Former Judge Says Congressman Maintains Anti-Israel Stances

Friday, December 20, 2002

Page 6

THOUGHT CLASH (Column)

Former Judge Says Congressman Maintains Anti-Israel Stances

Former Los Angeles County Bar Assn. president Sheldon D. Sloan — who was reputedly influential with Republican Governors George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson and is said to maintain strong GOP ties — is engaged in efforts to dump Dana Rohrabacher, a seven-term Republican congressman from Orange County.

Sloan, a retired Los Angeles Municipal Court judge, accuses Rohrabacher of maintaining an anti-Israeli and pro-Arab policy, which the legislator denies.

In a recent letter addressed “Dear Friends,” Sloan wrote:

I seldom get as exorcised about a public official as I am about Dana Rohrabacher, the long term Member of the House of Representatives from Orange County. Congressman Rohrabacher is an embarrassment to the Congress of the United States, to the President of the United States, to the Republican Party, and to his constituents. He represents a “safe” Republican electorate, in which a Democrat has virtually no chance of being elected.

He has voted against Israel and against the President in all matters concerning Israel. Congressman Rohrabacher needs a challenger in the Republican Primary in the next election, a person that can represent the people of the State of California, not the special Arab interests that Rohrabacher coddles up to at every opportunity.

….

Many good Republicans, who share my views have been trying to convince former Republican Congressman, Steve Kuykendall to run for this seat. Steve was an outstanding member of the State Assembly, and an outstanding Congressman, but lost a close race in a district that had insurmountable demographics against him.

The district now represented by Rohrabacher knows Steve well and they have voted strongly for him in the past. With a good campaign and broad based financial support, Steve can win this seat, and do an excellent job for California and America.

I was saddened by your accusatory letter sent to our fellow Republicans. It was both factually inaccurate and unnecessarily derogatory in its tone. Perhaps you are unaware of my record or you would not have suggested in your letter that I have voted against the President and against Israel in all matters. Whoever told you that is a liar of the first order and in the future you should not be passing on information from that source without verification.

On the vast majority of votes concerning Israel I have been on the side of that country, including votes condemning terrorist acts against Israel and supporting efforts to prevent Israel or Israeli citizens from being targeted by hostile forces. The outrage that has been pointed in my direction derives from my votes in opposition to legislation concerning Israel when that legislation is not also in the interest of the United States. But yes, sometimes what is in Israel’s interest is not in the interest of the United States, although that is difficult for some people to grasp. Unlike many other Members of Congress, I do not feel compelled by political pressure to vote for every bill supporting Israel, especially when that legislation may be harmful to our country, the long term cause of peace in the Middle East and damaging to the prestige of our President. Contrary to your letter it was my vote supporting the position of the President of the United States that has created such a stir. Even though my overall voting record concerning issues regarding Israel remains at a high level.

Your suggestion that I coddle up to Arab interests certainly does not take into account my strenuous efforts and leadership to defeat Islamic extremism and the Arab enemies of the United States. You must be aware that I for years was the lone voice in Congress calling for action against the Taliban and Bin Laden. I spent much time and effort to organize a moderate Muslim alternative to this serious threat to our country. You must also know that I not only have been a point person in supporting the President’s Iraqi policy but have been actively engaged in supporting the resistance to Saddam Hussein over the years. Far from coddling up to Arabs, when those regimes are the enemies of the Untied States, I have been their worst nightmare.

You should note that my associations in the Arab world have mainly been with countries like Qatar and Kuwait which are friends of the United States and evolving toward a more democratic society. Qatar is now leading the way with permitting women to vote and allowing a free press. You might also note that Qatar has an Israeli trading mission in its country.

Any involvement that I have had with Arabs or Israelis has always been aimed at supporting the interests of the United States and/or promoting the long term prospects for peace in the Middle East. However, simply rubber stamping everything any particular Israeli government demands is not in the interest of the United States and has not served the long term cause of peace. It has undercut compromise and bolstered intransigence when more flexibility could well have had positive results. I have always supported this President and every President in their efforts to bring peace to the Middle East but sometimes their efforts have been thwarted by a Congress unwilling to take the unjust criticism as reflected in your letter.

Just be aware that I continue publicly, and in their presence, to severely criticize all Arabs and Muslims who are intransigent towards Israel and all acts of terrorism against the Israeli people. Unfortunately, there are many Arab and Muslim Americans who refuse to criticize those enemies of Israel with whom they identify. Just as unfortunately, there are many people in the United States who are adamantly and emotionally committed to an “Israel right or wrong” policy and are incapable of considering even constructive criticism of that country. By the way, I get my share of criticism from both sides.

