Shame on the ADL and AJC for Putting Progressive Politics Before Israel

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) have never tried to hide their leftist leanings. In fact at times each of the groups have put its progressive politics ahead of its duty to the Jewish Community. Now these groups have a message to the Jewish Community, “If you don’t support Barack Obama, Shut The Heck Up!

On Monday, the two organizations released a joint statement asking Jews not to make Israel a political Issue

The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee have joined together in an effort to encourage other national organizations, elected officials, religious leaders, community groups and individuals to rally around bipartisan support for Israel while preventing the Jewish State from becoming a wedge issue in the upcoming campaign season. Join the ADL and AJC in taking the “National Pledge for Unity on Israel” — and sign our pledge.

This is the most anti-Israel administration in the 63 year history of the Jewish State. Israel is at a crucial point in her history, she is surrounded by terrorists who are appeased by most of the world, and her historic friendship with the United States is being abused by a President who, because of incompetence or intention, is throwing the Jewish state to the wolves.

Although the prose in their pledge is pretty, its real purpose is to shut up Jews who wish to point out the failings of Barack Obama’s Israel policy. These organizations have a vested interest in ensuring that the Jews continue to vote Democratic and re-elect this president—Political Power.

These same two groups never opened their mouths when Sarah Palin was dis-invited from an Anti-Ahmadinejad rally by Jewish groups trying to get Obama elected in 2008.When President Obama invited George Soros’ anti-Israel group J-street to Presidential meetings, the Zionist Organization of America was disinvited because unlike the rest of the organizations the ZOA is conservative, no one in either group stood up for bi-partisanship.

Perhaps the AJC doesn’t really believe in the progressive politics it eschews and simply wants to “go with the flow,” their history is marked with a desire to stay under the radar.

When Jews were dying at the hands of the Nazi’ the AJC discouraged open talk of the Holocaust, afraid that if Jews spoke out it would create a backlash lead to heightened anti-Semitism in the U.S. (Cohen, Naomi Wiener. Not Free to Desist: The American Jewish Committee, 1906-1966 (1972), a standard history).

From 1949 to the Six-Day-War in 1967, the AJC described theme selves as “non-Zionist” afraid that support of the Jewish State would create charges of dual loyalty in the United States.

As for Abe Foxman and the ADL, they have never shied away from politics before, as long as it is progressive politics. In recent years it has:

• Promoted politically divisive Start Treaty

• Supported Partial Birth and other forms of Abortion. In fact in 2008 the ADL urged both parties to adopt a pro-choice stance in their presidential platforms. I wonder if Abe Foxman realizes not all Jews support the ADL’s pro-choice position. I also wonder if pro-life Jews who donate to the ADL understand how their donations are being used.

• Ran With the Progressive PC Meme and Bashed Terrorist Fighter Geert Wilders

• Issued a “White Paper” promoting the progressive PR Spin about the Tea Party Movement. Calling it part of the “New Rage in America”

• Refused to Recognize the Antisemitism emanating from Democratic Party’s new favorite, Occupy Wall Street, until it was embarrassed into it by BigGovernment.com.

The ADL and the AJC have interesting ideas about bi-partisanship. If it supports their leadership’s goals of maintaining their prominent position in the American progressive movement, it’s O.K. with them. To the ADL’s Abe Foxman and leaders of other Jewish organizations, this progressive goal is a much higher priority than the safety of Israel.

Matt Brooks of the RJC put it well:

“An open and vigorous debate on the questions confronting our country is the cornerstone of the American electoral process. Allowing the American people to see where candidates stand, pro and con on critical issues, is the hallmark of our free and democratic political system. For this reason, the RJC will not be a signer to this pledge.

“This effort to stifle debate on U.S. policy toward Israel runs counter to this American tradition. Accordingly, the RJC will not be silenced on this or any issue.”

Jewish Americans, indeed all Americans are not as stupid as these groups think, they will see through the ADL and AJC attempts at stifling debate and putting their partisan progressive politics in front of the safety of Israel.