After months of campaigning at popular Anglo spots throughout the country,
iVoteIsrael, which encourages American citizens living in Israel to vote in the
US, released a video saying Anglos must exercise their democratic right – or
else.
The iVoteIsrael clip highlights New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell’s
victory over pro-Israel, 16-year Jewish incumbent Steve Rothman in the June 5
Democratic primary, using dramatic, foreboding music.
“Think Congress
will always be reliably pro-Israel? Think again,” the video said. “On June 5,
radical anti-Israel elements in the New Jersey Arab community flexed their
political muscle.”
Rothman, who has a pro-Israel record, was ousted,
while Pascrell was voted in, iVoteIsrael pointed out, showing a poster of the
victor that reads in Arabic: “Elect the friend of the Arabs.”
The video
also includes a photo of Pascrell with Imam Muhammad Qatanani,
who was convicted 20 years ago in an Israeli court as a Hamas member.
“ We Americans in Israel have the power and the numbers to help elect a pro-Israel
Congress and president,” iVoteIsrael explains. “If we do nothing, they will
continue pushing their agenda of divestment from Israel, diplomatic pressure
[delegitimization] and accusations of apartheid.”
“Don’t let them win,”
the video concludes.
According to iVoteIsrael, the video demonstrates
that voting is crucial for those who are pro-Israel, and not doing so “is a
dangerous option,” because anti- Israel groups actively register their
supporters to vote.
For example, the Arab A m e r i c a n Forum
registered over 1,000 voters and raised $100,000 for Pascrell, while the
organization’s president Aref Assaf accused Rothman of putting Israel before his
New Jersey constituents.
“This race serves as a very clear reminder to
the Jewish community that forces hostile to Israel are active, effective and are
engaged in the campaign season,” said Elie Pieprz, national director of
iVoteIsrael. “It is incumbent among the pro-Israel community to also become
engaged in this process.
Apathy to the voting process will not merely
result in the status quo.”
“As the NJ-9 [New Jersey’s 9th Congressional
District] race demonstrates, the result can be quite damaging to the pro-Israel
community,” Pieprz said.
According to Pieprz, Rothman is the “first
pro-Israel casualty of the election cycle,” and Americans in Israel must request
an absentee ballot and vote to prevent a repeat of the primary.
The
iVoteIsrael Campaign is described by its organizers as “an issue-based campaign,
expressing their desire to see a Congress and administration who will support
and stand by Israel in absolute commitment to its safety, security and right to
self-defense, without endorsing any specific candidate or party.”
A
campaign spokesman said the project is funded by contributions raised in the US,
mainly in small increments from individuals and foundations within the Jewish
and Christian communities.