Boehner deserves thanks for Bibi invite

By Jeffrey Rubin

As an American and as an American Jew, I wish to thank House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., in particular for their courageous invitation/stance relative to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressing a joint session of Congress and their stance on a nuclear Iran.

I believe the constitutional right of free speech is paramount in allowing Congress and the American public to hear from the State of Israel’s prime miniter on a matter of utmost importance to both countries. I do not believe questions of “protocol” or a forthcoming election in Israel are of such gravitas as to override this important principle.

Although some might differ, I believe allowing Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon will lead to the annihilation of Israel and, eventually, World War III.

Too many people relate matters of which they disagree to the Nazi regime, but in this case, I believe, at least an examination of the historical rise of the Third Reich is appropriate. The Munich Agreement allowed the annexation of strategically important portions of Czechoslovakia in order to appease Hitler’s Germany. Neville Chamberlain, negotiating on behalf of Great Britain (and France), negotiated without inviting Czechoslovakia to the conference. Is this not analogous to the United States and Iran negotiating without Israel? Rather than appeasing Hitler, the Munich Agreement strengthened Germany and led to the carnage of World War II. 

It is relatively easy to show the similarities between negotiating with the Nazis and negotiating with the mullahs of Tehran. I would start with the goals of each — for both the Third Reich and Iran “the annihilation of the Jewish people.” There are many categories where the similarities are striking and alarming. Americans must be educated about the present and future danger of Iran and the exponential danger of a nuclear Iran. 

There has been a great deal written that the United States has a long tradition of staying out of the affairs (elections) of foreign countries. However, this is not exactly true. In 1996 Shimon Peres met with then-President Bill Clinton less than a month ahead of the Israeli elections. And I would point out that such a policy, if it exists, would only affect Israel since the Arab countries involved do not have open and free elections.

It also has been pointed out that it is improper for the prime minister of Israel to lobby Congress in support of rational and effective measures to preclude the terrorist state of Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. How is it that Netanyahu cannot openly address members of Congress on a position in which the very existence of his people depends, while British Prime Minister David Cameron, at the request of President Barack Obama, can lobby members of Congress behind closed doors?

The American people are smart, honorable and know right from wrong. Most importantly, the American people have the ability to discern the truth. This is why there has been a widespread campaign to silence Netanyahu. Plain and simple: Our    president does not want to allow the American people to decide for themselves the threat Iran poses.

Why? I do not know. I do know Obama does not agree with Netanyahu’s view of the world. I do know, that in 2011 an open microphone picked up a private snide comment from Obama to the then-French president about Netanyahu: “You’re tired of him; what about me? I have to deal with him every day.” I do know that Obama refuses to acknowledge that a terrorist killing individuals in the immediate hours before the Sabbath in a kosher deli was out to slaughter Jews. And I do know, almost unthinkably, two weeks after the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Obama mocked Netanyahu, in public, to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. 

I believe Menendez has taken a courageous and principled position relative to the negotiations with Iran. I also believe the people of the United States want the Democrats and the Republicans to work together for the good of our country, regardless of party affiliation. 

Israel’s life is on the line, and with it, the ability of all Jews everywhere to have a homeland to return to, should the need arise. 

Jeffrey I. Rubin, of Pennington, New Jersey, is a retired career prosecutor who is a graduate of Washington University School of Law.