by Halley S. Faust
This blog posting is based on an article published in the New Mexico Jewish Link in June, 2018. It has been updated with additional information about our newly elected House members for the first (ABQ) and second (southern NM) congressional districts, and results of the November election.
In 1873 Charles Dudley Warner remarked, “Everyone complains about the weather but no one does anything about it. “
Similarly, there are many who complain about the state of US politics, and few who take action.
Whether writing a letter to the editor correcting an incorrect fact about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, or advocating for a legislator to sponsor and vote for a pro-Israel position, many complain, few act.
Ask any Member of Congress (MOC) how often they get contacted about international issues of any kind. The answer is “almost never.” There are some MOCs who represent cities like Santa Fe, whose residents may be more aware of international issues, or those on the Foreign Affairs committees of the House or Senate, like NM Senator Tom Udall, who have more interaction on these issues, of course. But the common refrain is still “almost never.”
Even a few emails or phone calls to MOCs on any particular international issue can make a big difference. More than fifteen is a tsunami.
On January 1 New Mexico will have two new MOCs in the House – Deb Haaland from the Albuquerque area, and Xochitl Torres-Small from Las Cruces. Neither of these two new House members has been to Israel. Neither has a significant knowledge of the issues involved in the Middle East. Both wrote Israel position papers during their campaigns supporting Israel broadly. In conversations before the election, both admitted they didn’t have a first-hand or deep understanding of the issues of Middle East foreign policy, history, or security. It’s our job to help educate them on these issues of importance to SFMEW members.
Xochtil Torres-Small
It’s not enough in our heart-of-hearts to be a Zionist, no matter how we personally define that. We sit in our safe and comfortable homes, with thousands of miles of geographic buffers between our enemies and us. Israel’s enemies are on her borders, constantly looking for ways to invade her barriers, like the recently discovered tunnels Hezbollah dug through rock to enter Israel’s northern border.
So when we see media mis-stating the truth about conflicts, we have a special obligation to defend her. When we see the multitudinous forces – Iran, Hamas, ISIS, PFLP – arrayed against Israel we need to assure her strength and security.
For undisciplined media we can set the record straight through letters to the editor and op-eds. Get notices from groups like ours, Santa Fe Middle East Watch (SFMEW) or the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting (CAMERA).
For Israel’s strength and security we need to act collectively by joining the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and being political advocates for a strong US-Israel relationship. The US is Israel’s strongest and most reliable partner. Israel is one of the few bipartisan policy issues in the House and Senate.
Being involved in the political process is not optional – it’s obligatory.
When requests go out to “take action” respond immediately. Often it only takes five minutes to compose and send a letter to the media, or to an MOC. Then set a tickler on your reminder app to follow-up in a few days with a phone call asking for a response. New Mexico MOC contact information can be found on the Santa Fe Middle East Watch website: http://www.sfmew.org/elected-officials-contact/.
Political activism is more than a onetime thing; it requires initiation of a request, ongoing education, and constant follow-up to be sure the issue stays on the top of and MOC’s agenda. It requires thanking your MOCs when they support the issue you care about. It requires your activism in money or volunteer time for candidates and incumbents who are supportive of a strong US-Israel relationship.
And it is never-ending. From 2008-2017 there were 474 new MOCs (combined House and Senate)– an 86% turnover requiring constant attention to education and advocacy. The most recent election results in November, 2018 has produced 10 new senators (10% of the Senate) and 100 new representatives (23% of the House), raising the turnover number from 2008-2019 to 584 new MOCs. Nearly every one of these new MOCs have needed to be educated on the importance of the US-Israel relationship, including the history of the region and the diplomatic attempts at creating peace. (See Dennis Ross’ speech about sponsored by SFMEW in 2017 here.)
Furthermore, it is critically important that Israel continue to be a bipartisan issue: in the past 50 years neither Republicans nor Democrats have maintained unified control of government for more than 4 consecutive years. This year is no different: the House will become a Democratic majority in 2019, while the Senate remains Republican.
Yes, from time-to-time advocacy is tiring. Sometimes the lack of response or a rejected request/position from elected officials is discouraging.
But tiredness or discouragement can’t end our involvement. Sometimes we need to take a short break, re-charge, then jump right back into the fray.
Remember: this is a lifelong marathon, not a sprint.
Though Hamas and the BDS “Movement” wants to take over Israel “from the river to the sea”, destroying any peace process and wiping Israel off the map – eliminating Israel as a Jewish state – and the Palestinian Authority just wants Israel to go away, Israel isn’t, Israel won’t, and we need to be sure Israel is safe and secure.
So become a political advocate for Israel. You can make a big difference. And the next time you receive an “action alert” please respond immediately.
Consider it not just a request, but also a personal obligation.
Halley S. Faust is chairman of Santa Fe Middle East Watch and political chair of AIPAC’s New Mexico chapter. Find factual resources about Israel and theArab-Israel conflict, as well as information on how to be media and political pro-Israel advocates, on the SFMEW website (www.sfmew.org) where you can also sign up for periodic information and action notifications.
Resolved, for the New Year, 2019: I won’t miss Asaf Romirowsky!
Sunday, January 6, 2019, 2:30 pm, speaking on “The Boycott Against Israel: Myths and Facts,” Santa Fe Woman’s Club, 1616 Old Pecos Trail. More information and purchase tickets here.
The Santa Fe Jewish Film Festival presents “An American in Paris” (the Broadway version) and dinner at Lulu’s, December 25. More information here, or http://www.santafejff.org/events/flix-chopstix-2/ .
We need your help with two upcoming projects for Santa Fe Middle East Watch. Please join us for our next Meeting, January 16 at Congregation Beit Tikvah, 2230 Old Pecos Trail, 7:00 pm. RSVP to admin@sfmew.org.
SFMEW is a beneficiary organization of the Jewish Federation of New Mexico.