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Washington, D.C. -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) responded to a spate of troubling expressions of hostility toward Israel coming from the Obama administration in recent days. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:

Washington, D.C. -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) responded today to Vice President Joseph Biden’s use of the term “Shylocks” to describe unscrupulous bankers who take advantage of U.S. military members deployed overseas. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said: 

Thursday, August 28, 2014
By: RJC Communications Director Shari Hillman

“I’ve got a pen and a phone.”

President Obama spoke these words at the start of his first Cabinet meeting in January 2014 and promised to take executive action wherever possible to “move the ball forward” on his liberal agenda if Congress did not enact the laws he sought. That is one promise he has kept.

"If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that. And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing."
Barack Obama, Remarks in Sderot, New York Times, July 23, 2008

Washington, D.C. (July 29, 2014) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) released the following statement today:

Last week it was revealed that Hamas planned a major terrorist attack for the Rosh Hashana holiday this September, in which hundreds of terrorists would exit Hamas tunnels very near Israeli kibbutzim and towns to kidnap and kill thousands of Israelis. Clearly the tunnels represent an immediate, serious threat to Israeli civilians. For that reason, Israel is determined to eliminate the tunnels before ending its operations in Gaza.

We were deeply disappointed by President Obama's call on Sunday for an "immediate, unconditional, humanitarian" ceasefire, which followed on the heels of Secretary of State Kerry's ceasefire proposal. That proposal ignored Israeli security needs while giving legitimacy to Hamas. It seems the administration is focused on pressing Israel to halt hostilities without recognizing Israel's imperative need to end the threat of the terrorist tunnels. This comes in distinct contradiction to President Obama's previous statements about Israel's security.

President Obama has spoken frequently in support of Israel's right of self-defense, and did so even before taking office. In 2008, on a visit to Sderot in southern Israel, then-candidate Obama said:

The first job of any nation state is to protect its citizens. And so I can assure you that if -- I don't even care if I was a politician. If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I'm going to do everything in my power to stop that. And I would expect Israelis to do the same thing.

...I will work from the moment that I return to America, to tell the story of Sderot and to make sure that the good people who live here are enjoying a future of peace and security and hope.

...What I think that Israel has to do is to make sure that that peace is not purchased at -- by putting Israel's security at risk. And it's the job of the United States I think, to make sure that that peace is centered and promotes Israel's long-term security.
Source: New York Times, July 23, 2008

Israel is at war with an implacable enemy, one that has victimized its own people and kept them in poverty in order to build terrorist tunnels and stockpile weapons in hopes of killing thousands of Israeli civilians. Israel is determined to destroy Hamas' capability to carry out its heinous agenda. Any ceasefire that forces Israel to stop short of that goal is indeed purchasing only a temporary ceasefire at the cost of Israel's long-term security.

Washington, D.C. -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) released the following statement today:

A new CNN poll asked Americans for their opinion of Israel's action against Hamas in Gaza.

The results demonstrated the "Israel Gap" between Republicans and Democrats: "Forty-five percent of Democrats questioned said that Israeli's military actions in Gaza are justified. That number jumps to 56% among independents and 73% among Republicans."

Washington, D.C. -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) warned today that the Obama administration’s failure to reach an agreement with Iran during six months of negotiations threatens the security of the U.S. and our allies. Despite White House opposition, this latest setback should convince Congress to press ahead with legislation that would strengthen the hands of U.S. negotiators by imposing stronger sanctions on the Tehran regime if no agreement is reached. RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks said:

Washington, D.C. -- After Hamas launched more than 1200 rockets at Israel in the last ten days, Israel has begun a major offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

Washington, D.C. -- The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) responded to the release of a Pew Research Center poll today on the partisan gap in Israel-Palestinian sympathies.

Israel is under fire, once again, from terrorists who seek her destruction. Hamas has sent hundreds of missiles from Gaza against Israeli civilians in recent days. These attacks are warfare against the Jewish state. The RJC unequivocally stands with Israel in this conflict.

Israel has the right to defend her citizens and is justified in taking action against Hamas. Israel targets the terrorists who attack her and makes every effort to protect the lives of non-combatants. In contrast, Hamas operates out of residential areas and encourages Palestinians to act as human shields, endangering their own brothers and sisters in their quest to destroy the Jewish state. Negotiation and accommodation with such an enemy is impossible.

We are inspired by the courage of the Israeli public and the determination of their leaders. Israel has the fortitude, the means, and the right to defend its citizens. We offer our support and our hopes for their safety and security.