Israeli voters in US election...
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=334738
By JAMAL KANJ
, Posted on » Thursday, July 26, 2012
WITH the conclusion of the presidential primaries in the 50 US
states, a new election campaign is shaping itself in the unofficial 51st
state, otherwise known as Israel.
A parade of US officials and politicians are lining up to visit
Israel this month, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just
completing her homage.
Other administration visitors include National Security Adviser Tom
Donilon, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and Deputy Secretary of State
William Burns.
As President Barack Obama did in 2008, presumptive contender for the
White House Mitt Romney is scheduled to make his christening visit
before the end of this month.
Republican officials Ari Fleischer, President George W Bush's former
spokesman, and executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition
Mathew Brooks spent several days earlier this month, touring Israel
ahead of next week's campaign by Romney.
Brooks and Fleischer were supporting the iVoteIsrael initiative.
Unlike what the name implies, iVoteIsrael is not about Israeli elections
but a campaign to vote for Israel in the US election.
The organisation's British-born campaign strategic manager Aron
Shaviv told the New Jersey Jewish News: "We just encourage people... to
think about what (American) candidate is best for Israel."
iVoteIsrael is a subsidiary of a US registered, non-profit
organisation established to register dual Israeli-US citizens living in
Israel to vote in the 2012 US election. It is funded by US
tax-deductible contributions from wealthy Jewish Americans.
Asked about the source of iVoteIsrael funding, Shaviv told +972
magazine: "Much of the donated money comes from the (Sheldon) Adelsons
of the world".
Adelson, an American casino tycoon, has contributed hundreds of millions, advocating Israeli causes.
He has poured more than $70 million into supporting Republican candidates in this election cycle.
Unofficial estimates suggest there are about 100,000 to 300,000
holders of US-Israeli dual nationality in Israel; many of them from
Florida.
Shaviv told reporters: "If you can bring 5,000 in Florida, that's a game changer."
In fact, the US election in 2000 was decided by a mere 537 votes in Florida.
According to Fleischer: "There is a possibility that a large number
of absentee ballots coming into Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio can make
the difference." He was referring to major swing states, which if won,
would likely determine the next president.
While claiming to be nonpartisan, iVoteIsrael seeks the election of a
president who is willing to give Israel an "absolute commitment".
Displaying typical Zionist arrogance, iVoteIsrael literature claims
the "outcome of 2012 elections matters more to Israelis than average
Americans".
iVoteIsrael must have overlooked the fact that there are more
unemployed Americans than the entire population of Israel, suggesting
the outcome of the elections matter for more US citizens than all of
Israel.
Not to be outdone, the Democrats are prostrating and Hillel Schenker,
vice-chairman of Democrats Abroad Israel, called on Israeli-US citizens
to vote for Obama because his "sensitivity towards Israel's security
needs cannot be compared to anyone else".
It is reprehensible to see both parties pandering to citizens with
sworn loyalty to another nation for votes that could influence the
outcome of a US election, particularly as it is based on issues that
matter only to Israelis and not Americans.
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