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Yesterday, the Washington Times published an important op-ed by RJC CEO Matt Brooks, calling on Jewish Democrats to rethink their loyalty to the Democratic Party, as it increasingly turns its back on Israel. He wrote:

In any relationship, differences of opinion will arise. But when do they go too far? When is enough enough? When do the accumulated arguments, threats and betrayals rise to the level that you say: "That's it! I'm out."

That's a serious question for Jewish Democrats who care about Israel. In my 40 years in politics, I’ve watched plenty of disagreements between US presidents and Israeli prime ministers. But I have never seen the most senior figures in the Democratic Party come together to treat Israel as badly as they are doing today.

…What used to be radical is now mainstream because Democratic leaders are terrified of losing their seats in November’s election.

Democrats are willing to bow to the worst elements of their party to keep their radical, "progressive," antisemitic supporters in the fold. They claim to support a two-state solution — we now know those states are Michigan and Nevada.

… So, what can Jewish Democrats who care about Israel do now? Start looking for more objective, reliable news sources than MSNBC.

Talk to Republicans, especially Jewish Republicans, about what our party really says and does to make both the US and Israel stronger and more secure. Stop letting the Democrats in Washington use your vote and your silence as justification for putting pressure on Israel.

In all honesty, it's disappointing after so many years of bipartisan support for Israel to have to say this. Still, it's true, and I will: There is only one pro-Israel party remaining in America today, and it is the Republican Party.

Read the full op-ed here.

RJC CEO Matt Brooks said:

Prior to today, President [Joe] Biden had adhered to the long-standing bipartisan understanding that as Israel's stalwart ally, America must use our veto in the UN Security Council as a shield to thwart the Jewish state's unreasoning adversaries in the United Nations Security Council. He let it be known that he didn't agree with President [Barack] Obama's decision to green-light the infamous anti-Israel UNSC 2334 in the waning days of that administration.

That's why today's abstention on UNSC 2728 marks a new level of betrayal by this President and an ominous new low in the bilateral US-Israel relationship.

Biden's UN team failed when they tried to pass their own Gaza War resolution that linked any ceasefire demand to the release of Hamas's hostages. The resolution passed today severs that link, making its reference to hostages a diplomatic afterthought.

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As a stunned Israeli government spokesman noted, Biden allowing 2728 to pass is a complete reversal on a critical matter of substance in the space of less than a week. It's no surprise that Hamas is celebrating the diplomatic victory Biden enabled. Their evil hostage-taking tactics seem to be paying off.

Biden must be called out for his ineffectual UN diplomacy before it does any more damage to the security of our critical ally Israel and to the long-standing strategic relationship that has massively benefitted both countries.

RJC National Chairman Senator Norm Coleman said:

Joe Lieberman was a true mensch and a great American. It was a pleasure and an honor to work with him in the Senate. He built a successful political career while staying true to what he felt was right. Time and again, Senator Lieberman put principle over politics. He was a shining example of all that's good and decent about public service. And he was a committed and proud Jew who served his country with distinction.

Joe Lieberman was called the last of the Scoop Jackson Democrats. We miss those Democrats who took the defense of liberty seriously, and who worked with their colleagues across the aisle to keep America - and our ally Israel - safe.

I am proud to have known Joe and the Republican Jewish Coalition was proud to work with him over the years. We will miss his friendship, his leadership, and the integrity he demonstrated during more than two decades in the Senate. May his memory be a blessing.

JNS has a very good tribute to Joe Lieberman here.

Richard Goldberg writes at the New York Post that the Biden administration's abstention vote in the UN Security Council this week was a betrayal of the hostages – including Americans – still be held by Hamas in Gaza:

During his recent State of the Union address, the president pledged to the families of Hamas-held hostages, which include American citizens, that "we will not rest until we bring their loved ones home."

Apparently that vow did not include vetoing resolutions that disconnect demands for hostage releases from any potential cease-fire — reducing the odds of bringing them home.

The State Department claimed Monday the resolution reflected the administration's "principled position that any ceasefire text must be paired with text on the release of the hostages."

But that explanation itself reflects how far Biden policy has shifted. No longer must a cease-fire be conditioned on the release of hostages; the two demands must only appear next to each other for optics.

Danielle Pletka writes at Foreign Policy that Iran is now effectively a nuclear power, and the Biden administration has been sitting on its hands:

[A] survey of congressional Democrats and Republicans, administration officials, foreign diplomats, and Iran observers has confirmed the obvious: The Biden administration now has no discernable policy on Iran and its nuclear program. Iran merited only a passing mention in the president’s State of the Union address. And not having a policy couldn't come at a worse time.

