Home   /   News / News Item

Jewish Exponent: Ayalon Gets a Bird's-Eye View of Montco Congressional Politics

Ayalon calls Congressman Gerlach "a true friend of Israel."



Israeli Ambassador Attends Gerlach Town Hall Meeting in Lower Merion (May 30)


Ambassador Ayalon Addresses the Town Hall Crowd (May 30)


Ambassador Ayalon Talks to 6th District Residents (May 30)

Related Documents

Jim Gerlach's Committment to Israel
 

Article By Bryan Schwartzman, Jun 8 -  The Iranian government's acquisition of nuclear weapons is far from a forgone conclusion, according to Daniel Ayalon, Israel's ambassador to the United States.

"Iran can be stopped, by political means or other means," he said during a May 30 townhall-style meeting at Lower Merion High School in Ardmore. The event was organized by U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-District 6), who is currently in a re-election fight against Democrat Lois Murphy.

"Iran is not an Israel problem. It's a problem for the entire neighborhood and beyond," stated Ayalon, a onetime advisor to former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon who further argued that the Persian Gulf nation governed by Islamic clerics is in economic tatters.

If the U.N. Security Council imposed harsh economic sanctions or "other means" on Iran, the country might very well give up its quest for nuclear power, he said. He did not specify if military options are currently on the table.

Two days following Ayalon's visit here, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced that the United States would be willing to join in talks with Tehran if the Iranian government agreed to suspend its uranium enrichment program. America has not had diplomatic relations with the country since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The Iranian regime responded indirectly that it would not abandon its nuclear program as a precondition for talks.

Although foreign policy was the order of the day in Lower Merion, Gerlach's appearance with Ayalon - complete with American and Israeli flags in the backdrop - reflected politics of a more domestic nature. The meeting came less than a week after President George W. Bush led a Center City fundraiser netting some $450,000 for Gerlach and Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick (R-District 8), two area incumbents facing stiff opposition in advance of the Nov. 2 elections.

While the Ayalon event was not overtly partisan, a printout highlighting Gerlach's "pro-Israel votes" was stuffed inside all the event programs, and Ayalon did refer to the congressman as "a true friend of Israel." In addition, the Republican Jewish Coalition sent out an e-mail encouraging its supporters to attend.



Click here to read the rest of this article ...




Copyright © Jewish Publishing Group - All rights reserved

Print version of this document

Biography | PA 6th District | Newsroom | Issues | Constituent Services | Photos | Legislation | Contact | Email Updates | Search Site | Kids Page | Privacy Policy