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The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the Republican Party draft platform for affirming the GOP’s unwavering support for Israel’s security and for its unequivocal rejection of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, but expressed disappointment with the platform draft’s departure from longstanding GOP support of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, a position that differs from the stated position of Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi and prior GOP platforms.
The Republican Party’s Platform Committee proposed language says, “We reject the false notion that Israel is an occupier. Support for Israel is an expression of Americanism, and it is the responsibility of our government to advance policies that reflect Americans’ strong desire for a relationship with no daylight between America and Israel.”
One would think that a Jewish organization would support this statement of unequivocal support for Israel and the rejection of the term “occupier,” but as is often the case, the ADL disappoints.
Jonathan A. Greenblatt, ADL’s CEO, issued the following statement: “We are pleased that the platform draft affirms the GOP’s unwavering support for a strong and secure Israel with Jerusalem as its capital and unequivocally rejects the BDS movement. Both party platform drafts reflect and reinforce the broad bipartisan consensus in favor of strong U.S. support for Israel that has endured for decades.”
Greenblatt continued: “We are disappointed that the platform draft departs from longstanding support of a two-state solution to the Israeli Palestinian conflict – and the shared vision of successive American presidents and prime ministers of Israel, including the current leadership in both countries, who believed it was the only viable way to secure Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state. We hope the delegates will reconsider and reaffirm this pillar of U.S. policy toward Israel in the final platform.”
Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) expressed how disappointed he was in the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
“I am sorely disappointed in the ADL for having criticized the Republican Party for excluding a two-state solution language from its platform,” Assemblyman Hikind said. “Shame on the ADL for completely contradicting its mission of why it exists.”
Hikind suggested rather than interfere with politics, the ADL should instead focus on continuing to do great work on combating anti-Semitism on a global scale. “I have the utmost respect for the ADL,” he said. “The work it has done, and continues to do, in fighting and educating millions of people on anti-Semitism is nothing short of impressive. But to stick its nose in politics is unacceptable and frustrating to say the least.”