Mitt Romney's Stand on Israel

Nadene Goldfoot
A President Romney will deal with Israel as its closest ally in the Middle East and a beacon of democracy and freedom in the region which it is.  He recognizes Israel's security problems and that this is a dangerous moment for the Jewish state.

He would work closely with Israel to maintain its strategic military edge.  He's not a stranger to Netanyahu.  Romney would work on Turkey and Egypt to shore up their relationships with Israel.  He would resist the anti-Israel policies there and make it clear that their interests are not served by isolating Israel.

In dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, his policy will be a sharp difference from Obama.  He's for direct negotiations between the two and will make it clear to the Palestinians that it's unacceptable to expect decisions on issues that are to be decided by the Oslo Accords.  The USA will reduce assistance if they continue UN recognition of their state or form a unity government including Hamas, which is designed to destroy Israel.

He is not a fair weather friend of Israel  The USA under Romney will resist the  worldwide campaign to delegitimize Israel.  He also sees that this is a campaign of anti-Semitic poison.  To Romney, Israel's existence as a Jewish state is not up for debate.

Romney feels that Obama has misunderstood the dynamics of the region and has not fostered stability and security but have diminished USA's authority and has put both the USA and Israel in a corner.  He sees that the Israeli-Palestinian problem  is not a center of problems.  The Arab Spring shows it's an internal problem of the Arab countries.  Because Obama has distanced himself from Israel to placate the Arabs, he thought it would earn credits for the USA and bring peace closer.  It has proved to be the opposite.

Obama also created new preconditions to get the Arabs to the peace table.  This has resulted in the holding out and waiting by the Arabs, wanting more concessions.  Romney sees that there was no reason for the Palestinians to negotiate with Israel when the White House continued to pressure Israel without getting the Palestinians to promise anything in return.

Reference: http://www.mittromney.com/issues/israel

How Paul Ryan Looks at Israel

Nadene Goldfoot
Congressman Paul Ryan, 42 years old,  has just been picked as the running mate for  Mitt Romney, 65 year old Republican candidate for President of the USA.   His position on Israel is very important.  Being the chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Budget Committee from Wisconsin has not called on him to be in on working on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but he has written his opinion about it and I see he shares my opinions.   Paul has been a 7 term congressman, so has had lots of experience.

He would not jeopardize Israel's safety or do anything to legitimize terrorism.  He realizes that Hamas is a terrorist group who call for Israel's destruction.  He knows the Palestinian Arabs  refuse to recognize Israel's existence and even call Osama Bin Laden a "martyr."  He may not even realize, though, that every fallen Palestinian is a "martyr" in Gaza and Judea-Samaria and many have holidays to celebrate their actions.

He reports that America shouldn't force Israel to come to a peace compact that will not result in peace and security for them.  First, the "Palestinians Arabs" must recognize Israel's right to exist.  If they want a state, they must accept that Israel is there as a state as well.  This is Israel's position as well.

Paul co-sponsored legislation H. Res. 268 that passed the House on July 7, 2011 by 407-13, introduced by House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in May that reaffirms the US commitment to negotiate a settlement through direct negotiations.  I note that so far Abbas, the Palestinian leader, refuses to come to the table as he wants things settled his way before he even opens his mouth.  

He was also the co-sponsor of the HR 4133, United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, also introduced by Cantor, passing in the House in May 2012 stating that it is the US policy to reaffirm commitment to Israel's security as a state, provide Israel with military capabilities to defend itself, expand military and civilian co-operation, assist in a negotiated settlement of the conflict, and encourage Israel's neighbors to recognize its right to exist.  It passed, 411-2.

Paul has been a very active congressman.  He had also been the author of a House-backed budget plan that curbed overall entitlement spending and changes in Medicaid into a voucher-like system to save costs.  He's a man with a "vision for the country, according to Romney.

Paul attended the funeral for victims of the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin.  Romney's son, Tagg joined him there.