When I was elected to Congress, I never expected, when making a tough stand, to be applauded for political courage or moral integrity. I will continue to vote my conscience as a representative of the people of the United States and this congressional district. And I would hope that your criticism in the future of how I do my job is based on accurate information and is hopefully a more balanced assessment.

I received your email of 12/6/02 with some mild surprise.…

Many have said to me that you just need to visit to Israel to realize the error of your ways. I hope they are right.

As a person who has shared most of your values for a long period, I am especially disappointed in your seemingly radical departure from the positions you espoused prior to 1994 and those you have embraced after that date. As a longtime Republican, I take no pleasure in reciting the parade of horribles I cite below. Any one of them would be reason enough to depart from that support and oppose your reelection. Taken together, it is a given that you will face strong opposition in the next election cycle.

You have chosen to characterize my statements as factually inaccurate and unnecessarily derogatory, yet in your letter to me I find no expression of support for Israel nor repudiation of what is generally referred to as the “moral equivalency” line, used mostly by the liberal press in supporting the Palestinian position of terrorism against the State of Israel. Perhaps it was just an oversight; if so, I invite you to correct it.

Let me review some of the parts of your record with which I am familiar; perhaps they too need some correction:

Regarding your votes in Congress:

In 1991, you supported a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in the face of scud attacks;

In 1991, you co-sponsored a bill urging Arabs to recognize Israel;

In 1993, you voted for a resolution urging Arabs to end the boycott of Israel;

But, in 1994, this pattern changed dramatically:

In 1994, you refused to sign a letter urging Arafat to condemn terrorism;

In 1996, you refused to sign a congressional letter urging Arafat to amend the PLO Charter;

In 1997, you were one of 18 signatories of a letter urging President Clinton to put pressure on Israel to refrain from building at Har Homa;

But, in 1998, you did co-sponsor, along with about 200 others, a congressional resolution expressing opposition to the unilateral declaration of a Palestinian State;

And, in 2001 you voted (along with 383 other congressmen and Senators) for a resolution expressing solidarity with Israel in the fight against terrorism;

But, in 2001 you refused to sign a letter urging reassessment of US relations with the Palestine Authority;

On Appropriations Bills, and Foreign Aid Bills, you have voted against appropriations for Israel about Two-Thirds of the time.

You have voted against Israel on practically every specific aid bill, particularly the bills to cut off all aid to Israel and Egypt.

You refrained from voting on a resolution congratulating Sharon for bringing an end to the violence. That resolution passed 410-1.

Publicly, you have:

Appeared on the Alan Keyes Show, espousing a support for the “Moral Equivalency” line, equating the actions of Israel in defense of its people to that of the terrorists in killing innocent people without provocation;

Appeared in a joint appearance with Cynthia McKinney at what has been characterized as an Arab front group;

Traveled to several Arab countries numerous times;

Have received many donations from Arab-American Leaders, Arab political action committees, and their lobbyists, including Abdulwahab Alkebsi, a longtime Islamic Institute official who has protested raids on U.S. Organizations which the FBI says have terrorist connections, from Abdurahaman Alamoudi, who has publicly supported Hamas, one of the groups known for terrorist bombings in Israel, and many thousands of dollars from the Arab American Leadership PAC;

You have been reported in the Weekly as having conducted dangerous, unauthorized secret negotiations with the Taliban, Pre-September 11, 2001.

Privately, you are alleged to:

Equate Sharon with Arafat, and view Sharon as a terrorist;

Be unwilling to meet with Sharon;

Display an uncooperative attitude towards those who seek to arrange for you to go to Israel, in order to attempt to educate you on the living conditions.

I have attached an article by R. Scott Moxley, which compares you to Cynthia McKinney, the recently defeated, former five term Congresswoman from Georgia, who was so apart from the mainstream of her party that she was defeated by a novice in a primary this year. It basically asks the question, “How did Rohrabacher get away with this, while she paid the price?”

If my conclusions, based upon the above records are inaccurate, you have a splendid opportunity to correct them. All you need to do is:

Clearly express public support for the independence of the State of Israel and its right to protect its people by the pursuing of terrorists killers utilizing suicide bombs and weaponry against innocent, non-combatant women and children.

Stop equivocating and take the trip to Israel as soon as possible.

Return all donations received from all questionable sources, such as those enumerated above.

If you want to be treated fairly, then you must be fair. Stop coddling up to the Arabs and look at the situation from the point of view of Israel. Israel is the best friend the United States has in the world, and there are very few issues wherein the interests of the United States and those of the State of Israel differ.

The choice is yours; if a five term Democratic Congresswoman from Georgia can be defeated in a primary election, so can an eight term Republican Congressman from California.