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Friday June 29, 2007

GOP scrambles to explain opposition to Israel aid

by ron kampeas
jta

Democrats are pressing AIPAC to make a case against House Republicans who voted overwhelmingly against an appropriations bill that included $2.44 billion for Israel.

The money for Israel was approved June 21 by the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives in a 241-178 vote. It was part of a $34.2 billion foreign operations bill.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbied hard for the $2.4 billion in defense assistance for Israel, as well as another $40 million in refugee assistance included in the measure.

Most Republicans in the House voted against the overall bill because it restored some funding for contraception aid to overseas groups that provide abortions — a Republican red line for more than two decades. President Bush has sworn to veto the bill if it reaches his desk with funding for abortion providers.

The House vote and potential presidential veto of a bill containing Israel aid come after years of efforts by Republicans to present themselves as Jerusalem’s most reliable allies in Washington.

In a memo urging a “no” vote on the foreign aid bill, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) went out of his way to assure fellow Republicans that the GOP leadership was taking steps to reach out to AIPAC.

“Members are advised that the leadership has drafted a letter to AIPAC affirming Republican support for Israel funding, not withstanding final passage of this bill,” Boehner wrote in a P.S. attached to the memo, which was sent to House Republicans. “This letter will be available for members to sign at the leadership desk on the floor tonight. A copy of that letter is attached.”

So far, Republican explanations seem to be sitting well with AIPAC, which currently has no intention of making an issue of the vote. But AIPAC’s decision to refrain from criticizing the GOP is likely to reinforce the view in some Democratic circles that AIPAC has favored Republicans in recent years.

The situation is drawing comments from House Democratic leaders. “If there aren’t going to be consequences on the single most important piece of legislation for Israel, when will there be consequences?” asked Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y).

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