Congress Fears Israel Lobby

I read with interest the article by Paul Kendall in the January 11 issue of The Herald. I decided to purchase a copy of Pres. Carter’s book. It is unfortunate, but so true, that anyone who finds fault with Israel is immediately labeled "anti-Semetic," which has religious undertones. That is the one and only response that pro-Israel PAC groups will use. Will these PAC groups discuss any illegal or immoral actions of Israel? No way!!!

Does our government do anything about illegal Israeli actions? Yes, we will tell the Israeli government not to establish any more settlements in occupied Palestinian land. But when Israel continues to do this what does our government do? Absolutely nothing, except to continue giving Israel $2 billion in economic and military aid every year.

Money talks and unfortunately our politicians in Washington, who have accepted campaign money from some 30+ pro-Israel PAC groups will not criticize any Israeli government actions, including settlements, attacking Lebanon and killing thousands of innocent men, women, and children, building a wall in occupied land, etc.

That in itself is disgusting. But when it involves defending Israel’s actions that involve the lives of Americans serving their country in our armed forces, that doesn’t say much for our leaders in Washington. I am referring to the June 1967 jet aircraft and motor torpedo boats of the State of Israel brutally assaulting the USS Liberty, while in international waters. This attack lasted for more than two hours, deliberately killing 34 Americans and wounding 171 others. Israeli forces machine-gunned her life rafts, firefighters and stretcher bearers. Apparently there were to be no survivors!

But there are survivors and I am sad to report that no U.S. government official, other than the Navy Court of Inquiry, has ever taken any testimony from these men. Our own congress will not allow these men, who fought for their lives against Israeli armed forces, to stand before Congress and tell their story.

Senators and Congressmen quake at the prospect that the Israeli Lobby, which brooks no deviation from the party line, will exact its vengeance in the form of an abruptly ended career, should these even be a hint o independent thinking, much less putting one’s own country first.

Unless and until Israel is rained-in and the accusation of "anti-Semetic" is used accurately (Arabs are Semites too) and not as a smoke screen, there will be no peace in the Middle East.

Bob Long

Hancock

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