[WCUSP] The hidden cost of free congressional trips to Israel

[KATHARLOW at aol.com]

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(http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0126/p09s01-coop.html) 

The hidden cost of free congressional trips to Israel
Branded as  'educational,' these trips offer Israeli propagandists an
opportunity to  expose members of Congress to only their side of the story. 

By Jim Abourezk

SIOUX FALL, S.D. - Democrats in Congress have moved quickly -  and
commendably - to strengthen ethics rules. But truly groundbreaking  reform
was prevented, in part, because of the efforts of the pro-Israel lobby  to 
preserve one of its most critical functions: taking members of Congress  on
free "educational" trips to Israel.

The pro-Israel lobby does most  of its work without publicity. But every
member of Congress and every  would-be candidate for Congress comes to 
quickly understand a basic lesson.  Money needed to run for office can come
with great ease from supporters of  Israel, provided that the candidate makes
certain promises, in writing, to  vote favorably on issues considered 
important to Israel. What drives much of  congressional support for Israel is
fear - fear that the pro-Israel lobby  will either withhold campaign
contributions or give money to one's  opponent.
In my own experience as a US senator in the 1970s, I saw how the  lobby tries 
to humiliate or embarrass members who do not toe the  line.
Pro-Israel groups worked vigorously to ensure that the new reforms  would
allow them to keep hosting members of Congress on trips to Israel.  According
to the Jewish Daily Forward newspaper, congressional filings show  Israel as
the top foreign destination for privately sponsored trips. Nearly  10 percent
of overseas congressional trips taken between 2000 and 2005 were  to Israel. 
Most are paid for by the American Israel Education Foundation, a  sister
organization of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the  major
pro-Israel lobby group.

New rules require all trips to be  pre-approved by the House Ethics 
Committee, but Rep. Barney Frank (D) of  Massachusetts says this setup will
guarantee that tours of Israel continue.  Ron Kampeas of the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency reported consensus among Jewish  groups that "the new 
legislation would be an inconvenience, but wouldn't  seriously hamper the
trips to Israel that are considered a critical component  of congressional
support for Israel."

These trips are defended as  "educational." In reality, as I know from my 
many colleagues in the House  and Senate who participated in them, they offer
Israeli propagandists an  opportunity to expose members of Congress to only
their side of the story.  The Israeli narrative of how the nation was 
created, and Israeli  justifications for its brutal policies omit important
truths about the  Israeli takeover and occupation of the Palestinian
territories.

What  the pro-Israel lobby reaps for its investment in these tours is  
congressional support for Israeli desires. For years, Israel has relied  on
billions of dollars in US taxpayer money. Shutting off this  government
funding would seriously impair Israel's harsh  occupation.

One wonders what policies Congress might support toward  Israel and the
Palestinians absent the distorting influence of these Israel  trips - or if
more members toured Palestinian lands. America sent troops to  Europe to 
prevent the killing of civilians in the former Yugoslavia. But  when it comes
to flagrant human rights violations committed by Israel, the US  sends more
money and shields Israel from criticism.

Congress regularly  passes resolutions lauding Israel, even when its actions 
are deplorable,  providing it political cover. Meanwhile, polls suggest most
Americans want  the Bush administration to steer a middle course in working
for peace between  Israelis and the Palestinians.

Consider, too, how the Israel lobby twists  US foreign policy into a 
dangerous double standard regarding nuclear issues.  The US rattles its
sabers at Iran for its nuclear energy ambitions - and  alleged pursuit of
nuclear arms - while remaining silent about Israel's  nuclear-weapons 
arsenal.

Members of Congress may not be aware just  how damaging their automatic
support for Israel is to America's interest. At  a minimum, US policies
toward Israel have cost it valuable allies in the  Middle East and other 
parts of the Muslim world.

If Congress is  serious about ethics reform, it should not protect the Israel
lobby from the  consequences. A totally taxpayer-funded travel budget for
members to take  foreign fact-finding trips, with authorization to be made by 
committee  heads, would be an important first step toward a foreign policy
that  genuinely serves America.

* Jim Abourezk is a former Democratic senator  from South Dakota.




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