The mayor of the Satmar hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel, New York wrote US Rep. Carolyn Maloney asking her and her fellow Democrats to boycott the controversial upcoming speech to the US Congress by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In that letter, the mayor cites a Neturei Karta website. Neturei Karta and its offshoots are allies of Iran.
Above: Benjamin Netanyahu, left; Ron Dermer, right
The mayor of the Satmar hasidic Village of Kiryas Joel, New York wrote US Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney asking him and his fellow Democrats to boycott the upcoming speech to the US Congress by Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The speech, arranged by Congressional Republicans and Israel's US Ambassador, Orthodox Jew and former Republican operative Ron Dermer, without informing the White House or congressional Democrats, is slated to take place only days before Israel's elections. The speech is widely seen in Israel and elsewhere as yet another cheap campaign trick by the man who is widely regarded even by Israeli politicians – including many of his own allies – as one of the most amoral and dishonest Israeli politicians ever.
My personal opinion is that every Jewish member of Congress should get up and walk out as Netanyahu begins to speak, and any other members of Congress who want to join them should do so, as well.
Any point Netanyahu wants to make on Iran can be made at the AIPAC convention or in a press conference in Washington or at other venues, including US broadcast and cable news outlets, all of whom would put him on their Sunday morning shows and allow him to make his points and bring his evidence.
It isn't as if Netanyahu's views on the matter have been shut out of public discourse in the US, and by and large, Republicans already agree with him.
But the point of this speech never really appears to have been the Iranian threat itself. Instead, as many have previously noted, it seems to be hurting Obama.
That said, the following letter from the mayor of Kiryas Joel is highly inappropriate. It cites a Neturei Karta website without explaining what Neturei Karta is – which among other things is an ally of Iran – and it fails to explain the atrocious behavior of both Satmar Rebbes to interfere with free and open democratic elections in Israel.
Should Maloney and his fellow Democrats boycott Netanyahu's speech?
Because of how it was arranged, its clearly intended role as a campaign tool for Netanyahu, and its clear intent to harm the US President, I think they should. But there are also good arguments to made that say they should all attend the speech, and in the end this isn't my call to make.
But whatever they do, it should not be based on anything Neturei Karta or its deceptively named Torah True Jews website says, or on other fronts for an Iranian regime that seeks to destroy Israel.
The mayor's letter, via Yeshiva World. (The letter was released to several haredi news outlets including Yeshiva World, JP UPdates, etc., and to some other members of the media today):
Dear Rep. Maloney:
The core theme in Judaism is strict adherence to true Torah ideals and Jewish people, the world over and through the ages have identified and continue to identify with this philosophy. and your constituents in the village of Kiryas Joel, home to almost 25,000 orthodox Jews, all the more so.
Torah ideals guide us to be loyal citizens in our country of residence, to respect our elected leaders and to pray for their well being and prosperity ( for further insight visit TrueTorahJews.com) We were therefore utterly dismayed by Israeli PM Netanyahu’s agreeing to address a joint session of congress without first obtaining the presidents consent and without even the courtesy of consulting the White House.
Netanyahu’s acceptance signaled his intent to challenge the presidents foreign policy on american soil. His unprecedented actions are direct insult to the office of the president.
The intent of this letter is three fold; first to defend the honor and prestige of the office of the the president; second to decry Netanyahu’s breach of diplomatic protocall and last but not least to repudiate his claim to be the spokesman of the Jewish people. Neither he nor his state represent world Jewry.
Therefore, on behalf of our joint constituents, I respectfully request that you not attend Netanyahu’s address. Your absence would send a clear message that your constituents’ want no part of Netanyahu’s callousness towards the office of the president.
Respectfully,
Abraham Wieder
Mayor
Please click to enlarge:
Dear Rep. Maloney:
The core theme in Judaism is strict adherence to true Torah ideals and Jewish people, the world over and through the ages have identified and continue to identify with this philosophy. and your constituents in the village of Kiryas Joel, home to almost 25,000 orthodox Jews, all the more so.
Torah ideals guide us to be loyal citizens in our country of residence, to respect our elected leaders and to pray for their well being and prosperity ( for further insight visit TrueTorahJews.com) We were therefore utterly dismayed by Israeli PM Netanyahu’s agreeing to address a joint session of congress without first obtaining the presidents consent and without even the courtesy of consulting the White House.
Netanyahu’s acceptance signaled his intent to challenge the presidents foreign policy on american soil. His unprecedented actions are direct insult to the office of the president.
The intent of this letter is three fold; first to defend the honor and prestige of the office of the the president; second to decry Netanyahu’s breach of diplomatic protocall and last but not least to repudiate his claim to be the spokesman of the Jewish people. Neither he nor his state represent world Jewry.
Therefore, on behalf of our joint constituents, I respectfully request that you not attend Netanyahu’s address. Your absence would send a clear message that your constituents’ want no part of Netanyahu’s callousness towards the office of the president.
Respectfully,
Abraham Wieder
Mayor.
- See more at: http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/287254/mayor-of-kiryas-joel-calls-on-rep-sean-patrick-maloney-not-to-attend-netanyahu-speech.html#sthash.mc2nxG6o.dpuf