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Guest Column

Editorial

An Unbreakable Bond

A

s the only member of Congress to serve
in both Vietnam and Iraq, I understand
all too well the importance of our nation's

There is no other relationship America has in the
Middle East, and few in the world, which compares
to the deep and mutually beneficial relationship
allies.
between our two nations. I support aid to Israel and
That is why I am a stalwart supporter of the U.S.- appreciate Israeli investment in the U.S. economy.
Israel relationship.
Sadly, both countries also face the same enemies
Israel shares our democratic values. Israel, like
— with Israel often being on the front line against
the United States, has a commitment to an open
radical Islam and other extremist forces.
pluralistic society, a vibrant free press,
I sponsored the Iran Nuclear Prevention
legal systems and commitment to free-
Act because I understand Iran cannot be
dom of religion. Also, like our nation,
allowed to have nuclear-weapons capability.
Israel has provided a safe haven for
I will not accept a country that is a lead-
immigrants from around the world
ing sponsor of global terrorism, finan-
since its inception.
cially and militarily supports groups like
However, the friendship between our
Hezbollah and Hamas, and uses its puppets
two nations is not only based on shared
to rain missiles into Israel to gain nuclear-
principals but also in strategic coopera-
weapons capability.
tion.
A nuclear Iran is the single greatest
The two countries participate in joint
threat to global security. Iran fulfilling its
development of new energy technologies
nuclear ambitions could trigger an arms
as both nations struggle with the securi-
race between Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt
ty and financial considerations resulting
and Turkey in order to keep its standing
from dependence on foreign oil.
and security in the region.
The American and Israeli military has
I urge the Senate to oppose the admin-
a long-standing relationship resulting in the Arrow
istration's plea to support the deal agreed upon in
anti-ballistic missile defense system, the develop-
Geneva. That deal, brokered by U.S. Secretary of
ment of a quick-reaction defense system (David's
State John Kerry, lessens the pressure on Iran with-
Sling) and the Iron Dome rocket defense system.
out addressing the dismantling of Iran's nuclear pro-
Private sector joint ventures between American
gram's infrastructure. Such an agreement would only
and Israeli companies are so extensive that Israel
make a nuclear Iran closer to becoming a reality.
ranks as one of America's leading trading partners.
I support Israel's efforts to prevent Iran from gain-
Motorola, Apple, Google and Intel all have major
ing nuclear weapons capability. As a combat veteran,
research and development centers in Israel that
I understand more than most what it means to fol-
benefit the economies of both nations.
low through on military engagements.
This administration is naive in how it
has approached negotiations with Iran. All
Americans should be rightly concerned and
take seriously what Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu said at his recent U.N. speech:
"There is an inherent difference in the new
Iranian regime. Ahmadinejad would act like a
AMERICA'S MIDEAST PEACE PLANS ARE
wolf in wolf's clothing, but Rouhani is now a
LIKE SNOW IN JERUSALEM .. .
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wolf in sheep's clothing:"
I recently visited Israel for the first time.
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Outside
of marriage, having children and
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risking my life for the country I love, it was
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the most meaningful personal experience of
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my
lifetime.
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Sadly,
in the Palestinian-controlled West
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Bank,
as
I left the Church of the Nativity in
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Bethlehem, venerated by Christians as the birth-
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place of Jesus, I saw a large billboard which, in
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Arabic, publically praised "the martyrs:'
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It was a stunning reminder of the challenge
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both the U.S. and Israel face as we try to make
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a better world.
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As a citizen, I was a strong supporter of
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our friendship with Israel. As a member of
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Congress, I am proud to formally support,
with both my vote and my voice, the U.S.-
Israel relationship.

Dry Bones

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THEY COVER UP REALITY WITH A BEAUTIFUL
AND SUPERFICIAL BLANKET OF PHOTO OPS 01 ,
THAT SOON MELTS AWAY.

Congressman Kerry Bentivolio represents

Michigan's 11th District, which includes

Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington and

parts of West Bloomfield.

30

December 26 • 2013

A Shameless Hoax
Rocks U-M Dorms

T

vying to intimidate students in the safe
zone of their dormitory rooms marked a
low point for a student group of pro-Pales-
tinian activists at the University of Michigan. The
fake eviction notices placed under room doors by
Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE)
serve as a reminder that anti-Israel prejudice
unceasingly lurks.
Believers in the Jewish state must stay ever vigi-
lant.
The Dec. 10 "notices" advised students, under the
guise of coming from the university's "Department
of Housing," they had to vacate within three days or
face demolition of their "premises without delay."
Demolition "charges" would be applied to their stu-
dent account. The format supposedly parroted the
eviction notices that Palestinians in the West Bank
have gotten if Israel determined their houses were
built illegally or presented a threat – and had to be
demolished.
The propaganda alleged that Israel evicts
Palestinians from their homes to make life "so mis-
erable that they leave."
SAFE believes the West Bank evictions couple
with Israeli settlement construction to dim the like-
lihood of a new Palestinian state. It also supports
the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement
against Israel.
Invading the privacy of dorm rooms with shreds
of anti-Zionism hardly qualifies as intelligent dis-
course. The invasion momentarily may have prompt-
ed uneasiness or fear among some students, but
chances are the vast majority of "notice" recipients
quickly saw the SAFE campaign for what it was: a
sign of desperation.
In Ann Arbor, long a hotbed for political activism,
students aren't about to be intimidated by a hollow
paper trail. Still, the university must lead in con-
demning the outlandish tactics of SAFE.
Yes, University Housing and Student Life apolo-
gized for the alarm the brazen communication
caused among students and declared that the unau-
thorized distribution violated the university's solici-
tation policy.
But the university also asserted "the flyering
was intended to spread awareness about situations
that many Palestinians experience." The university
was wrong in injecting itself into Middle East poli-
cies and gave no context for why Israel has had to
resort to evictions. Such university insensitivity
could cause the uninformed to think the case that
SAFE was seeking to make was noble, even if tacti-
cally extreme.
For its part, U-M Hillel responded aggressively
by sending a letter to parents, alumni and friends
of Hillel; organizing student discussions and coun-
seling; and helping heighten pro-Israel awareness
on campus. Its follow-up should feature a refuting
of SAFE's out-of-context and untrue claims about
Israel.
The fake-flyer incident will pass, but SAFE has
positioned itself as a promoter of cultural intimida-
tion rather than a champion for civil dialogue.

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