Hundreds of pieces of legislation pass through Congress on a daily basis.
But, as Palestinian blogger Sabbah writes, H. Con Resolution 152 really has a special place in Arab hearts: “Can you understand now why we HATE U.S. politicians?”
Passed by a voice vote on the anniversary of Israeli’s victory in the Six-Day War, HRes. 152 has the following aims:
(1) congratulates the citizens of Israel on the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War in which Israel defeated enemies aiming to destroy the Jewish State;(2) congratulates the residents of Jerusalem and the people of Israel on the 40th anniversary of the reunification of that historic city;(3) commends those former combatant states of the Six Day War, Egypt and Jordan, who in subsequent years had the wisdom and courage to embrace a vision of peace and coexistence with Israel;
(4) commends Israel for its administration of the undivided city of Jerusalem for the past 40 years, during which Israel has respected the rights of all religious groups;
(5) reiterates its commitment to the provisions of the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 and calls upon the President and all United States officials to abide by its provisions; and
(6) urges the Palestinians and Arab countries to join with Israel in peace negotiations to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, including realization of the vision of two democratic states, Israeli and Palestinian, living side-by-side in peace and security.
There is so much to say about this, this blogger has no idea where to begin. It is simply disappointing. Let the Congress just admit that they care more about the good people at AIPAC than any other interested party in the foreign policy arena. Let any Arab who finds this feel like they’ve had a stick poked squarely in the eye.
One thing that needs to be mentioned. The first four paragraphs of the resolution read like this:
Whereas Israel has, since its founding, sought peace with its Arab neighbors;
Whereas in the weeks leading up to the Six Day War, Israel’s neighbors, without provocation, called for and implemented a blockade of Israel’s critical outlet
to the Red Sea, ordered United Nations peace-keeping forces out of the Sinai desert, massed their forces with apparent hostile intent in the Sinai and in the Golan Heights, and publicly threatened to destroy Israel;
Whereas in six days of war, Israel defeated those forces seeking its destruction and reunited the city of Jerusalem which had been artificially divided for 19 years;
1st bold section: Of course they have. Except with the Palestinians. And the Lebanese. And the Syrians. And Anwar Sadat had nothing to do with peace with Egypt. Nope. No way. Oh yeah, and about the Palestinians…
2nd bold section: Artificially divided? How about taken over by the Israeli’s and split in half in 1948? The U.N. didn’t split Jerusalem – they hoped to make it an international zone (which, of course, never happened). The Israelis TOOK WEST JERSUALEM IN 1948. Then they TOOK EAST JERUSALEM IN 1967.
If anybody “artificially divided” Jerusalem, it was the Israelis. Who are now being congratulated for unifying the city they divided.
Incredible.