Congressman Paul Ryan  has been picked for his successes and goals in the economy and budgets, not on his outlook on Israel, but I'm sure that didn't hurt.  Together, they make a great team that also should be good for Israel.

PS:  The Sunday paper has an article telling that Oregon Democrat Senator Ron Wyden, (Jewish) authored a 2,300 word piece in March explaining a plan he and Ryan developed which is quite different from the Ryan-authored Medicare proposal adopted by the republican led House.  This Wyden-Ryan plan will allow seniors to continue receiving Medicare coverage while revamping and expanding private options.  It's different from the "end Medicare as we know it" approach that caused Democrats to fire away at Ryan.  Wyden will now have a new prominence in the race since Medicare is a huge issue.  Being a senior and on Medicare through our social security, I find this reassuring.

PPSS: The Oregonian newpaper 8/14/12 page A4  this morning has another article saying that the Wyden-Ryan package was followed by Ryan's later who "advocated a formal budget-slashing proposal that passed the House which Wyden voted against when it came to the Senate".  Wyden denies that he co-lead a piece of legislation with Ryan now. He said this after Romney suggested Wyden ws embracing his running mate's ideas.   More than being angry with Ryan, Wyden is attacking Romney throughout the piece.

Resource: http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/Profiles/House/Wisconsin/Paul_Ryan/Views/Israel/
Oregonian newspaper, Frontpage: Ryan is reportedly Romney's VP choice by Kasie Hunt and Brian Bakst
Fox News TV channel 118-morning announcment
http://www.haaretz.com/news/u-s-elections-2012/romney-campaign-confirms-paul-ryan-as-running-mate-1.457478
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443404004577582112521141598.html Mitt Romney/Ryan
http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=280850
1:45pm Sunday:  Oregonian newspaper 8/12/12 Wyden has a history with GOP pick by Jeff Mapes p: A6.
Oregonian newspaper 8/14/12 page A4   

Israel's Nudging the USA Couldn't Hurt

Nadene Goldfoot
From the city of Ashkelon, Israel comes the news via New York Times News Service that Netanyahu hasn't stopped the pressure he has put on the USA that Israel might have to go it alone in stopping Iran's ability to manufacture atomic weapons to be used on Israel and the USA.  Panetta, the USA Defense Secretary, visited Israel Wednesday, meeting in Netanyahu's Knesset office in Jerusalem,  and said that he remains hopeful that Israel won't attack soon and may let the USA take the lead in any future military strike.

Negotiations between the two have intensified over the past month since Netanyahu had mentioned that sanctions against Iran were useless.  "Right now the Iranian regime believes that the international community does not have the will to stop its nuclear program," he commented.  "This must change and it must change quickly because time to resolve this issue peacefully is running out."   Israel has spoken of the window of opportunity and if that passes, it would be useless to try to stop it.

Congress just passed a new round of Iran sanctions legislation which is reported to be the strongest measure yet.  It aims to now punish banks, shippers, insurers and others who help Iran sell its oil.  This was under negotiations nearly up until the vote.  The House had passed 410-11, the Iran Threat Reduction Act last December.  A version of that passed the Senate in May.  Before the summer started, the two houses got together for the single updated version which passed yesterday unanimously in the Senate and passed in the House 421-6.  Perhaps this is why Panetta is saying to give sanctions a chance and why Netanyahu has felt that up till now the sanctions were doing nothing to stop Iran.  They hadn't been strong enough to do a whit.

