Mideast Influence in Congressional Primaries

I have often wondered how the Jewish lobby could be so powerful (Aug. 21). The answer may be seen in this year’s primaries where, last week in Georgia, Denise Majette, supported by Jewish and pro-Israeli groups, defeated Democratic Rep. Cynthia A. McKinney. Earlier this year, in Alabama, it was reported that Artur Davis defeated Democratic Rep. Earl Hilliard for the same reason.

Both McKinney and Hilliard sought a just peace for the Palestinian territories, and both were defeated by the pro-Israeli constituency. One wonders what sort of peace the pro-Israeli constituency wants, or for that matter, the Jewish lobby. One also wonders how a Congress composed of people like this can contribute to world peace. And then we ask why the world has become so unsafe.

Mike Strong

Corona del Mar

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Re “Mideast Goes to Georgia,” editorial, Aug. 22: I don’t understand why you think that the Middle East is not an appropriate discussion for a congressional race. When a voter is reviewing candidates for a political office, the voter has the responsibility to look at all the issues on which a person will vote. Since the Constitution gives the House of Representatives the exclusive right to initiate all appropriations bills (which includes aid to Israel and Egypt), the voter needs to know about each candidate’s view in this matter.

Bruce Gorman

Los Angeles

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Rep. McKinney was defeated for reelection and received only 42% of the vote because her constituents were dissatisfied with her representation of them in Congress. Her incompetence, intolerance and propaganda were the deciding factors in this election. By suggesting that pro-Israel supporters were responsible for her defeat, The Times condescendingly assumes that the voters were manipulated and incapable of assessing McKinney’s poor performance.

Peter J. Cohen

Irvine

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Your editorial highlights the unfortunate dilemma that many voters face in trying to influence U.S. Mideast policy: how to induce change when most lawmakers are tripping over themselves trying to demonstrate their support for Israel. Even longtime champions of human rights like our own Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Tom Lantos are suddenly mute when it comes to speaking out about Palestinians subjected to 35 years of Israeli military occupation. Regrettably, the Israeli lobby today is so powerful that it can command audiences of half the Senate and a third of the House at its annual dinners and marshal overwhelming resolutions through Congress endorsing positions described by one congressman as being “to the right of Ariel Sharon and the Likud Party.”

Unless voters muster enough interest to protest this hijacking of U.S. foreign policy, it is likely that most lawmakers will continue acting in their own political interest at the expense of a rational Mideast policy. It will probably take the defeat of the most ardent supporters of Israel to convince Congress that it’s OK to defy the Israeli lobby. Until then, Palestinians and Israelis will continue to suffer the consequences of dead-end policies dictated by the Israeli right, and America’s security and prestige will remain under threat.

Ken Galal

San Francisco