In reading Yousef Munayyer's commentary ("Cardin, don't tie U.S. hands for Israel," April 21), a number of specious statements struck me as mandating a response.
First, it should be neither surprising nor objectionable that a leading Democrat would be at the forefront of an effort to protect Israeli interests from misguided attempts to boycott the only democracy in the Middle East. While there have been disagreements between the Obama administration and Israeli leaders over the last year, these have been spats over specific policy decisions. Leaders from both countries have made clear that these differences do not affect Israel's status as one of America's closest allies or our country's unwavering commitment to Israel's security. When U.S. measures backing the country receive wide-reaching support from both parties on a regular and routine basis, the suggestion that support for Israel is somehow a partisan issue is simply disingenuous.
Second, the insinuation that Sen. Ben Cardin is acting quietly on behalf of interest groups, when the senator issued press releases touting the introduction of the bill and otherwise proudly declares his unwavering support for Israel, reeks of an underhanded attempt to impute some sort of improper behavior. This insinuation — which is unsupported by the facts — has become an all-too-common tactic for those supporting the boycott movement.
The fact is that Senator Cardin has been a Democrat in Congress for 28 years, and during the entirety of his tenure he has been an open, spirited and aggressive advocate for Israel. The senator's constituents should, and do, thank him for both his stance and transparency in his unwavering support for a strong American-Israeli alliance.
Jonathan Gold, Annapolis