Commentary

Supporting The Deal from page 38

That is why it is critical that the White
House and Congress redouble our efforts
to stop Iran's support for terrorism in addi-
tion to this crucial and essential effort to
stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
I strongly support strengthening our sanc-
tions on terrorism and human rights viola-
tions, with more aggressive targeting and
enforcement; tracking any new spending
on Iran's non-nuclear activities from new
sources; and ensuring that Israel maintains
its qualitative military edge.
This agreement is not perfect, but I have
personally spoken to leaders represent-
ing the P5+1 countries and the European
Union who have said quite clearly that if
the United States rejects this agreement,
they will not join in new negotiations for
a better deal. Instead, I believe that other
countries will lift their sanctions on Iran,
and the United States will be isolated in
the international community.
And, regrettably, it is clear to me that
other countries will no longer trust our
great country to negotiate and work with
them in good faith.
So America must choose between the
following: an international coalition work-
ing together to stop a nuclear Iran while
increasing our joint efforts to stop their
non-nuclear terrorist activities, or no
international effort, no surveillance, no
accountability and a nuclear Iran within a
few months.
By agreeing to this deal, the interna-
tional community will continue to be
united against Iranian aggression. And if
they violate the agreement and we need to
use military force, the international com-
munity will be with us, rather than against
us.
A final note: I am deeply concerned that
national security decisions and foreign
policy have become highly charged parti-
san issues, including our relationship with
our long-time friend and democratic ally,
Israel.
I'm reminded of a very distinguished
and highly honored Republican U.S. sena-
tor from Michigan, Arthur Vandenberg,
who once said, "Politics stops at the water's
edge:' He was chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee in the 1940s
and an ardent opponent of President
Franklin Roosevelt's domestic policies.
Senator Vandenberg set the Congressional
standard of patriotism and statesman-
ship for over 70 years in our country. I am
committed to continuing his legacy on
behalf of the people of our great state.

❑

Democrat Debbie Stabenow is

Michigan's senior senator.

Countering BDS On Campus

n the next few weeks, college
students across the United
States will go back to cam-
pus for a new academic year.
Upon returning — or starting,
as the case may be — many
students will find themselves
on the frontlines of the battle
against the Boycott/Divestment/
Sanction (BDS) movement.
Designed to put
disproportionate eco-
nomic and political
pressure on Israel, BDS
has swept across col-
lege campuses over
the past few years.
BDS activists have
organized protests,
shouted down Israeli
and pro-Israel speakers
and, most especially,
demanded divestment
from any association
with Israel.
BDS supporters advocate boy-
cotting Israeli products, divest-
ing from corporations that do
business with Israel and sanc-
tioning Israel in various forums.
But what they really seek to
achieve is to bring an end to
the Jewish state. No matter
how they try to disguise their
agenda, the overarching aim of
BDS is destructive and must be
exposed as such.
This generation of Jewish col-
lege students will play an impor-
tant role in shaping Israel's
future and, therefore, we have
a shared responsibility to equip
them with the best possible
means of winning this fight.
Although it might seem
tempting to confront BDS advo-
cates directly, that may not be
the most effective response.
Instead, I encourage those seek-
ing to counter the BDS move-
ment to meet every call for
divestment with an investment
in Israel's economy through
Israel bonds.
Every Israel bond investment
delivers a resounding "no" to
BDS advocates through a direct
repudiation of their boycott
agenda.
And, if anything infuriates
BDS proponents, it is the contin-
ued success of Israel's economy,
which, despite their best efforts,

I

they have failed to harm. Listen
— Nepal, Japan, the Philippines,
to Moody's chief economist Mark
Haiti and now Myanmar — who
Zandi, who in May declared,
rapidly receive vital supplies
The performance of the Israeli
and essential medical care from
economy in recent years makes
Israel's emergency response
Israel one of the world's best
teams?
economies."
No matter what outrageous
Consequently, investing in
claims are made by BDS advo-
Israel bonds counters the BDS
cates, we know the truth. We
goal of weakening Israel's
know that Israel embodies the
economy by doing the
vast creativity, resolve and
exact opposite: help-
humanity of the Jewish people.
ing to keep it strong.
Moreover, Israel represents the
And, when Israel
ultimate Jewish success story —
bonds are utilized
the return to our ancestral home-
to make donations
land after 2,000 years of exile.
to universities, they
By investing in Israel bonds
provide additional
we can join forces with today's
value by enhancing
young generation and stymie
the university and
the disingenuous objectives
frustrating the efforts of BDS activists. Through our
of campus BDS sup-
concerted efforts, we can help
porters.
ensure that Israel remains
In an ideal scenario, strong and dynamic, while BDS
BDS sympathizers would end
will be remembered as a move-
their hypocritical fixation with
ment that utterly failed in its
Israel and instead turn their
efforts to undermine the eco-
attention where it belongs — to
nomic foundations of the Jewish
the tyrants and despots of the
state. ❑
world who force their citizens to
live in abject poverty and severe Izzy Tapoohi is president and CEO of
repression. That, of course, is
Development Corporation for Israel/
unlikely to happen.
Israel Bonds.
Nonetheless,
it would be
enlightening to
ask BDS sympa-
LEANTEY
thizers exactly
who they think
SOLOMON MY KING
wants Israel
boycotted.
TEN YEARS AFTER
TERRORISTS
Would it be
WE DROVE THE
HAVE
OCCUPIED
the individu-
JEWISH SETTLERS
THE
SINAI!
als around the
OUT OF GAZA,
world benefiting
from Israel's
lifesaving
advances in sci-
ence and medi-
cine?
Perhaps the
millions of
(THINGS ARE
people utilizing
NOT GOING
Y-OU MEAt ■
"made-in-Israel"
ACCORDING
WE HAD A
technology to
TO PLAN.
PLAN?
make their lives
more engaging
and productive?
Or is it the
traumatized citi-
zens of nations
afflicted by nat-
ural disasters

Dry Bones T I ARS

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www.DryBones.com

September 3 • 2015

39