Sestak backs off Israel letter

[Freddie Stubbs]

Bill Kristol and Gary Bauer's hawkish Emergency Committee for Israel has been attacking a series of members of Congress who were among the 54 signatories to a letter, circulated by the liberal group J Street, which pressed Israel to ease conditions in Gaza and warned it to avoid imposing collective punishment on the Palestinians.

Now the highest-profile signatory, Senate candidate Rep. Joe Sestak, says he regrets signing the letter -- a win for the hawks and a blow to J Street's attempt to create political space on a pro-Israel left of the Middle East conflict.

Sestak reportedly made the remarks in a meeting with the Orthodox Union, a Jewish group, Wednesday:

he Congressman said the one Israel related action he regretted was signing on to the infamous "Gaza 54" letter and if he had to do it over he would have sent an individual letter. The Congressman noted that he chose not to sponsor Iran sanctions legislation when President Obama requested more time for negotiations but that he did vote for the eventual legislation. As well, he noted that while he did not sign a letter to Secretary Clinton with other Members, he wrote his own letter to her on the issues.

more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0910/Sestak_backs_off_Israel_letter.html?showall

[howaboutme]

1. Israel interests are not USA interests

This really disappoints me. Israel does not represent USA interests just as Ireland's interests do not represent US interests. Israel and the USA share nothing. The USA has its own interests.

The way I see it is that any USA public official who kowtows to Israel's interests really doesn't deserve to be in office serving the US people.

Israel's interests are not USA interests. Actions against Iran are not in US interests just as actions that involved us in a war against Iraq were not in USA interests. I have no problem with those with pro Israeli views, as long as they are not influencing USA policy. The pro-Israel neocons promoted the Iraq War and for that I will never forget nor forgive.

[blue neen]

2. Does anybody know what Toomey's position is on this issue?

It would be interesting to know.