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Friends,

George W. Bush called for "an end to the occupation that began in 1967" and for a future Palestine that must be "viable", "contiguous" and "sovereign" because "Swiss cheese isn't going to work"?

Imagine if a Democrat said that. If you don't have a good imagination, check out what's happening in Georgia, where two pro-Israel Democrats, Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, are running against Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue, also known as Bonnie and Clyde for their corruption.

Eitan Nechin writes that "the slurs against Democratic candidates in Georgia's election runoffs are the perfect showcase for how Trump and Netanyahu have twisted what 'pro-Israel' means, and why antisemitism so often follows in their wake."

Nechin notes that "Warnock opposes BDS, supports unconditional military aid for Israel and backs a two-state solution – the entirely normative positions of a vast majority of U.S. Jews." But alas, he signed a letter critical of certain Israeli policies that called for a two-state solution and a "safe, secure, viable, and contiguous" Palestinian state, and that was too much for those who don't understand that pro-Israel is not the same as pro-Bibi.

If you criticize Trump's policies, or Biden's--even with vivid imagery--does that mean that you oppose the existence of the United States or want to endanger the United States? Maybe, but more likely, you are a patriotic American who disagrees with certain policies. Most of us understand that. Why, then, are some of us threatened when criticism of Israel's current government is voiced by someone who clearly and unequivocally supports policies that for decades have been the pro-Israel consensus?

Commanders for Israel's Security, a non-partisan movement comprising over three-hundred retired IDF generals and their Shin Bet, Mossad, and Israel Police equivalents, wrote last week that "the main threat to the Zionist enterprise does not come from any distant enemy. It derives from the risk of losing a solid Jewish majority in our own land...Separation from the Palestinians is a Zionist imperative and an Israeli priority. It is the only way to guarantee a solid and sustainable Jewish majority in our democracy for generations to come."

That's what Warnock wants. That's what George W. Bush wanted. That's what every president since 1967 except Donald Trump wanted. That's what it means to be pro-Israel no matter what side of the aisle you're on.

Yet a small but vocal segment of our community prefer Bonnie and Clyde even though Warnock's opponent, Bonnie Kelly Loeffler, warmly accepted the endorsement of Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the anti-Semitic QAnon supporters just elected to Congress, and she recently defended a TV host tied to white supremacy and neo-Nazi conspiracy theories.

To deflect from her racism and anti-Semitism, Loeffler launched bogus claims about Warnock's views on Jeremiah Wright, for which she was awarded three pinocchios by the fact-checkers. Loeffler's attempts to divide the Black and Jewish communities should be rejected across the board and are reason enough to vote her out of office.

Read Warnock and Israel: Setting the Record Straight and visit the JDCA Georgia Election Hub for a comprehensive look at both Georgia races and how you can rid of the Senate of its modern-day Bonnie and Clyde.

BDS has failed, but Republicans keep politicizing it. Anshel Pfeffer explains that BDS "is the most failed, overhyped and exaggerated campaign in the first two decades of the 21st century...BDS failed on every front, with the minor exception of bullying a handful of singers and academics not to take part in concerts or conferences in Israel...the 15 years of the BDS campaign have seen an unprecedented surge in Israeli trade and broadening of its foreign relations."

Nevertheless, BDS is a useful foil for the right-wing in Israel and "for a certain type of American Jewish organization and philanthropist, so lacking in imagination and independent thought that they need to subcontract their Jewish identity to Israel, BDS provides a 'battle' in which they can easily take part."

Cue Kelly Loeffler. Loeffler and three other Republican senators sent a letter to Donald Trump urging him to label goods produced in the West Bank "Made in Israel" even though Israel has not annexed the West Bank, which means goods made in the West Bank are not made in Israel. That's inaccurate and misleading labeling.

Loeffler's letter suggests that labeling West Bank goods "Made in Israel" will combat BDS, but the opposite is true. If the West Bank is part of Israel--which is what "Made in Israel" suggests--then the case for BDS becomes stronger. If the West Bank is part of Israel, then the different legal status of Jews and Arabs in the West Bank is indefensible. The BDS movement seeks to conflate Israel with the West Bank to justify a boycott of all Israeli products. Loeffler's letter gives BDS an unearned victory and makes a two-state solution harder to achieve.

