Washington – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the American Jewish Committee (AJC), two of the most prominent Jewish-American organizations in the United States, on Sunday issued a joint “pledge” calling on Jewish and Israel groups not to criticize President Obama’s record on Israel.
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The “National Pledge for Unity on Israel,” aims to promote bipartisan support for Israel while preventing the Jewish State from becoming a wedge issue in the upcoming campaign season.
According to ADL National Director Abe Foxman and AJC Executive Director David Harris, the initiative stems from the Jewish community’s “strong interest in ensuring that American support for Israel is one of the critical strategic issues that unites rather than divides parties and officials.”
However, not all Jewish organizations supported the bid, The Emergency Committee for Israel (ECI) Chairman William Kristol saying his organization will not be signing the pledge.
“Indeed, this attempt to silence those of us who have ‘questioned the current administration’s foreign policy approach vis-a-vis Israel’ will re-energize us. Nor, incidentally, should those who support the administration’s approach to Israel be bashful about making their case. Directors Harris and Foxman need a refresher course on the virtues of free speech and robust debate in a democracy. Their effort to stifle discussion and debate is unworthy of the best traditions of America, and of Israel,” he stated.
This is outrageous. It is an attempt to stifle free speech. There is plenty to criticize Obama on over Israel and nobody should tolerate this attempt to silence us. Everybody should write to the ADL and AJC telling them that they cannot attempt to silence free speech.
Why do u call them 2 of the most prominent organizations? They are 2 of the most left wing liberal organizations.
Is Abe Foxman now the gatekeeper of the Jewish public. What ever happened to the freedom of speech, its a basic Constitutional right of “Freedom of Speech”. The audacity of the ADL and the AJC to impose their viewpoint on the Jewish community is outrageous.
I am willing not to slam him over Israel.
Instead, I’ll slam him over his horrible management of America’s economy.
Kristol can criticize the ADL and the ADL can criticize Kristol, and they both can praise or criticize Obama. The only thing is, what does the ADL have to do with this? They’re supposed to be fighting anti-Semitism, not trying to stop people from criticizing the President’s stance on Israel. They don’t have a dog in this fight and should stay out of it.
So the ADL is now in charge of how we vote and who we support? I think I know whose pocket they’re in…
This is a good statement. Our people are not limited in what we can say such as commenter number 1 says above. There is no stifling of free speech. This is a move that is necessary as the abuse of Mr. Obama has flowered into outright hate speech from many of our people.
Sorry ADL, AJC, ABC or whatever your initials are. I will slam everyone who deserves to be slammed including our leftist president.
Political relationships have taken precedence over world safety, according to the value system of our current president. This statement simply extends that idiotic value to others who reside outside the White House. Stifling dissent is the way of dictators, even if it has perceived political gain. I am ashamed of those who developed and tried to push this foolishness on the community. Obama deserves to be slammed and embarrassed for his Middle East policies. No organization will silence me, and will certainly not influence my opinions or vote. May Hashem help us replace Obama in 2012.
It is time for Jews to stop being categorized as a herd of cattle. We are not all Democrats who follow our leader “THE RABBI”! I am an Independent and will never vote for Obama!