Congressman Rothman: Friedman Owes Us an Apology for “Israel Lobby” Charge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 14, 2011

CONTACT: Aaron Keyak
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email: aaron.keyak@mail.house.gov

Congressman Rothman: Friedman Owes Us an Apology
for “Israel Lobby” Charge

Washington, DC – Congressman Steve Rothman (D-NJ) released the following statement on Thomas Friedman’s column where he wrote that the “standing ovation [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] got in Congress this year was not for his politics. That ovation was bought and paid for by the Israel lobby” in the New York Times this morning:

Thomas Friedman’s defamation against the vast majority of Americans who support the Jewish State of Israel, in his New York Times opinion piece today, is scurrilous, destructive and harmful to Israel and her advocates in the US. Mr. Friedman is not only wrong, but he’s aiding and abetting a dangerous narrative about the US-Israel relationship and its American supporters.

I gave Prime Minister Netanyahu a standing ovation, not because of any nefarious lobby, but because it is in America’s vital national security interests to support the Jewish State of Israel and it is right for Congress to give a warm welcome to the leader of such a dear and essential ally. Mr. Friedman owes us all an apology.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Thomas Friedman and Israel Lobby.