… With the cratering of Biden's wish for a new or better Iran deal, most expected a resumption of the sanctions regime that had been in place before Biden's election. But that didn't happen. Instead, most of the steps taken when Biden took office in 2021—like the lifting of a terrorism designation for Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis (reimposed in early 2024) and relaxed sanctions on violators of US oil sanctions on Iran—remained in place.

… In balancing US interests and priorities, the White House and its allies in Europe will face two options: engage in a region ever more dominated by Iran and its proxies, or cede Iranian dominance, replete with a lethal nuclear weapons program. The choice should be obvious.

Meanwhile, Israel has more proof of Iranian support for terrorism:

The Shin Bet and the IDF on Monday announced that they had busted a vast Iranian network for smuggling more serious weapons into the West Bank to help dramatically increase the danger Palestinian terrorists can present to Israel.

A statement named Juad Ofri and Munir Mukdach as lead officials affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps who have been masterminding the efforts.

Far left Democrat groups are raising MILLIONS of dollars and have pledged to elect some of the worst, most anti-Israel candidates imaginable. We CANNOT let that happen.

In just the past few weeks, Democrats have:

• Abandoned Israel at the United Nations to the applause of Hamas, Russia, China, and Iran.

• Pressured Israel to recognize a Palestinian state, which would reward Hamas' barbarism.
• Knifed Israel in the back by calling for regime change in our democratic ally.
• Renewed sanctions waivers on the genocidal regime in Tehran, allowing the mullahs access to upwards of $10 billion dollars.
• Reversed the Trump-Pompeo Doctrine and labeling communities in Judea and Samaria as illegal, affirming the BDS movement’s anti-Israel premises.

100% of your contribution to the RJC PAC goes directly to electing pro-Israel candidates who will stand unequivocally with the Jewish state.

Please join us today to reach our Q1 2024 fundraising goal before the deadline.

Tratt: Vice President Harris threatened Israel — and Democrats must respond

RJC Board of Directors member Irit Tratt writes: "After the October 7 massacre, the Biden administration said it would unequivocally support Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, secure the Jewish State, and prevent any such attacks from occurring in the future. But the administration’s suggestion that Israel refrain from destroying the remaining Hamas terror battalions operating in Rafah represents a stunning reorientation of policy.

"Despite assurances from Israel’s government that a plan is in place to secure the safety of Palestinian civilians, the overwhelming majority of whom still back Hamas’ actions, [Vice President Kamala] Harris' persistence in undercutting Israel as it tries to eradicate a terrorist network and secure the release of hostages, including five Americans, underscores the schism manufactured by the Vice President between the US and Israel."

Jewish Insider: Republicans stand up for Israel in Congress

Jewish Insider reports: "Amid the escalating tension between the Israeli government and Biden administration, a House Republican is introducing a resolution calling for any US diplomatic moves to come only with Israeli cooperation and approval, Jewish Insider has learned.

"The resolution, which Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY) is set to introduce on Tuesday, argues that 'any resolution" related to the current Israel-Hamas conflict or longer-term two-state solution or peace plan should only be pursued 'with the full cooperation and approval of Israel at each step of the process.'"

Spencer: Israel has created a new standard for urban warfare. Why will no one admit it?

John Spencer writes: "In my long career studying and advising on urban warfare for the US military, I've never known an army to take such measures to attend to the enemy's civilian population, especially while simultaneously combating the enemy in the very same buildings. In fact, by my analysis, Israel has implemented more precautions to prevent civilian harm than any military in history—above and beyond what international law requires and more than the US did in its wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

Gerber: How is the PA's agenda not genocide?

RJC Board of Directors member Sander Gerber writes: "Recently, after 12 members of the Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA participated in the Oct. 7 massacre, nations such as the US and Germany stopped supporting the agency. Yet the US continues to support the PA even though this also means supporting Oct. 7 terrorists. Palestinian Media Watch, a Jerusalem-based watchdog group, recently revealed that the PA will pay 661 Hamas terrorists from Gaza who were involved in the Oct. 7 massacre. The PA, in other words, is party to Hamas’s genocidal agenda. The White House can no longer ignore this."

Phillips: A new word to trick Israel

Moshe Phillips writes: "Nineteen Democratic US senators have called on President [Joe] Biden to 'recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state.' Until now, congressional supporters of Palestinian statehood have always used the term 'demilitarized.' Why the sudden change?

..."If you say 'nonmilitarized,' you’re pretending that right now, the Palestinian Authority regime does not have military capability, so to create a state, you would just convert the existing entity into a fully sovereign state without having to impose any real changes on it. But if you use the term 'demilitarized,' that means acknowledging that the Palestinian Authority already has a de-facto army—armed to the teeth - and therefore you would have to disarm it. Which nobody in the international community is willing to do."

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