Aid to Israel is not an ‘earmark’

In the July 11 Chronicle, Douglas Bloomfield wrote in an opinion column that neither presidential candidate may be good for Israel.

However, in order to balance the well-known (but not reported by Bloomfield) negatives of Sen. Barak Obama (D-Ill.) with regard to Israel with those of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Bloomfield resorted to deception.

Bloomfield wrote that McCain’s presidency will be “likely to create major problems for Israel” because “he has vowed to veto all spending bills containing earmarks” and “This could endanger billions in military and economic assistance the Congress sets aside for Israel every year.”

The billions Israel receives in aid every year is not an “earmark.” It is part of the Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty negotiated by President Carter.

In this deal both Israel and Egypt have received billions every year since 1979 and this is not and has never been referred to or considered by McCain or anyone as an “earmark.”

In June 2001, McCain said, “America must provide Israel with whatever military equipment and technology she requires to defend herself, above and beyond what we supply today if necessary.”

The truth is that McCain has been a steadfast supporter of Israel in the Senate for 22 years and it is disturbing that Bloomfield had to skewer McCain unjustly in order to whitewash Obama.

Ivan Lang
Glendale