Reprinted from Mondoweiss
The media are all talking about a brokered Republican convention in Cleveland in July to stop Donald Trump; and House Speaker Paul Ryan has emerged as the establishment favorite to get such a nomination.
So what does Paul Ryan do? He goes to Israel and attacks Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions! Just like Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz are vowing to fight BDS. The New York Times reports on the Wisconsin congressman's "mirage" candidacy.
"He visited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, where he also met with local reporters and made several statements affirming the United States' commitment there, before heading to other Middle Eastern nations and Germany to discuss security and intelligence issues."
Politico points out that the trip was long-planned. Yes, but Ryan has issued a slew of reports and videos on his trip. Here he says that Israel is fighting Islamic terrorism just like us:
"I'm here to show our support. I'm here to talk with our allies, and to see how we can better cooperate to win this war against radical Islamic terrorism."
Here's Ryan's report and video on his meeting with Yuli Edelstein, speaker of the Knesset. Note the vow to fight Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS).
"Prior to the start of the meeting at the Knesset, Speaker Ryan told his Israeli counterpart, 'The first head of state I met with since becoming speaker was President Rivlin. This is also the first trip I took as speaker and it's not by coincidence, it was by design...
"'These are very difficult times: the rise of ISIS, terrorism, Syrian civil war, Iran. We believe that our alliance, and our partnership, and our friendship is more important now than ever before... You're an island of freedom in a very difficult, chaotic region. And so that is why our partnership is all the more important. It's more important for us to renew and extend our bilateral security agreement, to work together to improve missile defense -- David's Sling, the Arrow program. We've worked very hard in Congress on opposing any BDS efforts -- boycott, divestment, and sanctions. That is something we take great pride in advancing, the kind of legislation we've already advanced this year in the House. And we pledge to stand shoulder to shoulder with you, and that is why we're here today. And so it's just an honor and privilege to be here with you.'"
On a radio show while he was there, Ryan linked BDS with anti-Semitism:
"'We've discussed the UN quite a bit and Israel, and UN resolutions, and any problems they propose. We discussed one called BDS, which is boycott, divest and sanction, which is in Europe, and the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. So yes, we have, we haven't discussed the Brexit specifically, but there is a rise of anti-Semitism in Europe. Europe has been engaging in this ridiculous and counterproductive BDS shenanigan. We in the Congress have been very forceful about that. By the way, when you try to boycott, divest or sanction Israel, you're hurting Palestinians as well. So we have discussed that.'"
Here's one Ryan video from the visit...
"First stop, our greatest ally in the region. With Israel, we have shared values and also face mutual security threats. I'm proud that my first foreign visit as speaker was to Israel. Our historic alliance is more important now than ever before."
Ryan traveled with seven other congresspeople, including Greg Meeks of NY, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton. What's that old line about a dime's worth of difference? In Ryan's volley of posts, here's one about going to Iron Dome with Israeli officers.
