We are happy to note that Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) attended Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress last week. As a young, rising, and very highly regarded elected official, and a leading member of the Congressional Black Caucus, his presence showed solidarity with Israel while giving the lie to the notion, advanced in certain quarters, that the invitation to Mr. Netanyahu was somehow a gesture of disrespect to the first African American president.
This is not the first time Mr. Jeffries has come through for our community. Last summer the congressman joined over 10,000 New Yorkers in a pro-Israel rally. His remarks then were stirring and just as relevant today:
Israel has a right to exist as a democratic Jewish state and no one can take that away. Israel has the right to defend itself against aggression – particularly when that aggression is aimed at its civilian population. Israel is here to stay and it will remain forever….
We know Israel lives in a very tough neighborhood, and there are certain realities to that. We mourn the loss of civilian life on both sides of the conflict. But when you live in a tough neighborhood Israel should not be made to apologize for its strength. You know why? Because the only thing that neighbors respect in a tough neighborhood is strength.
Mr. Jeffries is indeed a very good friend.
(We refer readers to our June 2012 interview with the congressman that can be accessed at www.jewishpress.com by typing “Hakeem Jeffries” into the search bar.)