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Misguided OU Petition

Like SephardiLady and, presumably, many other bloggers, on Friday I received via e-mail a request from the Orthodox Union that I encourage readers to sign an OU petition to George W. Bush and Condi Rice "thanking them for their support of Israel." The e-mail described the petition as "a very important and powerful initiative here at the OU."

Unlike SephardiLady, I find the petition to be extremely ill-advised. The U.S. is currently negotiating amended terms for a draft UN resolution that is intended to put an end to Israel's battle against Hezbollah. Whatever one thinks of the proposed resolution, it is certainly premature to thank Bush and Rice for their support while Israel is engaged in difficult military and diplomatic battles, with victory assured in neither.

While the petition may well be very "important and powerful" for the OU from a public relations perspective, I don't think it is helpful to Israel. Of course, Bush's support should be appreciated, but the petition fails to take into account the fluid nature of the current situation.

On the other hand, assuming that the funds are dispersed appropriately (as I assume they are and will be), the OU's Israel Emergency Fund is indeed an important and powerful initiative that will be helpful to Israel, and I hope many will donate generously.
posted on 8/07/2006