Is it any wonder that  Mitt Romney decided to visit Israel in his aim to gather votes?  Thomas Friedman thought it useless today in his long essay, and thought he should have just gone to Vegas instead.  To Friedman, they could have put up a plastic Wailing Wall in the dining room and Romney wouldn't know the difference, I suppose.  Friedman is so frustrated that he is still presenting old old ideas in his extremely long essay like beating Israel to death with the 2 state solution with no alternatives other than to "test, test  and have the US keep testing creative ideas for a two-state solution."  Mr. Friedman, that's been going on since 1948. He even calls the Jewish people of Judea and Samaria "settlers" and still is thinking of "occupation", whereas Israel has already stated that their communities are legal according to international law.   He's so behind his reading of others' opinions that he has the audacity to praise Jimmy Carter "who is one of several who have done the most to make Israel more secure and accepted in the region and told blunt truths to every Israeli or Arab leader."  I would say Jimmy has done just the opposite with his own book on the subject.  Sorry, Friedman, but your vocabulary belies your stodgy beliefs of supporting Israel.

Resource:  Oregonian Newspaper, 8/2/12 page A5, Nuclear Threat-US, Israel intensify talks on Iran, page B5-why not in Vegas?  Better to skip the trip to Israel by Thomas Friedman, commentary page.
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2012/06/where-passion-against-israel-comes-from.html

Gingrich Is Not Zany-But Has Chutzpah!

Nadene Goldfoot
Romney and Gingrich are running for the presidency as Republicans and it's getting very competitive between these two  sharp men.  Romney is now calling Gingrich his "zany" rival. 

Zany's definition is: fantastically or irrationally ludicrous, a traditional masked clown, a subordinate clown or acrobat in old comedies who mimics ludicrously the tricks of his principal, a slavish follower, toady, one who acts the buffoon to amuse others. That's not Gingrich at all!


I would say that Gingrich has chutzpah!  We need a leader with chutzpah, and he uses it in the right places.  He comes back from an attack with a zinger that others might blanch at saying.  His latest was in speaking about the fact that the Palestinians were an "invented people".  Finally, someone in a high place had the chutzpah to come out and tell others what he knew about the history of these Arab people who had been living in "Palestine."  He also said the peace process was delusional.  Yoram Ettinger, former ambassador, also has come out with a detailed article on the history of the people that Israel has been trying to make peace with.  My friends and I have also been reading these same facts and writing about them. 

Let's face it.  Newt Gingrich knows how to get attention when he needs it.  He was fairly quiet in the beginning of the debates, listening to what others had to say and learning about the depth of their knowledge.  Now, the history professor in him is speaking out.  He's even advocating that the entire city of Jerusalem be recognized as the capital of Israel, and I bet that he will act on that statement which none of the other past presidents have done if elected. 

During the previous election, I had figured Mitt Romney to be weakest of the contenders on Israel.  Others made lots of statements and promises and I see that none have been fulfilled.  Promises can be made just to get votes.  Who has the audacity to carry out such promises?  The chutzpadik-Gingrich, is my bet today. 

Someone mentioned on Fox TV news that he can come up with more ideas than anyone.  His mind is going a mile a minute. That might be worrisome to a few people.   Along with that fantastic memory of his, the man is just brilliant and I think others are just plain jealous of his knowledge.  He has a clear vision of history.  With his chutzpah, he'll go where other presidents didn't dare, not wanting to rock the boat, but he'll steer us straight into the type of America that we all want and need.

You can tell that I'm impressed.  He actually knows the history of Israel and its struggles.  I bet he's even read a book on my desk, "From Time Immemorial" by Joan Peters. 

Reference: Oregonian 12/15/11 page A3: Romney readies for slog against resurgent Gingrich by Jeff Zeleny, Michael Barbaro and Ashley Parker-NY Times
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/gingrich-calls-palestinians-an-invented-people/
http://jewishfactsfromportland.blogspot.com/2011/12/true-facts-who-palestinians-are-by.html by Yoram Ettinger

Republican Presidential Candidates Views On Israel

Nadene Goldfoot
My gut feeling is that the Republicans don't stand a chance in the presidential race. People want a change and want to get out of Iraq. I admire the Republicans that are running. None have a website that I have found like Hillary Clinton's telling of their accomplishments involving Israel, but all have visited Israel and have cultivated good rapport with Israel. In September of 2006 the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, asked four questions of the candidates, and I show the men's scores in regards to concern for Israel.

