Statement From Legislator Fran Becker on Attacks on Israelis in Bulgaria

Originally released: July 18, 2012

Legislator Fran Becker (R-Lynbrook), the Republican candidate for Congress in NY-4, released the following statement this afternoon following the bombings in Bulgaria and reports that they may be tied to Iran:

“Today’s barbaric attacks and needless loss of life in Bulgaria are not only shocking but outrageous. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those Israelis and others heinously murdered and injured.

“The United States should be the State of Israel’s strongest ally. Israel is less safe today because of our president and Carolyn McCarthy’s failed leadership and foreign policy in the Mideast and elsewhere.

“After 16 years as our congresswoman, where’s Carolyn? She should have been the first one out of the gate not only condemning today’s gruesome attack but also demanding that the US help Israel investigate and take proactive measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again.

“But as usual, Silent Carolyn McCarthy never says a word – not even after a scathing report from national news outlet POLITICO in 2010 that her silence often brings‘clear pressure from the Jewish community…for not commenting’ on similar situations dealing with Israel.” (Source: POLITICO. “Rabbi Hits McCarthy over Gaza Flotilla ‘Silence’”. June 9, 2010.)

Two years ago, McCarthy was days late at even offering comments or speaking out about the Gaza flotilla in defense of Israel. Then, a prominent local rabbi in NY-4, Rabbi Hershel Billet of Young Israel of Woodmere, released the following e-mail at the time to also, no response from the McCarthy Campaign:

"To Whom it May Concern:
I am the Rabbi of the largest Orthodox synagogue in Congresswoman McCarthy’s district (possibly in the USA).  Her silence on the Gaza Flotilla and the blood libel being perpetrated in the world against Israel is deafening. This is to be contrasted with numerous NY State Congressmen and our two US Senators.

It is time for Congresswoman McCarthy to apologize to her constituents for her silence.  A blood libel is a serious crime.  It also puts her Jewish constituents in further danger from ignorant crazies who believe the libel.

It is irrelevant how many local Jewish causes she supports through government grants. It is times like this when her true colors show.

Respectfully Yours,
Rabbi Hershel Billet"

(Source: POLITICO. “Rabbi Hits McCarthy over Gaza Flotilla ‘Silence’”. June 9, 2010. http://www.politico.com/blogs/maggiehaberman/0610/Rabbi_hits_McCarthy_over_Gaza_flotilla_silence.html)

“History is repeating itself again. It’s hours after the fact. And Carolyn McCarthy again leaves Israel to hang out to dry alone. That’s why I’m running for Congress. Because we need a Congressman who will stand up for Israel at all times, not turn the other way to support Barack Obama more than the State of Israel.”