Meaningless Jerusalem Bill Passes Congress Again

Another renewal of the humiliating Jerusalem Embassy Act, which reminds us that what American Jews really want from American politicians is to be told "sweet little lies" like "America is not funding Hamas." The greatest presidential sweet-talker/user of all time, Bill Clinton, was the most popular with Jews while being the most destructive to Israel. He was the primary force behind setting up a terrorist regime in Israel's front yard while reneging on all manner of promises, such as releasing Jonathan Pollard. He is loved by most Jews for stunts like swaying religiously at a Reform Temple service. Some Jews were even honored by his choice of a girl with a Jewish last name for his personal use.

Israel's friends in deed, evangelical Christians and conservative Republicans, are demonized by the bulk of American Jewry.

Jerusalem Embassy Pact Passes House

The U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday passed without opposition a resolution calling on President Bush to move America's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and adhere to the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act. The resolution marked the 40th anniversary of the Six-Day War, and passed the House just four days after the White House exercised - for the 14th time - the Jerusalem Embassy Act waiver, which allows the president to ignore Congress. Since the act's passage, Presidents Clinton and Bush have exercised the waiver every six months.

The new resolution "commends Israel for its administration of the undivided city for the past 40 years, during which Israel has respected the rights of all religious groups." It also urges Arabs and Palestinian Arabs to take steps to seek peace. The resolution is a reminder to the Arab world that even the Democratic-controlled Congress, which has endorsed timetables for America's withdrawal from Iraq, is on the Jewish state's side in the conflict in the Middle East. A similar resolution is expected to pass the Senate this week.

See also: Let's Get Moving, by James S. Robbins

It is easy to pass non-binding feel-good resolutions of this nature. But if the Congress really wanted to make a point it would revisit the Jerusalem Embassy Act and put some teeth in it. Above all, end the uncertainty. Either stop making promises our country has no intention of keeping, or have the integrity to follow through on them. Next year in Jerusalem - it has a nice ring to it.