As Jim Webb, a former Democratic U.S. Senator from Virginia, becomes the first candidate to launch a committee to explore running for president in 2016, his Israel record is already being put into question.

According to Morrie Amitay, former executive director of AIPAC, Webb’s Israel record “has to be the worst” he’s ever seen “in 40 plus years following Congress.”

“Whether it was Iran, Israelis/Palestinians or the US-Israel relationship, Webb was positive only on four of eighteen pro-Israel initiatives, with two of these four having 100 cosponsors, i.e every single Senator,” Amitay said in a statement sent to the press.

“Fortunately, his chances of ever becoming president are nil, and only his abysmal record could make every other candidate look good on our issues,” he added.

In a letter to a pro-peace activist in 2009, following Operation Cast Lead, Webb criticized the Senate passing Senate Resolution 10, recognizing the right of Israel to defend itself against attacks from Gaza and reaffirming the United States’ strong support for Israel in its battle with Hamas. “While the resolution affirms U.S. support for Israel’s security and condemns the Hamas rocket attacks, I believe it presented an incomplete response to the situation in Gaza,” Webb wrote in a response letter to David Kreider.

Back in 2006, When the Democrats took over control of the House and Senate in 2006 and Webb was first elected to the Senate, Amitay wrote, “Jim Webb has recently advocated a “regional approach” in the Middle East. This is a cause for concern because it would invariably mean putting pressure on Israel for further concessions in order to placate our Arab “allies”.”

Print Friendly