Loeffler falsely claims that "prominent Democrats" are working to oppose Israel and support BDS. The Democratic Party's 2020 platform opposes BDS. So does Joe Biden, so does Rev. Raphael Warnock, so does Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the newly elected Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and so do the more than 90% Democrats who voted for H. Res. 246, which condemned BDS and supported a two-state solution.

The real threats facing Israel are a nuclear-armed Iran and lack of progress toward a two-state solution. Fortunately, President-elect Biden will try to return to the Iran Deal before negotiating another deal. Given how long negotiations could take and how far Iran has advanced since Trump walked away from the deal without cause, this is the best approach. Biden has also pledged support for a two-state solution.

You might think Biden’s lengthy pro-Israel record would inoculate, or at least modestly protect him, from the overwrought, vituperative 'Israel-hater' hyperbole thrown at President Obama. You'd be wrong, explains Abe Silverstein, in an article also worth reading if you read that nonsensical hit piece attacking Obama's discussion of Israel in his memoir.

President Obama explains a truth in his memoir that we in the pro-Israel community who emphasize support for Israel based on shared values must internalize: The same values that lead progressives to support Israel lead them to express concerns about Palestinians. The two sentiments are not contradictory. Obama writes of "an essential bond between the Black and Jewish experiences--a common story of exile and suffering that might ultimately be redeemed by a shared thirst for justice, a deeper compassion for others, a heightened sense of community. It made me fiercely protective of the right of the Jewish people to have a state of their own, though, ironically, those same shared values also made it impossible for me to ignore the conditions under which Palestinians in the occupied territories were forced to live" (p. 628).

The real enemies of Israel--and America--are those who deny our shared values.

Last week's newsletter.

Trivia Question of the Week. What is the name of the adorable puppy in this ad? If you attended our event with Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff last week and you listened to Rev. Warnock's answer to my question, you should know the answer.

ICYMI. Does the cost of the Fakhrizadeh assassination outweigh the benefits?

Tweet of the Week. Scary joke about math.

Video Clip of the Week. Daveed Diggs - Puppy for Hanukkah.

Major Event: Don't miss this Jewish community conversation with Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock on Tuesday, December 8, at 2:00pm CT, moderated by former U.S. ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro. This will be THE Jewish event with the two Democratic Georgia Senate candidates, it's free, and it's sponsored by the leading Jewish Democratic groups in the country--Jewish Democratic Council of America, Jewish Women for Joe-gia, Jews 4 Joe, Jewish Democratic Women's Salon, and Democratic Jewish Outreach Pennsylvania. Hundreds have already signed up, but it won't be the same without you, my friend. Sign up here to reserve your spot.

I send this newsletter on Sunday mornings and I generally re-send it to non-openers on Wednesday mornings. So if you are reading this on Wednesday morning, you missed this great event. Let that be a lesson to you. Look for the newsletter bright and early Sunday mornings and read it right away. It could be life-changing.

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The Fine Print: This newsletter usually runs on Sunday mornings. Unless stated otherwise, my views do not necessarily reflect the views of any candidates or organizations that I support or am associated with. I reserve the right to change my mind as I learn more. Intelligent, well-informed people may disagree with me; read opposing views and decide for yourself. A link to an article doesn't mean that I agree with everything its author has ever said or that I even agree with everything in the article; it means that the article supports or elaborates on the point I was making. I take pride in accurately reporting the facts on which I base my opinions. Tell me if you spot any inaccuracies, typos, or other mistakes so that I can correct them in the next newsletter (and give you credit if you want it). Advertisements reflect the views of the advertisers, not necessarily of me, and advertisers are solely responsible for the content of their advertisements. I read, value, and encourage replies to my newsletters, but I don't always have time to acknowledge replies or to engage in one-on-one discussion. Don't expect a reply if your message is uncivil or if it's clear from your message that you haven't read the newsletter or clicked on the relevant links. © 2020 Steve Sheffey. All rights reserved.