Israel, the 51st State? How the GOP Is Courting West Bank Settlers to Vote for Mitt Romney

[Dalton Fury]

Critics of the Israel lobby’s influence in US politics often say, tongue-in-cheek, that Israel should be named the 51st state. But this presidential election season, that sentiment comes close to the reality of how the Republican Party is treating the country. Israel, like the 50 states in the US, will be a source for votes and money and a backdrop for presidential campaigning.

The Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC) has partnered with an Israeli group to encourage Israelis who are American citizens--including West Bank settlers--to vote in the 2012 elections. The effort is also being promoted by a group called Republicans Abroad Israel . The partnership, and presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s plan to visit Israel in late July , makes clear that the Republicans will use President Barack Obama’s policy towards Israel as a cudgel to score political points and woo Jewish voters and donors -- though most American Jews vote Democratic. The politicking about how Obama is an “anti-Israel” president obscures the reality that Obama has not touched the sacrosanct US-Israeli alliance and has continued to lavish aid and diplomatic support to the Jewish state.

Israel, the 51st State? How the GOP Is Courting West Bank Settlers to Vote for Mitt Romney

[Xenomorph]

The GOP has wanted to slave American foreign policy to the needs of Israel for years, it's really pathetic. I don't hate Israel, but they should not receive dumptrucks of American arms and weapons every year.

[Siberyak]

there is obviously no way israel can survive without america. without our military protection israels arab neighbors would have dismanteld her.

[kabeiros]

Israel, the 51st State? More like USAAK (United States of Ashkenazi Ass Kissers)

[RagnarLodbrok666]

The GOP has wanted to slave American foreign policy to the needs of Israel for years, it's really pathetic. I don't hate Israel, but they should not receive dumptrucks of American arms and weapons every year.

Grab the treaty with the isreali president and rip it into pieces.