against the growing and unfortunate trend of politicizing support for Israel — a point on which we are in complete agreement with Israel’s Ambassador Michael Oren. While the GOP has been the chief perpetrator in playing this dangerous game, it is always wrong to turn support for Israel into a political football, regardless of whether it’s a Republican or a Democrat who is doing it.
It’s always good to have another Democrat on the national stage discussing the importance of the U.S.-Israel relationship. But politicizing the issue of U.S. support for Israel — instead of positively communicating one’s message on this issue — is the wrong way to go about it.
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Preceding provided by National Jewish Democratic Council