How Far Can Politicians Go to Get The Jewish Vote?

American politicians have started announcing their Run for the 2016 Presidential Election (Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Hillary Clinton) and others are expected to announce soon (List). These announcements also mean that the pandering to Jewish voters will officially begin (although Mrs Clinton has started for quite a while). But how low will they be willing to go?

During the electoral campaign we will hear the usual pro-Israel platitudes:

"Jerusalem is the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel"

This formula gets those votes every time – remember then Senator Obama's famous statement “Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided”? Unfortunately, after they are elected politicians replace this supportive statement with the consuetudinal "The status of Jerusalem is a permanent status issue that must be resolved through negotiations between the parties." right...So, before voting, Jewish voters should make sure the candidate clarifies this position beyond any reasonable doubt.

"If I am elected I will see that the United States Embassy [will be] located in its capital, Jerusalem"

Another electoral ruse despite the Jerusalem Embassy Act of 1995 that states:

(1) Each sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own capital.

(2) Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel.

(3) The city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the site of numerous government ministries and social and cultural institutions.

(4) The city of Jerusalem is the spiritual center of Judaism, and is also considered a holy city by the members of other religious faiths.

(5) From 1948-1967, Jerusalem was a divided city and Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jewish citizens of all states were denied access to holy sites in the area controlled by Jordan.

(6) In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited during the conflict known as the Six Day War.
(7) Since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united city administered by Israel, and persons of all religious faiths have been guaranteed full access to holy sites within the city.
...

(14) In June of 1993, 257 members of the United States House of Representatives signed a letter to the Secretary of State Warren Christopher stating that the relocation of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem ‘should take place no later than . . . 1999’.

(15) The United States maintains its embassy in the functioning capital of every country except in the case of our democratic friend and strategic ally, the State of Israel.

(16) The United States conducts official meetings and other business in the city of Jerusalem in de facto recognition of its status as the capital of Israel.

Under this act, the POTUS has the power to suspend it if he deems it “necessary to protect the national security interests of the United States” and, therefore, Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama have invoked national security to avoid acting on it; without even explaining how exactly America's security is threatened by implementing a law passed by the representatives of the American People.
Rep. Scott Garrett (R) has been re-introducing new versions of the act (2013, 2015) in an endeavour to (among other things) eliminate the President's authority, to no avail...yet. Therefore, Jewish voters, make sure to ask questions and have the candidates' explanation on record about his true intentions regarding this issue – if possible, use your smartphone and post the images online, as a reminder to Politicians that they no longer are allowed to make promises they suspect they won't be able to keep.

"We will stand with Israel, because Israel stands for American values"

They all say this. Recall, once again, then Senator Barack Obama's words “Our alliance is based on shared interests and shared values. Those who threaten Israel threaten us. Israel has always faced these threats on the front lines. And I will bring to the White House an unshakeable commitment to Israel's security.” but what happens when these candidates' administration (especially the State Department and White House Officials) begins to stab Israel on its back by criticising the internationally legal Jewish presence in Israeli Land and pressing for deals that threaten to destroy the only Jewish State? Who is going to take responsibility for yet another breach of trust?

For all of the above, we advise Jewish voters to think carefully before they support a candidate and cast their vote based on Israel-related positions. Perhaps, it would be preferable to make a decision based on domestic issues only than fooling yourselves with pro-Israel false promises. Selah.

(Image: Jewish Bride - Eugéne Delacroix)