Congress Members' Summer Trips To Israel A Headache For Obama?

[Purveyor]

By Jon FROSCH (text)


Though he frequently calls for bipartisan cooperation, US President Barack Obama is likely less than thrilled with the rare united front displayed by Congressional Democrats and Republicans recently.

By the end of August, more than 80 members from both parties of the House of Representatives will have gone to Israel during their summer holiday on trips sponsored by the American Israel Education Foundation, a charity linked with influential, Washington DC-based pro-Israel lobby AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee).

Aside from touring historic and religious sites, the House members are meeting top Israeli and Palestinian officials – and relaying a specific message: Congress could move to slash aid to Palestinian territories if Palestinians pursue their bid to be recognised as a state by the United Nations. The UN is set to vote on the matter at next month’s General Assembly.

The visit by members of Congress and their threat to cut funding to Palestinians may pose a challenge to Obama’s efforts to boost the Mideast peace process, as well as to his attempt to burnish his foreign policy credentials ahead of what is expected to be a bruising re-election campaign.

MORE...

http://www.france24.com/en/20110823-usa-barack-obama-eric-cantor-steny-hoyer-congress-allen-west-israel