Rudy Giuliani, b: 28 May 1944 and Roman Catholic, the former New York mayor, ranks high by the Israeli newspaper, Haaretz as being favorable towards Israel. He had many Jewish constituents in New York and is looked upon as a friend of Israel. He led them to believe that he would make a great effort to take military action to stop Iran's nuclear weapons plan. He returned a $10 million dollar donation from a Saudi prince after 9/11 following his comments on Israel. I'm not sure what the prince's motives were; to compensate for the bombing by Saudi citizens, a reward for his Israeli speech, or a bribe to not support Israel. Overall, he received a rating of 8.75.

John McCain, b: 29 Aug 1936 and Episcopalian, is the Arizona senator who believes that America must give Israel whatever equipment and technology it needs for defense, so he also supports Israel. He's 71 years old and has been a senator for 21 years. His father and grandfather were Admirals in the Navy. During the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict, McCain said Israel's response to the guerrillas was appropriate. "What would we do if somebody came across our borders and killed our soldiers and captured our soldiers?" said McCain. "Do you think we would be exercising total restraint? Such restraint should come from Hezbollah and the nations sponsoring it, notably Iran." John just won in South Carolina's race. He sees Israel as a strategic asset, and received an overall score of 7.63.
3/3/2008: In April 2002 in a speech to the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee he said that no free nation can tolerate a terrorist state on its border. ... We can allow terrorists no role in the political process. "the Oslo accord failed because it was based on...Palestinians and Israeli could live peacefully together. Israel determines their security....there can be no comprehensive peace between Israel and the Palestinians until Palestinians recognize Israel, forswear forever the use of violence, recognize their previous agreements, and reform their internal institutions. (May 2006). About a Palestinian state, it should be the "ultimate end,", but first there needed to be "peace,". Hamas is not a partner for peace so long as they advocate the overthrow of Israel. (Jan 26, 2006).

Mitt Romney, former Massachusetts governor, is a Mormon and graduate of Harvard. He talked about Israel's security and said that "the United States must keep Iran from acquiring a nuclear bomb", and that "he's helping a former Israeli prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) lobby Massachusetts to divest pension funds from companies that do business with the country (Iran). He opposed Khatami's recent U.S. trip, saying taxpayers shouldn't fund a man "who supports the destruction of Israel." Romney does view Israel as a strategic asset, but was not as strong about it as the other candidates. He received an overall score of 6.0

Mike Huckabee is the governor of Arkansas. He has made nine visits to Israel, including a trip to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. I take it that he wants to be informed. He has advocated forcibly transferring the Palestinians to other Arab nations. He has close associations with prominent End Times theological proponents like Pastor John Hagee, head of a Pentecostal congregation in San Antonio, Texas. They have 18,000 members and the executive director of Christians United for Israel belongs to this group. They are against the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis and are in favor of a military strike on Iran. Huckabee delivered two sermons there and received a standing ovation. He said that Hagee is one of the great Christian leaders of our nation. Hagee has written a book that I have, titled, In Defense of Israel. In it he states that he would not try to convert Jews and seems to respect our religion. This differs from the other evangelicals. Interestingly, Huckabee started preaching in 1980. Huckabee had his own television show in Arkansas called Positive Alternatives. Hagee's zealous support for Israel comes from his belief that Jesus will one day return to "biblical Israel" to usher in a kingdom of Heaven on Earth...We will live by the law of God and no other law." In 1989 Huckabee became the youngest president of the 500,000 member Arkansas Baptist State Convention. I wish that more people would read Hagee's book. He received an overall rating of 5.5.

References: Political positions of John McCain-Wikipedia
The Israel Factor: http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=759107
Romney In Israel-Elections Blog-The Stump
Israel News: The Real Mike Huckabee: Israel and the Apocalypse