Jewish Press - "With Strong PAC Support, Andrews Seeks N.J. Senate Seat"

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Jewish Press - "With Strong PAC Support, Andrews Seeks N.J. Senate Seat"

You may not have noticed but, besides the heated race between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, there are other political campaigns going on. They include some other Democratic primary contests, like the one for a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey.

On April 2 Rep. Rob Andrews announced he would challenge the incumbent, Frank Lautenberg, for their party's nomination. In so doing, he represents Lautenberg's strongest challenger in years. (The primaries are on June 3.)

Andrews quickly picked up the enthusiastic endorsement of an organization known as the Political Action Committee of Cherry Hill, which regularly meets with Andrews, other congressmen and state officials who are supportive of issues important to the Jewish community at large, and the security of the State of Israel.

The PAC, created in 1984, has been championing Andrews's strong pro-Israel stances. They include cosponsoring the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act, disapproving the expulsion of Jews from Gaza, being an outspoken advocate for the release of Jonathan Pollard, supporting the right of Jews to settle in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) and being in the forefront on bills critical of Iran's nuclear ambitions. In general Andrews has been a public advocate for Israel, defending their right to defend themselves against Hizbullah in the 2006 Second Lebanon War, and a public critic of Palestinian terror groups - calling on the European Union to not meet with Hamas.

"I support Israel for both strategic and personal reasons," Andrews told The Jewish Press in a phone interview last week. "Israel is the sole country in the Middle East that shares American values of democracy." He added that his personal reason is due to his wife, who grew up in the only Jewish family in the small town of Erie, Pa.

"Israel's security is a central component of American security. A good relationship is a central platform of our security platform," he added. "And just as Israel supports the United States, it is a moral responsibility that the U.S. support Israel."

When asked about critics of pro-Israel groups who lobby members of Congress, Andrews said, "I would characterize what pro-Israel groups do as democracy. Members of Congress are presented with facts and perspectives, and have to make judgments; they make their own judgments." He added that the "nature of American politics is to fight fiercely for your beliefs. And the American Jewish community should make no apologies for doing so. And besides, they do not all share a single belief. There is great variety in the American Jewish community."

On the Middle East views of his opponent, Andrews said, "[Lautenberg] has been supportive of the State of Israel, and personally I have great respect for him. But the question is which candidate will give the most energy to the issues of the next six years, such as the threat of Iran, which will continue to be an existential threat for Israel."

The PAC of Cherry Hill was stronger in its characterization of Lautenberg. "Sen. Lautenberg has not been an outspoken advocate of Jonathan Pollard, nor has he shown any support toward the people who live in Judea and Samaria," Gideon Evans, the group's president, told The Jewish Press. "He has not voiced any support on behalf of those of us who believe that the land of Israel belongs to the Jewish nation. Furthermore, Sen. Lautenberg actually supported the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif."

Andrews has enjoyed good relations with the Jewish community, both in his district and throughout the state. He cited how several years ago Rabbi Kotler, of the famed yeshiva Beis Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, approached him regarding a proposed change to the campus-based aid that would have severely hurt smaller schools of higher learning, such as yeshivas. Andrews, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, helped him defeat the measure.

In the interview, Andrews also touched on the war in Iraq. "We need to extricate ourselves from Iraq, and that would make it easier to deal with Iran. For now, we can solve the Iranian problem with sanctions and negotiations. Military action would be dramatically premature."

Andrews said that he believes that as more people hear about his positions, including his positions on Israel and the Middle East, the greater his chances of defeating Lautenberg on June 3. "There is growing awareness among people who will come out and vote," Andrews said, regarding not just his candidacy but also the fact that there is a race altogether. "I'm running, not out of displeasure with Sen. Lautenberg, but out of a sense of urgency. Our country is drifting. We need fresh perspectives to solve our problems."

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