J Street is fundraising off Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) recess trip to Israel, calling the visit the “Pander Express” in an email to supporters today.
On Monday and Tuesday, Cruz was in Jerusalem touring the Knesset and meeting with officials including Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Jerusalem Post noted that Cruz “sported black cowboy boots and a Lone Star belt-buckle” for his meeting with Netanyahu, where the senator criticized Obama administration attempts “to criticize and harangue and pressure the Israeli government” into accepting a peace deal.
“Last we heard from Ted Cruz on our issue, he was demanding Sec. Kerry resign for warning of the consequences for Israel should it fail to realize a two-state solution.Now the presidential hopeful is on the ground in the Holy Land and once again doing his best to pander to the far right elements of the pro-Israel community,” J Street executive director Jeremy Ben-Ami said in the email asking supporters to chip in $25.
“From Israel, Cruz blasted the Obama Administration’s push for a two-state peace and asserted that building in the West Bank was merely a ‘question for the government of Israel.’ Show Ted Cruz that there’s little appetite for his extremist views in America’s pro-Israel community,” Ben-Ami continued.
“Apparently Cruz thinks the path to the White House runs through Judea and Samaria. But you and I know better. Poll after poll affirms that pro-Israel activists support US efforts to broker a two-state deal. Let’s send a message to Ted Cruz that pro-Israel Americans want our elected officials to prioritize Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking, not obstruct it.”
The J StreetPAC contributes to congressional candidates that share their vision of a two-state solution that meets Palestinian demands.
Cruz continued on today to Ukraine in what is being viewed as a trip to boost his foreign policy credentials.
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