By James DeWeese
They called the kingdom soft on terrorism and a threat to Israel.
U.S. Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-Jackson Heights), a sponsor of the bill, stressed that the move was not anti-Muslim but anti-terror.
“Time and again the Saudis have shown that they are not our allies in the war on terror,” Crowley said in a release. “In fact, they are soft on the Al Qaeda terrorists operating in Saudi Arabia.”
The amendment, introduced by Crowley, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Kew Gardens) and Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), passed the House in a 217-191 vote, drawing mostly Democrats and a few of their counterparts from the other side of the aisle.
Crowley, however, said he expected the amendment to be stripped from the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill when it reached the Republican-controlled Senate. But, he said, by then the message will already have gotten through.
“We all expect that it will be pulled out of the bill,” Crowley said in a telephone interview. “But I think it sends a very clear and loud message to the Saudi Government.”
Citing testimony from Israeli Ambassador Dore Gold before the House International Relations Committee, Crowley said more than 50 percent of funding for the Palestinian terror network Hamas comes from Saudi donors.
“Saudi blood money does not only threaten the United States but also our good friend and ally Israel,” said Crowley.
“Every year we hear the Saudis are going to crack down on terror,” Weiner said. “But they just don't do it, Well, now we've sent them a message loud and clear that they're not going to get one U.S. dollar until they clean up their act.”
Crowley did not consider the amendment a politically risky move in his Queens-Bronx district, which includes a significant Muslim population.
“It's not in any way shape or form anti-Muslim,” Crowley said. “I've been not just very careful but very outspoken in the need for Americans to be very mindful of the fact that Islam itself is a religion of good not of hate.”
Reach reporter James DeWeese at news@timesledger.com, or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 157.
