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Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), a candidate for U.S. Senate, signed the letter from 54 congressional Democrats urging President Obama to pressure Israel to loosen security measures at Gaza crossing points.

Republican Senate candidate Pat Toomey criticized the letter and defended Israel's right to self-defense:

Since Hamas took over running Gaza in 2006, its leaders have turned the area into a launching pad for terrorist activities aimed at Israeli civilians.  Even with strict checkpoints in place, Hamas leaders have used tunnels to smuggle in large quantities of weapons and explosives.  In 2008, 1,750 rockets and 1,528 mortar bombs were fired into Israeli towns from Gaza.  As the violence escalated, Israel took the necessary actions to protect its citizens and towns.  

“I strongly disagree with Joe Sestak’s effort to pressure Israel.  The Israeli actions in Gaza are a legitimate act of self-defense, without which we would see Hamas turning Gaza into a terrorist launching pad once again.  Like any other country, Israel has a right to defend itself from terrorist activity.  I have no doubt that the U.S. would take similar actions if it faced the same kind of daily threats to its existence.”

The RJC has also criticized the letter, which no Republicans signed. (See our statement here.) RJC urged our members to contact the letter signers and express  opposition to pressuring Israel to loosen security measures. (See the action alert here.)