Jun. 11, 2003 US Jews reject Bush criticism of Israeli attack By MELISSA RADLER
Jewish organizations sharply criticized President George W. Bush's characterization of the target strike against Hamas leader Abdel Aziz Rantisi as harmful to peace, arguing that the US should support Israel's right to self-defense.
"The death of six Israelis this weekend, statements by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, as well as the lack of a single arrest by [Palestinian Prime Minister] Abu Mazen of a terrorist, necessitated an Israeli response," wrote the leaders of six Orthodox groups in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.
Signatories included the Orthodox Union, Rabbinical Council of America, Religious Zionists of America, National Council of Young Israel, Emunah of America and AMIT.
"There's no question in our mind that Israel's action was really a measured one and was in line with their right of self-defense," said the executive vice president of Religious Zionists of America, Mandell Ganchrow.
The Anti-Defamation League also criticized Bush in a letter to the White House. Noting the group's support for the Aqaba summit, ADL director Abraham Foxman and chairman Glen Tobias noted they were "troubled" by Bush's reaction to the strike.
"Ultimately it will be necessary for Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his forces to dismantle Hamas. Until then, Israel cannot stand idly by while its citizens are slaughtered," they wrote.
A third statement, released by the Zionist Organization of America, compared the strike to US actions against the Taliban and Iraq.
"What is the difference between your call to 'get bin Laden dead or alive ' and Israel's pursuit of the bin Ladens of Hamas?" wrote the group's leadership.
The ZOA noted that Hamas has claimed responsibility for the murder of 29 Americans since the signing of the Oslo Accords
