Talkin’ Israel at the RNC
Condoleezza Rice Image by getty images
Nathan Guttman August 30, 2012
For a convention focused on the economy and taxes at a time when foreign policy is hardly considered an issue, any mention of Israel at the GOP gathering is worth noticing.
It may not amount to 15 minutes of fame, but a 95-second video in a tight convention schedule is also something. The video, titled Israel: Cherished Memories, summarizes Mitt Romney’s July visit to Jerusalem with highlights from his speech and the obligatory photo ops at the Western Wall and with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Israel also got brief shout outs in the foreign policy speeches Wednesday of John McCain and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
But behind the scenes, Israel is a major issue for all those involved in Jewish politics and Middle East advocacy. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee held receptions for Republican lawmakers and delegates and the Republican Jewish Coalition hosted a salute for pro-Israel elected officials. Taking the stage at the event, the Senators and members of Congress made the case for voting Republican, because of Israel.
“I don’t know how there are any Jewish Democrats,” said Missouri Republican Billy Long, “With what Obama did to Bibi Netanayahu, I don’t know how there are any Jewish Democrats.”
Ted Cruz, who Republicans hope will be the next Senator from Texas, took on the Iran issue, telling the audience that if Iran “is getting too close” to becoming nuclear, “I’m sure Israel will act.” He added that in case on an Israeli attack, he’d be “thankful” because Israel would be acting to protect American security as well.
A more nuanced approach was presented by South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham who sits on the Senate Armed Services committee. Graham told the Forward that a future Romney administration would “give Iran a clear choice” and that he will “give red lines to the Iranian regime.”
No one seemed to have the appetite for getting into details. Speakers on the convention podium, including Condoleezza Rice spoke in general about taking back America’s leading role in the world, instead of “leading from behind,” but did not provide much substance. Advisers to the Romney campaign also avoided wading into the specifics of a future Republican administration’s policy regarding the Syrian civil war, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, or the moribund Israeli – Palestinians peace process.
A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you move on, I wanted to ask you to support the Forward’s award-winning journalism during our High Holiday Monthly Donor Drive.
If you’ve turned to the Forward in the past 12 months to better understand the world around you, we hope you will support us with a gift now. Your support has a direct impact, giving us the resources we need to report from Israel and around the U.S., across college campuses, and wherever there is news of importance to American Jews.
Make a monthly or one-time gift and support Jewish journalism throughout 5785. The first six months of your monthly gift will be matched for twice the investment in independent Jewish journalism.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
