Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on March 8, 2015

In 24 hours, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will step before a joint session of Congress to have his say about Israel, its security and its place on the planet. But wait. Of political note: Hillary Rodham Clinton will also be in town on Tuesday for the 30th anniversary of Emilys List, the pro-choice group which has thus far raised $400 million for Democratic women candidates. Mrs. Clinton will receive the We Are Emily award at a major hotel. The pair, essentially, will be about 20 blocks apart; the press will have much to speculate upon.

Meanwhile, Mr. Netanyahu has set a somber but dramatic tone to his visit, advising in a tweet, Im going to Washington on a fateful, even historic, mission. I feel that I am an emissary of all Israels citizens, even those who do not agree with me, and of the entire Jewish people. He followed it with this: I will do my utmost to ensure our future.

Americans appear peeved at Republicans for their independent invitation to Mr. Netanyahu to address lawmakers; 48 percent say GOP leaders should not have extended the offer without consulting the White House, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Sunday. Agreeing are 66 percent of Democratic and 28 percent of Republican respondents. Another 30 percent said the invitation was fine, while 22 percent didnt know enough to say either way.

SEE ALSO: House GOP unites against amnesty as Homeland Security showdown intensifies

Press coverage is all over the place. A few headlines reveal all: Will Netanyahus speech to Congress backfire? (CNN); Obama, Netanyahu on collision course in the making for six years (Huffington Post); Congress should hear out Netanyahu (Los Angeles Times); and Politicking in America nothing new to Netanyahu (Politico).

Meanwhile, The American Israeli Political Action Committee (AIPAC) conference got underway in the nations capital Sunday; the bipartisan, pro-Israel event has drawn over 14,000 participants from 50 states, and yes, Mr. Netanyahu will address the vast audience Monday. So will a diverse group of 96 luminaries from both sides of the aisle that include Sens. Joe Manchin,Lindsey Graham, Ben Cardin and Ben Sasse; Reps. Ted Deutch, Mario Diaz-Balart and Kay Granger; Ralph Reed, Bill Kristol, Democratic National Committee chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and Americans Crossroad CEO Steven Law.

Thank goodness for Congress, Howard Kohr, CEO of AIPAC, told the audience on opening day.

SEE ALSO: Republicans seek coveted Benjamin Netanyahu speech tickets from boycotting Democrats

FRIEND OF BIBI

A nuclear-armed Iran is one of the gravest security threats facing both the United States and our ally Israel, says Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

See the original post:
Inside the Beltway: Benjamin Netanyahu, Hillary Clinton in Washington at same time

Category: Jewish American Heritage Month
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