Sherrod Brown's Silence on Israel is Stunning

From the Ohio GOP:

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon delivered a powerful and uplifting speech in front of an historic joint meeting of Congress on the patriotic bonds shared by the United States and the People of Israel. 

 

U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sat in the chamber for the 45 minute address with many congressional Democrats who have publicly distanced themselves from President Obama’s recent misguided approach to the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process.  Yet up to this moment in time, Sherrod Brown has refused to comment on the President’s desire for Israelis to adhere to the 1967 border as a prerequisite to peace talks.

 

The Ohio Republican Party issued a press release this morning in which Chairman Kevin DeWine released the following statement:

 

"With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set to address Congress today, Sherrod Brown's continued silence on President Obama's misguided foreign policy approach is deafening," Chairman Kevin DeWine said. 

"Calling for adherence to the 1967 borders will only bring further risk to the people of Israel.  As Democrats fall over each other in distancing themselves from Obama's verbal assault on one of America's strongest allies, Sherrod Brown owes Ohioans an explanation as to whether his silence means he supports the same ill-advised policies as the President."   

 

Background:

 

Harry Reid Rebukes Obama on Israel: "The most powerful Democrat in Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), on Monday night publicly rejected President Barack Obama's decision to use a recent speech to lay out aspects of a potential peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians. 'The place where negotiating will happen must be at the negotiating table - and nowhere else,'" ("Harry Reid Rebukes Obama on Israel," Politico, 5/24/11)

Hoyer Bucks Obama on Israeli Borders: "Pushing back against President Obama, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) suggested Sunday that Israel should not be required to shrink its borders as a precondition of peace talks with the Palestinians." ("Hoyer Bucks Obama on Israeli Borders," The Hill, 5/23/11)

 

Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) "Blasted" Obama:  "Sen. Joseph Lieberman, among the highest-profile Jewish officeholders in American government, blasted President Barack Obama's speech on the Middle East Friday, calling portions of it 'profoundly ill-advised.'"  (Wall Street Journal, 5/20/11)

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY) Calls out Obama on "Mistake":  [CNN's CAROL] COSTELLO: "Did President Obama make a mistake when he called for Israel's return to pre-1967 borders?"  ELIOT: "[Y]es, I do think he made a mistake on the emphasis. Everyone knows that the 1967 lines are simply indefensible for Israel. And for the president to emphasize that, I think, was a -- was a very big mistake."  (CNN Newsroom, 5/20/11)

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL): "I am for secure and defensible borders for Israel. Period." (Rick Klein of ABC News' The Note, @rickklein, 5/20/11)

President Obama's Call "Likely to infuriate Israel." "President Barack Obama is endorsing the Palestinians' demand for their future state to be based on the borders that existed before the 1967 Middle East war, in a move that will likely infuriate Israel. Israel says the borders of a Palestinian state have to be determined through negotiations." (Associated Press, 5/19/11)

Sherrod Brown Brags About Not Shying Away from Voicing His Views:

"'I'm going to be who I am,' [Sherrod] Brown told POLITICO. 'I ran a race saying what I am, and here's what I stand for, and I'll do the same thing. I always have concerns about an election, but I'm concerned about doing my job.'" (Politico, 3/17/11)