Photo Credit: Kobi Gideon /FLASH90.
House Speaker, Democrat Nancy Pelosi in Israel, May 19, 2008.

House Republicans will try on Thursday to amend a Yemen war resolution with a statement against anti-Semitism, the NY Times reported (House Democrats Brace for Another Anti-Semitism Showdown Forced by G.O.P.), which would force their Democratic rivals to either forgo a crucial resolution to end US involvement in the Saudi attacks on civilians in the southern peninsula, or become embroiled once again in their internal squabbles over the anti-Semitism of several Muslim House Democrats.

The Times cites Democrats and Jewish groups who expect the House Republicans to try and embarrass Speaker Nancy Pelosi one more time, after a February motion condemning anti-Semitism killed a Yemen war resolution. Some Democrats have accused the GOP of “weaponizing anti-Semitism.”

Advertisement




House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md) told reporters: “If anybody thinks that I’m not supportive of an anti-Semitism resolution, you don’t know much about my history, and I’m going to tell that to the members on the floor.” However, he explained, “This is about Yemen. This is not about some extraneous, maybe very important, but extraneous and undermining” amendment.

And so, it appears the House Democrats are going to bite this bullet and vote down the anti-Semitism amendment, hoping that their Jewish constituents would understand.

Lee Zeldin (R-NY), one of the only Jewish Republicans in the House, told the Times, “I don’t see the issue going away,” his party plans to keep hammering at the Democrats’ Muslim Achilles’ heel, “Silence isn’t an option.” Indeed, a week ago, Vice President Mike Pence told the AIPAC conference in Washington, DC, that the Democratic Party “has been co-opted by people who promote rank anti-Semitic rhetoric.”

Jewish House Democrat Eliot Engel (NY) told the Times he can’t continue to oppose resolutions and bills opposing anti-Semitism or supporting Israel. In NY State, outside the city, there would sooner or later be GOP candidates who utilize those unpopular votes to gain ground in split districts. Jewish House Democrats Elaine Luria (Va) and Josh Gottheimer (NJ), said they, too, are threatened by the GOP assaults.

It’s not as if the Democrats have not voted to condemn anti-Semitism – they’ve done it twice this year already. But, apparently, you can’t have too many of those.

Advertisement

SHARE
Previous articleChristchurch Murders: The Real Accomplices
Next articleFemale Skeleton Cradling Baby Uncovered at Holocaust Mass Grave in Belarus
David writes news at JewishPress.com.