The state of Georgia has its own Mideast policy

Israel has many well-wishers in Congress, and on some matters — such as how best to pressure Iran not to develop nuclear weapons — those U.S. legislators are closer to Israel’s position than to the Obama administration’s.

Another example: Congress passed a law ordering the State Department to allow U.S. citizens born in Israel to list their birthplace on their passports as “Jerusalem, Israel,” even though successive U.S. presidents have refused to recognize Jerusalem as part of Israel, believing that the status of the city must be decided in negotiations. Last year, a federal appeals court ruled that the law unconstitutionally infringed on the president’s authority to recognize foreign states.

Congress was pushing the constitutional envelope with the passport bill, but no one would dispute that it has some say over foreign affairs. But where did the Georgia state Senate get the idea that it could pronounce on issues of Middle East diplomacy? That body recently adopted Resolution 739, subtitled: “To commend the Nation of Israel for its cordial and mutually beneficial relationship with the United States and with the State of Georgia; and for other purposes.”

The “other purposes” include the declaration of a Georgia foreign policy that is at odds with that of the United States. The Georgia Senate declares that “Israel is neither an attacking force nor an occupier of the lands of others, and that peace can be afforded the region only through a whole and united Israel.” For good measure, the resolution makes it clear that a “whole and united Israel” includes Jerusalem and the West Bank. So much for the two-state solution the Obama administration is promoting.

Georgia’s foray into matters reserved to the federal government isn’t unique. State and local governments across the country repeatedly have kibitzed on national issues, from Berkeley’s declaration that it was a “nuclear-free zone” to the assertions by some cities that they have the authority to provide a “sanctuary” for immigrants in the country illegally.

“Think globally, act locally” may be good advice for individual citizens, who have a constitutional right to express opinions about international affairs and to petition their representatives in Washington to put those views into practice. But politicians at the state and local levels, while they are free to think globally as individuals, have no official role to play in Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy, the effort to contain North Korea or any other foreign policy arena.

If members of the Georgia state Senate want to influence foreign policy, they should run for Congress.

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