The lead signers of that 2009 letter were Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Arlen Specter (D-PA) and John Thune (R-SD). Griffith said he found particularly irksome the absence of Brown’s name because it was such a moderate letter and asked so little of the Palestinian Authority. What it sought was that the US “insist on the absolute Palestinian commitment to ending terrorist violence” and that they “demonstrate the ability to govern and to maintain security.”
“It didn’t even ask for additional concessions from the Arabs,” an exasperated Griffith marvelled, “they had already agreed to what was asked for in the letter, but Brown still wouldn’t sign it.”
The Jewish Press repeatedly asked for a statement from Senator Brown regarding the Dayton Chamber of Commerce incident, but a promised statement was never provided.
UPDATE:
After this story was filed, Senator Brown’s Press Secretary, Lauren E. Kulik, sent the following statement. It does not address the removal of a Jewish Ohioan from the event at which Senator Brown spoke, nor does it address the questions Mr. Griffith repeatedly sought to have answered, that J Street has given more money to support Senator Brown’s candidacy than any other entity. Here is the statement:
Sen. Brown has been a steadfast supporter of Israel, our nation’s most important ally in the Middle East. Through his work on the Senate Banking Committee he has successfully pushed for tougher sanctions against Iran—most recently sponsoring a Senate resolution calling on the United Nations Security Council to pursue increased sanctions against Iran, which passed the Senate on Thursday. As Israel continues to face growing dangers to its security, from Iran to Hammas and Hezbollah, now is not the time to used our relationship with Israel to score political points.
