Shame on Obama administration for turning its back on Israel — again

On Friday afternoon, as Jewish families across America were making their plans to celebrate Hanukkah, President Barack Obama was preparing to finally reveal his true contempt for the State of Israel.

Despite years of dissembling about his so-called respect and friendship for the only Western democracy in the Middle East, the Democratic president of the United States glibly stood aside and allowed anti-Israeli diplomats to pass a resolution condemning so-called “settlements” in the allegedly “occupied” territory of Israel’s capital city, Jerusalem.

It wasn’t just an American betrayal of the State of Israel; it was also another Democratic betrayal of the party’s reliable Jewish constituency.

For a little perspective on how President Obama’s Democratic administration has dramatically turned American foreign policy on its head, consider this:

Today, American diplomats gladly encourage billions of dollars of investment with the brutal regime of the Iranian theocracy, while simultaneously standing mute as the U.N. criminalizes Jewish residency in the ancient Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem. Simply stated, the Democrats have embraced a policy of madness.

East Jerusalem is not “occupied” territory; it is disputed territory, which makes a world of difference. True, at the time of the 1948 armistice between Israel and its Arab neighbors, East Jerusalem was under the control of Jordanian forces. It is also true that in 1948, the Jordanian Arab Legion systematically razed the Jewish Quarter within East Jerusalem, famously destroying the Hurva Synagogue and expelling as many Jews as possible. Indeed, the chief reason that the borders of the 1948 armistice (the so-called “Green Line”) were never ratified is because the Arab powers refused to recognize the legitimacy of any Israeli territory whatsoever.

In 2010, when the Israelis rebuilt the destroyed Hurva Synagogue, most viewed the project as a symbol of Jewish perseverance in the face of persecution. Now, the Obama administration tacitly condemns the rebirth of the Hurva Synagogue as an international crime.

Perhaps it is time for some of South Florida’s Jewish voters to take a second look at the Republican Party. Republicans have always unapologetically championed America’s close relationship with the State of Israel, not in order to pander to any one interest or voting bloc, but because the Republican Party has long recognized Israel’s record as a force for good in the world. In the deserts of the Middle East, Israel is the lone beacon that proudly affirms the cause of individual liberty, the rule of law, and dignifies the equality of all, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Moreover, Israel has made outsized contributions through medical and technological innovation, promotion of the arts, and academic achievements in the sciences. Fostering a strong relationship with Israel isn’t only the smart thing to do; it is the thing to do.

So shame on President Obama and his Democratic administration. For those disheartened voters who once supported a Democratic Party that no longer stands for their values, know this: the Republican Party is offering a friendly hand and a place at the table.

In the deserts of the Middle East, Israel is the lone beacon that proudly affirms the cause of individual liberty, the rule of law, and dignifies the equality of all, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.